485. JACQUELINE KENNEDY (1929 - 1994) First Lady and wife of John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States. Fine, intimate-content A.L.S. "Jackie", 4pp. 8vo., Rome, "Tuesday", [n.d., ca. 1968-70], to Peter Lawford, her ex-brother-in-law and alleged by some to have been at one time her lover. Mrs. Kennedy opens her very friendly letter: "...I was going to call you last night & ask you to come & have a drink & just sit in my room while I was getting ready to go out for dinner-then guess what happened-it was like a Marx Brothers movie. I washed my hair & Provy [Providencia Paredes, Jackie's personal assistant] plugged in the dryer & blew out every fuse in the U.S. Embassy...it was like the Tunnel of Love-everyone groping & saying oh excuse me & when the lights went on I was standing in 1/2 a towel in a closet with the electrician who I thought was Provy-& he is still apologizing in Italian...". She promises to call Lawford upon her return, adding: "There is no one sweeter & kinder in the whole world than you...", and then discusses the awkward treatment afforded her Black-Hispanic assistant: "...I always think of Provy as a member of the family until we are abroad & suddenly the Secret Serviceman is embarrassed to take her to see the sights in the evening because he suddenly realize...she is colored & he is embarrassed. And you just see her looking sad the next day & know it is something you can never talk about-even though I've told him before that he has to take Provy everywhere-But you made her happier than she has ever been in her whole life. The 84-& drinking champagne & dancing with your friends-& you bringing her home-dear dear Peter...". She closes quite affectionately: "You are so rare & good & kind - I'll be back Nov. 12...I'll be awake the next day & hope to find you here & see you & hug you...You are my brother-in-law forever even if you are married to Gina Lollabrigida & I hope you feel the same way-with so much love .... ". A few tiny foxed spots on last page, else very good. Interestingly, Lawford is said to have also carried on an affair with Lollabrigida, with who he was making a film at the time. The Dominican-born Providenzia "Provy" Paredes began working for Jackie Kennedy as a personal maid/assistant in the late 1950s and became one of the most trusted and beloved members of the First Lady's inner circle. She later worked for both Robert and Edward Kennedy and was willed $50,000 upon Jackie's death in 1994.   $1,000 - 1,200