For archaeologist Rob Edwards, 38, and great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandson of the couple, the letter is a link to the past he relishes, particularly as he works in history.

BBC: First Valentine: Lasting legacy of 500-year-old love

But the spokesman also said the letter did not suggest a link between Russian assistance to limit Iran's nuclear program and the plans to construct missile defense facilities in Eastern Europe.

CNN: Obama downplays letter to Russia regarding nuclear Iran

"Minimum standards will help ensure there is no weak link in our infrastructure, " Dempsey wrote in his letter to Rockefeller.

MSN: Senate may go on recess without passing cyber bill