RICHARD CARDINAL CUSHING - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 02/13/1961 - HFSID 313717

RICHARD CARDINAL CUSHING
The Archbishop of Boston writes to Basil O'Connor, FDR's former law partner, referencing prayers he delivered at JFK's inauguration and proposing to share a lobster dinner
Typed Letter signed: "R Card. Cushing", 1 page, 8½x7¼. Cardinal's Residence, Brighton, Massachusetts, 1961 February 3. To Basil O'Connor, New York, N. Y., in full: "Many thanks for your note. Delighted that the picture reached you safely. Sometime in the spring of the year or the summer, when you and Hazel are down this way, we can have the lobster dinner. Enclosed are the prayers I wrote and recited in conjunction with the inauguration. My best as always, Devotedly yours". Richard Cardinal Cushing (1895-1970) was Archbishop of Boston from 1944 to 1970, elevated to cardinal in 1958. Cushing, who had seriously considered a career in politics instead of the priesthood, was very successful in building bridges to groups, especially the Boston Brahmin's, traditionally suspicious of the Catholic Church. A strong supporter of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, Cushing drafted the document officially absolving Jews of the deicide charge. A close friend of the Kennedy family, he not only gave the invocation at President Kennedy's inauguration, but also presided at his wedding and at his funeral mass. Cushing played an important role in defusing Protestant concerns about a Catholic Presidential candidate. Basil O'Connor was the former law partner and close friend of former President Franklin Roosevelt.Normal mailing folds. Rust stains from paperclip at top left edge. Heavily toned with moisture defects along edges. Pencil note (in unknown hand) at left edge. Stamped in blue ink on verso.