The media’s obsession with the Kennedys reared its ugly head once again on Thursday when CBS This Morning spent four minutes of its broadcast obsessing over newly released letters from Jacqueline Kennedy written to her favorite fashion designers.
While all three CBS hosts beamed at Kennedy’s “flair for fashion” it was her supposed love of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that received the most attention with co-host Gayle King proclaiming that “there’s something cool knowing that she ate peanut butter and jelly. I like that.”
CBS’ fawning coverage of Kennedy began with reporter Vicente Arenas declaring “elegant, sophisticated, graceful. Just some of the words that come to mind when describing Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. And her notes to her designer and to her interior decorator show just how closely she cultivated her signature style.”
The CBS reporter continued to heap praise on Kennedy’s sense of style:
No details escaped her eye. Pockets were in. Boxy shoulder pads out. That note was for Bill Hamilton, then the design director for Carolina Herrera...Onassis wrote she was so sick of seeing everyone constantly in black like Mediterranean villages where seven in mourning for 20 years.
She drew this sketch herself which Hamilton then turned into this design. The final product was this brown velvet suit which made her very excited. Onassis was often very hands-on during the process.
As the segment continued, Arenas spoke to designer Bill Hamilton who described how “we would have lunch at my desk and she would pull out a peanut butter and jelly sandwich that she carried in her bag and have coffee.” After going into extensive detail about Kennedy’s letters to various designers, the CBS reporter concluded his piece with one final piece of Kennedy promotion:
More than a thousand people are expected to take part. Each lot, some containing 2 to 3 letters is said to be worth $800-$1200. Although some would probably argue, Onassis' gratitude is priceless.
Following the Kennedy cheerleading, the three CBS hosts continued to hype the Kennedy story with Gayle King lamenting “I was so sorry I never got a chance to meet her.” Charlie Rose declared her “charming and just exciting to talk to. Interesting.”
The segment ended with the hosts praising the Kennedy one final time for looking like a normal person because she loved peanut butter and jelly sandwiches:
O’DONNELL: Did you ever see her pull a peanut butter and jelly sandwich out of her purse?
KING: There's something cool knowing that she did that.
ROSE: Although she did invite me once to have lunch in the park.
KING: There’s something cool knowing that she ate peanut butter and jelly. I like that.
O’DONNELL: One of my favorites indeed.
See relevant transcript below.
CBS This Morning
January 15, 2015
NORAH O’DONNELL: This morning, we're getting a rare and revealing look at Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' flair for fashion. Over the decades, the former first lady wrote notes to some of her favorite designers. She even drew sketches of items she wanted. Some of these letters will be auctioned this weekend in West Palm Beach, Florida. Vicente Arenas gives a preview in a story you’ll see only on CBS This Morning.
VICENTE ARENAS: Elegant, sophisticated, graceful. Just some of the words that come to mind when describing Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. And her notes to her designer and to her interior decorator show just how closely she cultivated her signature style.
RICO BACA: We have approximately 30 lots.
ARENAS: Rico Baca auctioning off Onassis’ letters on Saturday.
BACA: She’s inviting these people into her life to get close to her. Close enough to give her what she wanted.ARENAS: This was a very private space that she was letting people into.
BACA: Right. Yes. She would have to be a little bit vulnerable.
ARENAS: No details escaped her eye. Pockets were in. Boxy shoulder pads out. That note was for Bill Hamilton, then the design director for Carolina Herrera.
BILL HAMILTON: If the collection had 90 pieces she might like 5 suits and we would cut those in different fabrics and colors and there were certain colors she wouldn't want to wear, one of them being black.
ARENAS: Onassis wrote she was "so sick of seeing everyone constantly in black like Mediterranean villages where everyone is in mourning for 20 years." She drew this sketch herself which Hamilton then turned into this design. The final product was this brown velvet suit which made her very excited. Onassis was often very hands-on during the process.
HAMILTON: We would have lunch at my desk and she would pull out a peanut butter and jelly sandwich that she carried in her bag and have coffee.
ARENAS: Richard Keith Langham decorated several of Onassis’ homes.
RICHARD KEITH LANGHAM: She had a hand in everything there. I mean, whether she would be dictating exactly what sort of velvet she wanted on a chair, exactly what sort of cording she wanted to trim a pillow.
ARENAS: In one note Onassis told him “I wasn't mad about the black chairs. Too heavy I'm afraid. Do keep looking.” But most of the letters, many written in her signature blue stationery were actually thank-you notes to both men letting them know how happy she was with the results. She thanked these designers over and over, she was almost humble.
BACA: All these notes are special in the sense that she took the time to sit down and write something in appreciation. It was -- a thank-you note is a form of respect.
ARENAS: Onassis had other ways to show she was grateful.
LANGHAM: She gave me an original 1963 edition of her White House guide book, and she inscribed that to me that “perhaps this great house will know your touch one day” and as a young decorator that was sort of awe-inspiring for me.
ARENAS: 14 photos taken by Bob Davidoff, a longtime photographer for the Kennedy family are also part of the auction. Who would want these letters and photographs and sketches?
BACA: You. Wouldn't you want them?
ARENAS: They’d be cool to have at my house.
BACA: Absolutely.
ARENAS: I can’t afford them.
BACA: Everybody, I mean, I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't want them.
ARENAS: More than a thousand people are expected to take part. Each lot, some containing 2 to 3 letters is said to be worth $800-$1200. Although some would probably argue Onassis' gratitude is priceless. For CBS This Morning, Vicente Arenas, West Palm Beach, Florida.
GAYLE KING: Such a class act. I was so sorry I never got a chance to meet her. You did.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes.
KING: I was very sorry about that. What was she like, Charlie? I mean really?
ROSE: Charming and just exciting to talk to. Interesting. Had great insights about...I remember we were sitting and she was saying I hope the people that work for Jack won't go into the Clinton government, you know? She thought that they should be a new breed of people to come to work.
O’DONNELL: Did you ever see her pull a peanut butter and jelly sandwich out of her purse?
KING: There's something cool knowing that she did that.
ROSE: Although she did invite me once to have lunch in the park.
KING: There’s something cool knowing that she ate peanut butter and jelly. I like that.
O’DONNELL: One of my favorites indeed.
— Jeffrey Meyer is a News Analyst at the Media Research Center. Follow Jeffrey Meyer on Twitter. [1]