Letters from Jacqueline Kennedy to James W. Fosburgh, 1961

When Jacqueline Kennedy began a project to renovate the White House in1961, she found a "crying need for some good American pictures" as there was "really nothing but late nineteenth century Presidents in black." She called on James Whitney Fosburgh to serve as the chairman of the committee to select American pictures for the executive mansion, writing, "It is my greatest hope to acquire permanently for the White House all the finest from this country's past. I think it should have pictures by Stuart, Trumbull, Peale, Hicks, Audubon, Sargent, Whistler, Homer, Eakins, Currier & Ives (bedrooms) Mary Cassatt, Remington - and so many others that I am sure you will be able to think of - All the most important periods should be represented - except the really modern ones - as it is a period house - or will be - but we can think of some solution to that." Keenly aware of the effect her interest would have on the American art market she noted, "Every time the price leaks out it causes trouble...so I wouldn't mind if you rounded up a few less important pictures - which we could find donors for - though of course we must hope to have the great ones too - We will just never make their price available to the papers." Later she declined a buying trip: "I seem to be pursued by lady reporters whenever I come to New York - who write so extravagantly about buying sprees for the White House - that I feel it only makes the price go up."