Florence Pritchett Smith died tragically young in November 1965 shortly before the publication of her book These Entertaining People, A Guide for the Elegant Hostess. The level of participation she received during its writing process—from such luminaries as Babe Paley, the Duchess of Windsor, and Cecil Beaton—is a fitting tribute to the author. Pritchett Smith began of humble New Jersey origins but deftly scaled the social heights.
One of her admirers was John F. Kennedy. They were romantically involved in the forties and remained close friends throughout his life. A Kennedy insider believed the President was more in sympathy with her than any other woman. Marriage, however, was out of the question. Pritchett Smith was a divorcée when they began dating—then difficult for anyone considering a run for the Oval Office and an absolute impossibility for a man who aspired to be the first Catholic president.
Their romance evolved into a friendship and expanded to include their spouses, Jacqueline Kennedy and Florence’s husband Earl E.T. Smith. Both Earl and Florence appear in Sally Bedell Smith’s excellent Grace and Power, The Private World of the Kennedy White House. When President Eisenhower appointed Earl to the Cuban ambassadorship and the Smiths decamped to Havana, Jackie sent them one hundred fifty volumes of classical works that Florence proclaimed “the best collection of English literature of anyone I know—outside of Jackie herself.” When Florence died of leukemia at age forty-five, Jackie wrote a warm note of sympathy to Earl, recalling “all the happy times gone now with dearest loving Flo.”
One of her admirers was John F. Kennedy. They were romantically involved in the forties and remained close friends throughout his life. A Kennedy insider believed the President was more in sympathy with her than any other woman. Marriage, however, was out of the question. Pritchett Smith was a divorcée when they began dating—then difficult for anyone considering a run for the Oval Office and an absolute impossibility for a man who aspired to be the first Catholic president.
Their romance evolved into a friendship and expanded to include their spouses, Jacqueline Kennedy and Florence’s husband Earl E.T. Smith. Both Earl and Florence appear in Sally Bedell Smith’s excellent Grace and Power, The Private World of the Kennedy White House. When President Eisenhower appointed Earl to the Cuban ambassadorship and the Smiths decamped to Havana, Jackie sent them one hundred fifty volumes of classical works that Florence proclaimed “the best collection of English literature of anyone I know—outside of Jackie herself.” When Florence died of leukemia at age forty-five, Jackie wrote a warm note of sympathy to Earl, recalling “all the happy times gone now with dearest loving Flo.”
 Florence Pritchett Smith |  Jacqueline Kennedy and Earl E.T. Smith |
A recent issue of Veranda revived interest in Florence Pritchett Smith and These Entertaining People. The few copies for sale were quickly snatched up. The one now offered by Nick Harvill Libraries appears to be the sole copy currently available online. [Note, this copy has now sold.]
Even with this latest publicity, there is an awkward web search issue in regard to Florence Pritchett Smith. She passed away two days after the mysterious death of Dorothy Kilgallen, a reporter with whom she was acquainted. Kilgallen had recently conducted a rare private interview with Lee Harvey Oswald’s killer Jack Ruby from which she claimed to have information that would shed new light on the Kennedy assassination.
Whatever Kilgallen knew followed her to the grave. She died of an apparent drug and alcohol overdose before telling her story. Her notes were never found. Kilgallen’s death was indeed suspicious, but Pritchett Smith’s two days later was not. Florence had been suffering from terminal cancer. It is unfortunate that her passing will be forever entangled in assassination conspiracy theories.
Even with this latest publicity, there is an awkward web search issue in regard to Florence Pritchett Smith. She passed away two days after the mysterious death of Dorothy Kilgallen, a reporter with whom she was acquainted. Kilgallen had recently conducted a rare private interview with Lee Harvey Oswald’s killer Jack Ruby from which she claimed to have information that would shed new light on the Kennedy assassination.
Whatever Kilgallen knew followed her to the grave. She died of an apparent drug and alcohol overdose before telling her story. Her notes were never found. Kilgallen’s death was indeed suspicious, but Pritchett Smith’s two days later was not. Florence had been suffering from terminal cancer. It is unfortunate that her passing will be forever entangled in assassination conspiracy theories.
Earl E.T. Smith and His Son Earl, Jr.
The photograph of Florence Pritchett Smith was credited to the New York Herald Tribune and featured on the back dust jacket of These Entertaining People. The photograph of Jacqueline Kennedy and Earl E.T. Smith dancing is from Palm Beach, The Place, The People, Its Pleasures and Palaces. It was taken by the Bert & Richard Morgan Studio. The photograph of Earl and Earl, Jr. was taken by Slim Aarons and is included in A Wonderful Time.
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