The Norman Cross

On valentines day 1962, Jackie gave a tour of the newly restored White House on TV. It had the largest audience in TV history, when 88 million people tuned in (more than 2/3 of the existing TV's at the time). She won an emmy, and is only the first lady in history to do so. Jackie recorded the entire program without a script, and when she completed it, recorded the show in French, in Spanish, and in Italian. However, a writer named Norman Mailer publicly criticized the show, even going so far as to say that First Ladies should not be on television or have a public life at all. Jackie was very hurt by this and wrote Norman Mailer a letter. In speaking with him afterwards she convinced him that a First Lady could have a very positive impact on the nation, and that anyone with a platform to change things for the better has the responsibility to do so. Mr. Mailer soon issued a public retraction of his statements and publicly apologized to Jackie. Privately, after learning that Jackie collected crosses, he sent her this cross as a token of his respect. Norman Mailer and Jackie remained very close friends for the rest of her life.