Jackie Kennedy’s Uncovered Final Letter to JFK Jr. in “American Prince”

CNN’s latest documentary on John F. Kennedy Jr. has revealed a poignant final letter penned by Jackie Kennedy just days before her passing from cancer in 1994.

In the three-part docuseries American Prince, family friend Gary Ginsberg shared that while Jackie was on her deathbed, she offered heartfelt encouragement to her then 33-year-old son regarding his crucial role in their family’s political heritage.

“I recognize the burden you will always bear as a Kennedy, even though we welcomed you into this world as an innocent,” Jackie wrote to John. “You, in particular, hold a significant place in history, regardless of the path you choose.”

With a touching sentiment, she added, “All I can ask is that you strive to make me, the Kennedy family, and yourself proud.”

Jackie was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in December 1993 and promptly began chemotherapy, which ultimately proved ineffective as the cancer spread to her spinal cord, brain, and liver by March 1994. Jackie passed away in May 1994 shortly after announcing her decision to cease all treatment.

Her diagnosis coincided with her nephew Anthony Radziwill experiencing a recurrence of testicular cancer. In American Prince, Anthony’s wife, Carole Radziwill, recounted how Jackie and Anthony disclosed their own cancer diagnoses to each other during a single phone call. (Anthony died from cancer less than a month after John, who was tragically killed in a plane crash along with his wife Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy and her sister Lauren Bessette in July 1999.)

“I remember [Anthony] saying, ‘OK, you go first,’” Carole, 61, recalled. “Then, [Jackie] said, ‘I have bad news, I’ve been diagnosed with lymphoma.’ The end for Jackie came swiftly. I recall that we were all together on a Sunday, and by Thursday, she had passed away.”

Carole reflected on how Jackie’s passing affected John, noting how his mother had always been very influential in his career and romantic decisions.

“John and Jackie shared a really close bond,” Carole stated. “He was devastated, and it was an incredibly challenging time for him. Yet, in a way, there was almost a sense of liberation after Jackie’s passing. For the first time, he felt free to pursue what he wanted without his mother’s presence. Positive changes emerged from that.”

Jackie never had the chance to meet her future daughter-in-law, Carolyn, as their relationship had not been publicly disclosed before Jackie’s death in May 1994. Later in American Prince, Carole reflected on how both she and Carolyn never truly felt they belonged to the Kennedy family.

“It’s a large family, and like many large families, there are numerous dynamics and nuances you have to navigate. Perhaps this is more pronounced in John’s family than in others,” Carole noted. “There were higher expectations, and [Carolyn] didn’t conform. She wasn’t one to ingratiate herself with anyone in his family.”

The RHONY alum elaborated, “Carolyn and I shared similar backgrounds. I came from humble beginnings, raised in a working-class setting, just like her. I think we felt a genuine bond as outsiders.”

American Prince premieres on CNN on Saturday, August 9, at 9 p.m. ET, with new episodes airing each Saturday through August 23.