JFK's 'last autograph' bought by Calabasas collector

A Calabasas historic document dealer recently purchased what may have been the last autograph signed by President Kennedy.

Joe Maddalena paid $39,000 for a copy of the Dallas Morning News with the president’s signature, according to Heritage Auctions, the company that sold the item.

When a Dallas woman handed the president the newspaper, he signed the front page near the date, Nov. 22, 1963. He was assassinated about two hours later.

Maddalena told CNN that he got an “impressive piece of history at a bargain price” and plans to display it with other JFK items at “appropriate times,” such as the slain president’s birthday. The name of Maddalena's business, Profiles in History, is inspired by the Kennedy book "Profiles in Courage."

Immediately after taking possession of the autograph, Maddalena said he insured it for a quarter-million dollars.

-- Valerie J. Nelson

Photo: President Kennedy addresses a crowd in Fort Worth on Nov. 22, 1963. Credit: Associated Press

Comments

[nobleone]

Well that was NOT JFK's final autograph. The last autograph Jack signed was at Love Field after he and Jackie got off the plane. In 1996, one of the Dallas TV stations uncovered a bunch of old news reels taken at that time. Just toward the end of it and immediately before he got in the limo for his fatal ride to Dealy Plaza, he reached out to a woman on the rope line and SIGNED something, it was NOT the newspaper that is referenced in this story. No doubt the newspaper autograph is quite the historical artefact -- but was NOT the actual last written signature of President Kennedy. [Who the woman was that got the actual last autograph I do not know.]