Details:

Inga Arvad autographed typed letter (TLS) signed in bold red marker, dated November 10, 1943, written from her Hollywood residence and addressed to John F. Kennedy (“Jack”).

The single-page typed letter is deeply personal in tone and content, blending professional journalism, romantic longing, and wartime separation. Arvad opens by describing a telegram requesting that she secure an exclusive interview with Kennedy upon his anticipated arrival in California, referencing her professional standing and access as a newspaper correspondent. She then pivots quickly to intimate reflections, expressing affection, emotional attachment, and longing for Kennedy’s return, explicitly acknowledging the tension between her professional role and private feelings.

Throughout the letter, Arvad recounts shared memories, references Kennedy’s photograph used in her Washington column, and speaks openly of her emotional vulnerability, writing that if she followed her heart the letter would be “a love letter,” while simultaneously admitting that Kennedy is the person she would most want to see in the world. The letter closes with an affectionate appeal for Kennedy to return home soon, signed warmly in ink, reinforcing the personal nature of the correspondence.

This letter dates from the height of World War II, during the period when Kennedy was serving in the U.S. Navy and shortly after his recovery from the PT-109 incident. It represents a rare and unguarded window into Kennedy’s private emotional life during wartime, predating his political career and marriage.

Inga Arvad (1913–1973) was a Danish journalist, former Miss Denmark, and internationally connected social figure who worked in Washington, D.C., during the early 1940s. She and John F. Kennedy were romantically involved in 1941–1942, a relationship that became known to U.S. intelligence agencies due to Arvad’s foreign background and social proximity to diplomats and journalists.

During this period, Arvad was monitored by the FBI amid concerns—never proven—that she might be a conduit of information through her European contacts. These concerns led to increased scrutiny of Kennedy, and ultimately to the quiet discouragement and dissolution of the relationship. Importantly, no evidence ever established Arvad as a Soviet agent, though Cold War-era suspicions and later speculation have continued to surround her name. Modern historical scholarship generally characterizes the intelligence concerns as precautionary rather than evidentiary.

This letter, written after the height of FBI surveillance and following Kennedy’s reassignment away from Washington, demonstrates that contact between the two continued privately, underscoring the emotional significance of their relationship despite external pressures.

Letters from Inga Arvad to John F. Kennedy are exceedingly rare, particularly examples that are explicitly romantic, signed, and written during the war years. A trio of letters sent by Kennedy to Arvad realized $144,000 at Christie’s in 2007, underscoring the strong institutional and collector demand for material documenting this formative and controversial relationship.

Expected light toning and handling consistent with age. Signature and text remain clear and legible.

A museum-caliber artifact documenting a pivotal, personal chapter in the life of John F. Kennedy—where romance, wartime service, journalism, and intelligence history intersect.

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

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Reference sku: 11665 1413001-1