The Best “Dear John” Letter Ever Sent

Ben DreyfussJul. 29, 2014 5:57 AM

<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mrs._Kennedy%27s_trip_to_India._Udaipur,_Rajasthan,_cruise_on_Lake_Pichola.jpg">WikimediaCommons</a>


In 1947, years before she met John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Lee Bouvier sent her high school boyfriend what is maybe my favorite Dear John letter of all time.

“I’ve always thought of being in love as being willing to do anything for the other person—starve to buy them bread and not mind living in Siberia with them—and I’ve always thought that every minute away from them would be hell—so looking at it that [way] I guess I’m not in love with you.”

Jackie O. was the best. RIP.

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  • Ben Dreyfuss is Mother Jones' editorial director for growth and strategy. He's done some other stuff, too. You can email him at bdreyfuss@motherjones.com. But you don't have to. But you can. But you really don't have to.