Details:

Malcolm Kilduff condolence letter received in the immediate aftermath of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, written by an unidentified correspondent signing only as “Cliff.”

The two-page handwritten letter is dated November 30, 1963, and written on United States Marine Corps letterhead from Newport, Rhode Island. Addressed personally to Malcolm Kilduff, the letter reflects on the national grief following the assassination of President Kennedy, describing the event as the greatest “black mark” in American history. The writer expresses sympathy for Kilduff, acknowledges the extraordinary pressure faced by those closest to the President, and praises the strength shown by the Kennedy family and White House staff during the crisis. The letter concludes with a handwritten signature simply signed “Cliff,” with no surname provided, and includes personal regards to Kilduff’s wife.

Fine condition.

Provenance: From the estate of Kennedy Assistant Press Secretary Malcolm Kilduff, who famously announced JFK’s death to the press.

Malcolm MacGregor Kilduff Jr. served as Assistant White House Press Secretary under President John F. Kennedy. On November 22, 1963, in Dallas, he was thrust into history when he stepped before reporters at Parkland Memorial Hospital and made the official public announcement that President Kennedy had died—pointing to his own head to indicate the location of the fatal wound. Widely respected for his steadiness under unimaginable pressure, Kilduff continued to serve in the Johnson Administration before moving into private sector communications. His papers and personal files remain among the most significant firsthand archival sources relating to the transition period following the assassination.

Authentication:
Includes a full letter of authenticity from JG Autographs, Inc.

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Reference sku: 11665 1414282-1