JOHN F. KENNEDY
During his first campaign for a seat in Congress (1946), he signed this handwritten letter to a former Harvard classmate, discussing measures to secure the Italian-American vote.
Rare Political Autograph Letter Signed: "Jack", 2 pages, 6x9, front and verso. To Tony (former Harvard classmate Tony Galluccio). No place, no date but during his first race for Congress in 1946. In full: "Thanks very much for your letter. It sounds like you and Joe did a good deal. It is fine with me if you and Joe take the trip in August. Just give me your schedule before you go and I will pay expenses. Be sure & let Frank know when you are going & keep him informed in a general way. I agree with you that Peter Gay would be a good man. I think it would be a good idea if you would get to know the Italian members of the legislature as well as possible. Should I write Gay or Demarco or anyone else thanking them? I hope to talk with you this weekend. Will call your house." Joe was Cambridge Councilman JOSEPH A. deGUGLIELMO, Frank was JFK's father's aide FRANK MORRISSEY (Joseph Kennedy helped finance his son's campaign); and Demarco was WILLIAM DEMARCO, Italian-American leader in the North End. Kennedy, who defeated nine other Democratic candidates for the nomination for the seat of Massachusetts' Eleventh District, easily overcame his Republican opponent in November 1946. He was reelected to Congress in 1948 and 1950. There is show-through from this darkly penned letter but every word is legible. Lightly creased, else fine.