Highly desirable pairing of a John F. Kennedy signature and a Jacqueline Kennedy ALS, both archivally matted and framed with two unsent official 1963 White House Christmas cards (bearing facsimile signatures) to an overall size of 18.25 x 24. The JFK signature with inscription, penned in blue ballpoint on an off-white 3 x 4.25 sheet, reads: "For Danny & Billy—with best wishes from their friend, John Kennedy." Another hand has added "1959" in pencil to the upper portion. The Jacqueline ALS, signed with her initials, "JBK," one page, 5 x 8, White House letterhead, addressed to painter and art historian James Whitney Fosburgh, chairman of the Special Committee for White House Paintings, and inquiring on how best to illuminate the artwork in the White House Red Room, in full: "I am sure the way you have lighted your pictures will be a solution to our problem—so if there is anything we should do to Red Room before walls are re hung—would you tell Janet—Perhaps you should even come & look again—as we will hang pictures pretty much as they are now—to cut down on all that red—Thanks." Upper right corner is dated by another hand in pencil, "10–31–61." In overall very good to fine condition, with overall creasing and tape along the edges of the JFK signature, and small corner creases and a paperclip impression to the Jackie letter. Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from JSA for the JFK signature.
Not long after her husband took office, Jacqueline Kennedy formed the Fine Arts Committee for the White House, naming Henry F. du Pont and herself as the principal chairmen. In November 1961, Kennedy and du Pont established a Special Committee for White House Paintings as part of the Fine Arts Committee and appointed James Whitney Fosburgh as head of the new group. Tasked with expanding the White House collection of paintings, including portraits, landscapes, and still lifes, Fosburgh’s committee managed to acquire, within a span of two years, over 150 new works for the collection. Fosburgh is also known for the posthumous portrait of John F. Kennedy featured on the November 5, 1965 cover of LIFE Magazine. An exceptional tandem from the Kennedy couple, with Jack’s note both uniformly crisp and affectionate, and Jackie’s handwritten letter boasting wonderful content relative to her restoration and preservation of the White House, in this particular instance, the Red Room state parlor, one of the first rooms to be redesigned under the keen eye of the first lady.