Sometimes I had to put this book aside because the raw sorrow and eloquent sincerity expressed in these condolence letters are so powerful. I was only 10 days old at the time of the assasination and know only of its resounding impact through historical accounts and the movies. These letters reveal how stunned and grieving the mood was at the time, millions of arms spontaneously reaching out to embrace Jackie and her children. Only 9/11 comes close since. But given the bitter partisanship that's developed over the past few decades, it's hard to see the country coalescing to a similar degree again for a slain president. ( )

These are letters that were written to Jacqueline Kennedy (a few to Caroline or John) after the assasination of John F Kennedy. The letters are so heart-felt and you can actually feel the trauma and heart-break these people are feeling.
The letters were written by all age levels, all races, all political parties.
It really brings to your mind the absolute devastation the country was feeling at the time. And this is just a very small portion of the deluge received by Jackie. This is definitely a record of history and should be cherished and preserved. ( )

I received this book as part of the early reviewers program from Goodreads.com. I couldn't wait to read it as I remember what I was doing and where I was when this event happened. I was effected by this tragic time in our history as many others were. As I read the letters I was once again transported back to that time when so many of us cried as our televisions were on and we could not stop watching the events unfold right in front of us. The letters reflect many different things about that time in history. One letter that I was amazed at is on page 107 and was written by "A Negro Who beleave In God" and in part it reads "In the next Forty to Forty-Five Year A Negro from Louisiana will be come President of United States of American" - he got the state wrong but the rest is true. This book really tells how far we have come in improving our great nation. I would definitely recommend this book as a must read. ( )