Letter JFK Wrote To His Lover One Month Before He Passed Away

John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jackie, were often viewed by the public as the perfect American couple. Their elegant image as the First Family shaped how many Americans saw marriage and leadership. However, Kennedy’s presidency was also marked by several extramarital relationships. One of the most discussed was his rumored romance with artist Mary Pinchot Meyer, which some close friends described as a deep emotional connection.

In 2016, a personal letter believed to have been written by Kennedy to Meyer was revealed before being auctioned. The letter was likely written in October 1963, just one month before Kennedy’s assassination. Although it was never sent, it was preserved by Kennedy’s longtime secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, who kept many of the president’s documents and personal notes.

Years later, Lincoln’s collection of Kennedy memorabilia was purchased by collector Bob White. After White died in 2015, his collection—including the intimate letter—was placed up for sale by R.R. Auction in 2016. The letter, written on White House stationery, remained in good condition despite its age.

Originally estimated to sell for about $30,000, the letter attracted significant attention from collectors and historians. Eventually, it sold for $88,971, nearly three times its expected value. Auction officials also suggested it might be one of the final handwritten letters Kennedy wrote during his presidency.

Mary Pinchot Meyer came from an influential and wealthy family. She was the daughter of lawyer Amos Pinchot and journalist Ruth Pinchot, and the niece of conservationist and former Pennsylvania governor Gifford Pinchot. Meyer studied at the prestigious Brearley School and later attended Vassar College.

She married Cord Meyer, a Marine Corps lieutenant who later became a high-ranking CIA official. The couple eventually divorced in 1958, after which Meyer returned to Georgetown, where she reconnected with Kennedy. According to several sources, the two developed a secret relationship while Kennedy was president.

Meyer was tragically murdered in Georgetown in 1964, and the crime was never solved. After her death, a diary reportedly confirming her relationship with Kennedy was discovered, though its contents remain largely unknown. The unsent letter revealed Kennedy’s emotional desire to see her again, showing a more personal side of the president rarely seen by the public.