• August 23, 1999
• Vol. 52
• No. 7

Mailbag

The Kennedy Tragedy
Thank you for defining the grief of a nation. John F. Kennedy Jr. was born to a life of privilege, tragedy and legacy. He wore the mantle well, and the American people loved him for it. He was uniquely ours, and now he is lost to us forever. No one like him will ever come this way again. How unspeakable the pain of such a loss, how wonderful we had him at all.
Janice Neely, Hanover, Pa.

It has been a heartbreaking week of video footage, written articles and radio broadcasts of the death of John Kennedy Jr., yet I greatly anticipated PEOPLE'S coverage of these sad events. I wanted more than just glossy photos of his beautiful face. I wanted to know what he loved, what he had done, what made him so endearing. Your tribute to his life was comforting, honest and complete. Like so many others who have known of him his entire life, I am shocked at how deeply I am mourning him.
Anjanette Park, Santa Ynez, Calif.

The latest issue of PEOPLE arrived in the mail today. I cried. And cried. And I cried some more. I haven't even gotten past the cover.
Derry Schwantner, Cohasset, Mass.

I was not alive during that mythical time in American history called Camelot. Unlike my father, I cannot recount where I was the day President Kennedy was assassinated. I do not know firsthand the impact his death had upon the American people. I can, however, now say that I understand the depths of sorrow that filled the hearts of so many people that November day in 1963. I will always remember where I was when I learned that John Kennedy Jr.'s plane was missing.
Angel Irizarry, Jacksonville, Fla.

We knew it. In our hearts we knew John F. Kennedy Jr. would not grow old with us. We've been holding our collective breath trying to convince ourselves that tragedy would not befall him again; our John John would be spared. But in our hearts we knew this was not to be. The shocking part is all of this prescience does not make his death easier to take.
Carol Faubert, Alpharetta, Ga.

He was our son, brother, neighbor, cousin, of sorts. We had only begun to let him grow up and be an adult, and now he is gone. John, you touched our hearts.
Pat Geister, Seattle

Words cannot begin to express the sorrow that we, as a nation, feel from the death of John Jr., his lovely Carolyn and her sister Lauren. From watching him play under his father's desk to the heartbreaking salute at his father's funeral, we have loved him. We watched him grow into manhood, fiercely guarding the privacy of his mother and sister with a loyalty that few of us know. How proud (and envious) we were at his marriage to Carolyn! John Kennedy Jr. was truly America's child. Our deepest sympathy goes out to the Kennedys and the Bessettes.
Edwena Wingo, Texas City, Texas

How sad it is that America has now lost its prince. We will never forget his final salute to his father, but it is comforting to know he is now at rest with his parents. Let us pray for the rest of the Kennedy family and hope this is the final tragedy in their lives. This family has suffered enough!
Barb Morlack, St. Petersburg, Fla.

I was very touched with the caring way that the people of New York City acted during the mourning of JFK Jr. It was a class act and showed that they will miss him as one of their own, which is how he always wanted to be treated.
Dakota S. Smith, Tempe, Ariz.

Your tribute was short and simple, something John would have appreciated.
Al Nystrom, Allison Park, Pa.

Congratulations to PEOPLE for a perfect peek into the lives of JFK Jr. and his wife, Carolyn. I visited the Tribeca apartment with my 14-year-old daughter to pay my respects. I felt overwhelmed by the love and admiration that was displayed there, not only for John but for his loving wife and her wonderful sister Lauren. I then bought several of the magazines that featured JFK Jr. on the cover. I read them all, and PEOPLE by far gave me a true understanding of his life and death. Your magazine enabled the American people to know just what we are all going to dearly miss.
Kathie Miller, Brick, N.J.

I always knew John F. Kennedy Jr. was a decent guy. Now only upon his passing do we find out the depth of his decency. A true example of supreme parenting. Thank you, Jackie.
Tami L. Novara, Sterling Heights, Mich.

Your tribute to John and Carolyn was beautiful. He was truly his mother's son, but he was also a Kennedy, and he never forgot either. I did not know him personally, but I still have such a deep sense of loss, I cannot begin to imagine what his family and friends are feeling.
Bonnie Barbieri, Middletown, Conn.

Thank you so much for the memories in your wonderful pictorial tribute to the intriguing and incomparable John F. Kennedy Jr. I've always believed that someday he would seriously pursue politics and rise quickly to the top. Had he lived, John would have been absolutely awesome as our President, and his lovely Carolyn would have been the fairest First Lady of them all.
Martha Yount, Claremont, N.C.

I have felt many emotions the past weeks with yet another Kennedy tragedy. First there was shock. Shock gave way to hope for a rescue. Hope soon turned to sadness. Sadness gave way to disbelief. Disbelief led to grief. Reality of the week's events only hit home when I saw the obituary cover on PEOPLE. Thank you for giving the public a wonderful way to remember John and his wife.
Franklin N. Sheneman II
North Liberty, Ind.

How dare you not include Lauren Bessette's picture on the cover of your magazine? She is and was as important as John and Carolyn, and she died in the same tragic way. You should have afforded her the same consideration and courtesy.
Marcia M. Chatfield, Seymour, Conn.

