Jack Swigert Archive of Letters to Actress Dolores Hart, 1961-1963.  Jack Swigert was chosen as an astronaut in April 1966 as part of the fifth NASA group. Previous to that he was an Air Force pilot flying jet fighters in Korea and then a test pilot for Pratt Witney and North American Aviation. He is best known as the last-minute substitute for Ken Mattingly as command module pilot on the ill-fated Apollo 13. Dolores Hart was a talented and beautiful young actress who made her debut in Loving You as Elvis Presley's love interest in 1957. She later appeared with Elvis again in King Creole. After several successful movies including a part as a nun in Francis of Assisi, she actually did join a religious order in 1963, becoming a Roman Catholic nun at the Benedictine Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, Connecticut. Pilot and future astronaut Jack Swigert read an article about her in Parade Magazine in 1961 and, as a Catholic himself, was impressed with her religious views (and beauty, of course) and started a correspondence with her. These are the letters he wrote her over a two year period. Most are well-worn with notes written on them by Hart or her secretary. Also included in the archive are various clippings about his career. Overall good. Excerpts follow.

October 22, 1961, two pages handwritten, Swigert to Hart.
"Dear Dolores, Without a doubt you'll get many letters but it is still a hope that this one gets by the many mail openers- and to you personally.
"Just wanted to express my thought on the fine article in Parade Magazine--- especially about your views on religion and its place in your career. To be sure there isn't much that reaches the public from that field which shows religion has much of a place-especially from the Catholic side. It is good to see that religion has the meaning and importance to you.
"In my case, the Jesuit education in Denver gave me the foundation and I think my test pilot occupation helps me to retain the importance of religion which sometimes escapes in a modern world... This wasn't meant to be a religious letter. Impetuous as pilots sometimes are, just thought you might like to know someone from the other side of the country likes your ideas and wishes you well. Sincerely Jack (Swigert)"

March 31, 1962, two pages handwritten with envelope, Swigert to Hart.
"Dear Dolores, Have an airplane for the Easter weekend and will be westward bound. L.A. being only about 1½ hours from Denver should put me there sometime Saturday morning. If you have no plans for Saturday evening- or the afternoon for that matter it would be a most pleasant end to a long trip to have dinner and a drink together. 
"Thanks again for the pictures and taking the time to answer my letter about the Parade article... With best wishes Jack Swigert"

April 18, 1962, one page typewritten (carbon), Hart to Swigert.
"Dear Jack: It was most thoughtful of you to include me in your Easter holiday plans, but, unfortunately, I am unable to accept your invitation to dine with you during your visit to Los Angeles... Sincerely. Dolores Hart"

May 9, 1962, three pages handwritten with envelope and clipping, Swigert to Hart.
"Dear Dolores, Your letter must have reached Conn. Just about the time I was leaving California for Denver and points East...
"Imagine our two professions are much alike. There's a challenge and, with something different all the time, it certainly never gets to be the 9 - 5 routine. But after Glenn's ride it's obvious where the future is in the flight test field... Sincerely Jack"

June 2, 1963, two pages with envelope and color photo, Swigert to Hart.
"Dear Dolores, Your letter came while I was at the Manned Space Conference in Dallas... 
"Have I been guilty of creating the wrong impression?... Remember- it was an article about you in Parade that prompted my letter way back when. Felt that an article which revealed high religious and moral values together with intelligence and femininity was too unusual a combination for modern Hollywood to go unacknowledged... Best wishes Jack Swigert"

Swigert, who died of cancer in 1982, never married. This was addressed in his New York Times obituary: "He was a lifelong bachelor, and some of the other astronauts, all of whom were married, joked that he was somewhat of a swinger. One of his sisters once said he had 'a girl in every airport from coast to coast.' He used to say that he was not a confirmed bachelor but that it was just that he had just not met the right woman. As an astronaut, Mr. Swigert lived in apartment near the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, which he had outfitted with a beer spigot in the kitchen and an elaborate stereophonic sound system." Here is evidence that he did try to meet the right woman in the early sixties but things just didn't work out.