About this Item
Octavo, 288pp., illustrated. A good copy in the publisher's navy cloth, stamped in gilt. First and last few leaves rippled from old water exposure, though still a sound copy, with only mild tidemarks to a few leaves, and the contents generally clean. A wonderful example, SIGNED and INSCRIBED by Ted Kennedy on the front free endpaper: "To Raymond O'Connell, With appreciation for your help Ted Kennedy. Sept. 6, 1965." A Christmas card from "The Edward Kennedys" without any inscription is pasted to the dedication page. Along with the book are five typed letters of various lengths, SIGNED either "Ted" or "Ted Kennedy" and addressed to O'Connell. There are two other typed letters and another holograph letter from other figures (Tip O'Neill, James A. Burke, and John W. McCormack, respectively) addressed to either O'Connell or his colleague Rocco Alberto. Also included is an undated, but ca. late 1950s or perhaps 1960 photograph of O'Connell shaking hands with John F. Kennedy, and three typed drafts of essays about Joseph P. Kennedy, which were ultimately included with the book, though there are some textual differences. All of the documents, etc. are in very good or better condition, with no major flaws. Raymond O'Connell was an attorney for the Massachusetts Department of Labor & Industries, and also served at some point in the Massachusetts State Legislature, according to one of the letters herein. He was clearly esteemed by the Kennedy family, as is evident in the letters that Ted writes to O'Connell herein. Kennedy's first letter informs O'Connell about his plans to compile the book which would become "The Fruitful Bough," and solicits an essay about Joe Kennedy from O'Connell. The next letter follows up with O'Connell about two months later, in December 1964, enclosing three typed examples of the kinds of essays about Joe Kennedy--real, unedited drafts from three people whose essays were ultimately included in the book--which might help O'Connell to write his own. Ted's next letter, dated in February, thanks O'Connell for the contribution that he submitted. Then, finally, in September of 1965, Ted sends a letter enclosing the final book. Rather anticlimactically, it seems O'Connell's contribution was not included in the final book. Nevertheless, the book itself and the series of letters give insight into Kennedy's process of compiling this book, and how he envisioned it would look. The three draft essays were authored by Alice Cahill Bastien (AKA "Keela"), a former family nurse, who is included in the "Children, Children, Children" section of the final book; Oscar W. Haussermann, a Boston bigwig and classmate of Joe Kennedy's at Harvard; and finally Richard J. Dobbyn, who Ted identifies as the financial manager of "all the campaigns from 1946 to 1964." Dobbyn's draft contribution is at least three times longer than the one used in the final book. Altogether a significant archive relating to this book which Ted Kennedy spent real time, effort, and heart into compiling for his aging father. Beginning the effort less than a year following his brother John's assassination, Ted no doubt felt a heightened sense of responsibility towards his family, and probably wanted to remind his heartbroken father just how many people loved and admired him. A significant inscribed copy, with wonderful provenance, which sheds light on the background and production of this unique book. Seller Inventory # 10397
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