[Kennedy Onassis, Jacqueline. (1929–1994)] Cerf, Bennett. (1898–1971) Typed Letter Signed to Lewis Funke

[Kennedy Onassis, Jacqueline. (1929–1994)] Cerf, Bennett. (1898–1971)

Typed Letter Signed to Lewis Funke

Typed letter signed from Random House chairman Bennett Cerf to New York Times theatre critic Lewis Funke, regarding a conflict between Random House and Jacqueline Kennedy. May 19, 1966. 1p. Cerf writes: "Dear Lewis: I am sorry to say that I have drawn a complete blank with Mrs. Kennedy. She is still very miffed with Random House because we are Jim Bishop's publisher, and there doesn't seem to be any way for me to convince her that if we didn't do Bishop, 50 other publishers would be delighted to grab him ... Maybe she will look more kindly on your proposal if you take it to another publisher..." Folding creases, paperclip mark and struck-through note on the verso; overall fine. 8.5 x 11 inches (21.7 x 28 cm).

Jim Bishop (1907–1987) was an American journalist and author of historical books including 1968's The Day Kennedy was Shot (as well as The Day Lincoln was Shot and The Day Christ Died.) Bishop spent five years researching Kennedy's assassination, while locked in a battle with Jacqueline and Bobby Kennedy over his right to publish the book. Jacqueline Kennedy had chosen another writer, William Manchester, to chronicle Kennedy's assassination, and instructed family and friends not to talk to Bishop. Nevertheless, Bishop's book was published in 1968, and remains an authoritative account of the assassination. (15976)

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