JFK Jr. Explicit ALS at 17 Years Old to Former Counselors & Campers, with 2 Vintage Photos of JFK Jr.

ALS, 2p, 6" x 9", dated July 6, 1978, Cora, Wyoming. This handwritten letter from the 17-year-old JFK, Jr. was written to his former counselors and fellow campers at the West Thumb Youth Conservation Corps, a high school work camp in Yellowstone National Park that he had briefly attended before his mother, former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, transferred him to Bar Cross Ranch in Cora, Wyoming, from where this letter is addressed.  Also included in the collection are two vintage glossy 4.25" x 3.5" Kodak photos of JFK, Jr. with West Thumb campers where Kennedy is sporting a plaid shirt and his signature curly brown hair. The letter is in fine condition, with expected folds and boldly signed twice, once as "John" and once as "John Kennedy." This lot sold in RR Auction for $7500 in 2021!

In full:

"Dear all,

So what goes on in your neck of the woods, I’ve been here 3 days and all I can claim for myself is an extremely sore ass. I was on a horse for 13 consecutive hours, no shit, we left at 5:00 in the morning, got back at 7:30 until about an hour or two out for lunch, whoever said you get sore is right, try sitting on the sharp end of a polaski for 10 hours you might get an idea of how I feel. It’s not bad here though. I prefer the work there better, I shoveled shit and mowed a huge lawn for about 11 hours today. It’s pretty up here, there are a lot of plains in the mountains in the distance, there called the Wind Rivers, right up from the house is the highest peak in Wyoming, me and this English kid here hope to hike up there someday, though we don’t get any days off. The food here is really good, eggs and regular pancakes, oh but Katy I miss my brewers yeast in the mornings, the mosquitos are killing me.

I suppose Steve told you about one sickeningly puritanical night in Jackson. Jesus, Will what a dirty trick, give me $80 and then don’t tell us the bars close at 10:00 and the sidewalks roll up at 11:00. Well we saw a good sci-fi movie about ants on the tube. I have to go to bed now cause we have to get up at 5:00 AM to herd cattle all day again. Ow! I’ll keep in touch, you all write too. Hope you guys have a good time, I miss the morning canoe rides and alarmingly frequent whole-wheat bowel movements.

See y’all later. Keep the boys in line George, don’t fuck around. Later.”

Kennedy adds a few postscripts: “PS Please, if I got any mail could you please send it I’m desperate.

My address is John Kennedy, Bar Cross Ranch, Cora Wyoming, 82925,

PSS Kelley I’m almost finished, I’ll send you the book when I’m done you intellectual you

PSSS Rusty you fucker!” 

John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr., often referred to as John-John or JFK Jr., was an American attorney, journalist, and magazine publisher. He was the son of John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, and a younger brother of U.S. Ambassador Caroline Kennedy. JFK Jr. died in a plane crash in 1999 at the age of 38.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!