Did not three people die in this tragedy? Lauren Bessette's life seems less significant without hardly a mention. Celebrity or not, I am sure her parents loved their daughters equally.
Nancy Hamill, Mill River, P.E.I.

When people lament that John did not live to fulfill his father's legacy, I am angered. I feared he would enter politics. I feel he fulfilled his destiny—he unabashedly loved his mother, sister and wife. He was unfailingly kind to others, including the intrusive media; he tried to help others less fortunate than himself. He cared for his family, friends and the world around him. John F. Kennedy Jr. was not perfect, but he tried to make the world a better place.
Maralyn R. Hammond, Litchfield, Ill.

I was wondering about the photo of JFK Jr. on page 62—is that really him? Doesn't look like him at all to me!
Kathy Salvati, Avon, N.Y.

Or to many other correspondents who wrote with the same question, but it was definitely John.
—ED.

I have listened with shock and sadness for nearly two weeks about the loss of John Kennedy and his wife, Carolyn, and her sister Lauren. There have been pictures of John and Carolyn walking their dog Friday. Being a veterinary technician, I naturally am interested about the whereabouts and condition of Friday.
Mary Hatfield, New Tazewell, Tenn.

We report in our Aug. 9 issue that at the time of the accident, Friday and the Kennedy cat Ruby were safely residing with the caretaker of Kennedy's Martha's Vineyard home.
—ED.

Why do we mourn someone we have never met? Easily answered, it's hope lost...again. We can only pray that this hope comes around again.
Ann Knott, Peoria, Ill.

Raquel Welch
From my point of view, Raquel's wedding was a big bust.
Pat McHale, Reno

A note to Raquel: The boobs are worn inside the dress, not on the outside.
Roberta Hopkins, Port St. Lucie, Fla.

What's with poor, misguided Raquel Welch? She seems a bit bovine and a tad too mature for the gown she wore during her latest wedding. Miss Welch seems to have confused having money with having good taste, class and dignity.
Paula Christensen, Scottsdale, Ariz.

About Raquel Welch's wedding dress—that was a huge responsibility to give a little piece of string.
Kathleen Wippert, Yucaipa, Calif.

I have two words for Raquel Welch on her wedding day: support bra.
Debbie Killeen, Chicago

Scoop
Salma Hayek is quoted as saying that "people" think that Latinos are all alike. She implies that Jennifer Lopez is not Latina. "She is American. She doesn't have an accent." Since when are the criteria for being Latin-American based on an accent or place of birth, rather than cultural ancestry? What about all of the African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Irish-Americans, etc.? Based on Salma's criteria, I assume that she disregards her father's (as well as her own) Lebanese background.
Darci Price, Los Angeles

I would appreciate it if Steven Schier could explain to me what Jesse Ventura's acting as a guest referee for the WWF has to do with setting a standard of ethics. He's not stealing from the taxpayers, he's not chasing after little girls, and he's not flip-flopping on his political views. Where is the breach of ethics? It may be unorthodox, certainly, but not unethical.
S. Adams, Chicago

The people of Minnesota need not worry about how their governor makes money for himself in the private sector. So he does it through wearing costumes, instead of with a pen or a phone call. Personally, I think they should find it refreshing to see an elected official making money honestly, rather than through shady insider deals and kickbacks. Steven Schier was quoted as saying it was "disturbing." To whom? The people of Minnesota or career politicians and the political machines that Governor Ventura embarrassed nationally last November?
Tom Ferguson, Lewisville, Texas

Anne Marie Capati
I was absolutely floored when I read your article about the vitamin supplemental ingredient ephedrine. I had been taking a metabolism booster for six weeks last summer when I developed a kidney stone and spent a week and a half passing it. That kidney stone made my two natural childbirths seems like a walk in the park. The urology analysis determined that the stone was developed due to the ingredient ephedrine, which was in the supplement. When I talked to the supplier about it, they were skeptical, at best, and claimed to have never had any problems with the vitamin before. I am taking copies of your article to this supplier—hopefully reading the news of a death due to ephedrine will get their attention!
S. Stegmeyer, Interlochen, Mich.

While my sympathy goes out to Mr. Hanson and his children, I am always amazed when lawsuits arise out of people's ignorance and stupidity. I do not take anything that even a doctor prescribes without researching it, let alone a recommendation from a fitness instructor! Trusting anyone who is handing out pills and advice is crazy behavior and should not be rewarded with $320 million. Bottom line is that Ms. Capati should have checked with her doctor prior to taking any supplements and that America has a sad obsession with trying to fix everything with a pill.
Mary Bianchi, Chicago

George Pickett
I found your article very interesting. However, the illustration you used is not of General Pickett and his hat as you attributed. Rather, it is Confederate Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead. Armistead was under Pickett's command during the doomed charge. He led his troops farther into the Union lines than anyone else, the so-called high-water mark of the Confederacy. Minutes after that moment that was depicted in the illustration, General Armistead was shot and later died.
K. Welch, Brown Deer, Wis.

We regret the error.
—ED.