In letters to Irish priest, Jackie Kennedy opens up about JFK's temptations and her faith

They're not so much letters as they are a series of confessions to a priest -- not of sin, but of doubt. Through her letters to Father Joseph Leonard, Kennedy provides an insight into her and her husband's personalities that the world has never had before. CBS News' Mark Phillips reports on the correspondence that spanned more than a decade.

[sunny_dee]

Jacqueline Kennedy was a woman of extreme strength in the face of tragedy that the entire world was witness to. Her grief was something we will never understand. I was so in awe of her for that. She was my role model of extreme strength and elegance growing up. Her children were her reason for going on and she reared them well. I do pray she found that comforting place in heaven after that unbelievable killing of her husband. I don't know how she did it but she did keep her faith. God Bless you Jacqueline. 😌

[paddyb]

I am a Catholic myself and I can understand why someone who had witnessed their spouse being murdered as they sat side-by-side would say something like "God has some explaining to do." It's not a theological statement. It's a perfectly human statement of an unbelievable horror and grief.

[tempusfugit]

How in the name of God did letters to a Roman Catholic priest become public ?

[karmad]

"The auction of private letters written by Jackie Kennedy to an Irish priest 50 years ago was called off because the college selling them discovered it did not actually own the items, an official told NBC News on Friday.

Dublin's All Hallows College said that it had only been discovered that the letters were not theirs to sell in the past few days after the lost will of Kennedy's confidant, Father Joseph Leonard, was discovered."

The news item also stated that the Kennedy family got involved. It was estimated that the letters would possibly sell for $5 million. Why wouldn't these letters belong to Caroline and her family.

[TheRoyalBavarian]

This was a great Lady. Overcoming her inner struggles she showed the world what the world needed to see. Grief without surrender.

[Traveleatrepeat.]

Why do the belongings of famous deceased people sold and auctioned out ? How would they have reacted had they known that their privacy would one day be auctioned and been labelled with a price tag ? 🤔🤔🤔 !!!! ... In the end they were humans just like us. Had they known this maybe they would have never kept them in vulnerable positions.

[cherylthomas]

Well, "a sad little housewife" is what she eventually became when it dawned on her the extent of JFK's philandering and being on her own at home while he pursued other interests.

[PM-pm]

I dont trust these cath priests. That should have been kept confidential. JK went thru tremendous pain and sorrow. I never really understood how she managed to grab her husbands brain that day. It still haunts. RIP Jackie.

[robertsvorinich]

Laura Smith, I think you might be a bit too judgmental on Jackie. To a degree, I share your animus to the elites but on a human level I can't help feeling some sympathy for her.

[michaelbee]

The letters "should be private" and there's something "not right" about the world viewing these letters. But you people sure broadcast her most confidential and private business. Despicable.

[emilinebelle]

Why the heck waste the film? This revealed nothing

[johnhualnam]

It's very sad for a believer in Jesus Christ to confess one's sins to a nother human being, namely a priest, while the Bible clearly states that:" there is only one God, and one MEDIATOR between God and men, the MAN Christ Jesus..!!! (See 1Timothy 2:5) 🙏💔😢 👼

[amritanair]

I wish JFK would have married to Marilyn Monroe .their match is perfect. And he would be senator only not the president so his life could be saved.