Details:

Patricia Kennedy Lawford autograph condolence note to Barbara Smith, widow of Benjamin A. Smith II, written on a correspondence card bearing her printed One Sutton Place South, New York address. Accompanied by the original handwritten mailing envelope addressed by Lawford to Mrs. Benjamin Smith in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

Written shortly after Smith’s death in September 1991, Patricia Kennedy Lawford’s note conveys her personal sympathy and the affection the Kennedy family held for Ben Smith.

The note reads:

“Dear Sis,

Ted called me and told me of your loss. My prayers and thoughts are with you. Your husband was so wonderful to my family and we loved him.

Best,

Pat (K. Lawford)”

The original envelope, postmarked September 30, 1991, is addressed in Patricia Kennedy Lawford’s hand to:

Mrs. Ben Smith
Side Lake
Norwood Heights
Gloucester, Mass 01930

A touching piece of Kennedy family correspondence written during a period of mourning for one of the family’s oldest and most trusted friends. The note underscores the close personal relationship that existed between Benjamin Smith and multiple members of the Kennedy family long after their years together in Massachusetts politics and public life.

Fine condition. Accompanied by the original handwritten mailing envelope.

Patricia Kennedy Lawford (1924–2006) was the sister of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Senator Edward M. Kennedy. Active in politics, philanthropy, and the arts, she maintained close relationships with many of the Kennedy family’s longtime friends and associates. Correspondence from Patricia Kennedy Lawford is considerably scarcer than that of her more famous siblings and provides a personal glimpse into the extended Kennedy family and its enduring friendships.

Benjamin A. Smith II (1916–1991) was a Massachusetts politician, businessman, and one of John F. Kennedy’s closest lifelong friends. A Harvard roommate of Kennedy’s, Smith remained a trusted confidant for decades and was appointed to the United States Senate in 1960 following Edward M. Kennedy’s election to fill his brother’s presidentially vacated Senate seat. His friendship with the Kennedy family endured throughout his life, making correspondence relating to Smith and the Kennedys particularly significant within the broader history of Camelot.

Provenance: From the estate of Benjamin A. Smith II, Harvard roommate and lifelong friend of President John F. Kennedy, former United States Senator from Massachusetts. Accompanied by a signed letter of provenance from Benjamin A. Smith III documenting direct family ownership.

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

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Reference sku: 11691 1416388-1