Jackie’s early years were divided between New York City and East Hampton, Long Island, where she learned to ride almost as soon as she could walk. She was educated at best of private schools. A headstrong child, she was initially a discipline problem at Miss Chapin’s, a fashionable school in east Manhattan. The summers were spent at the Achincloss home, Hammersmith Farm, in New Port, Rhode Island. Jackie attended Miss Porter’s School for girls in Connecticut and Vassar College where she excelled in history, literature, art and French. Jacqueline was dubbed "the debutante of the year" for 1947-48. Her social success did not keep her from continuing her education. While attending Vassar, Jackie traveled extensively. She had a great empathy for people of foreign countries, especially the French. After studying at the Sorbonne in Paris for her junior year, she returned to the United States to earn a degree in French literature from George Washington University in 1952.
Birth and Childhood
Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, popularly known as Jackie Kennedy, was born Jacqueline Lee Bouvier on July 28, 1929. Her father, John Vernon Bouvier III, an affluent Wall Street Stockbroker was known to all as ‘Black Jack’ because of his dark swarthy looks. Jackie adored his dashing looks. Her mother was Janet Lee Bouvier. Her sister Caroline Lee (also called Lee) was born four years later.
The Bouviers’ marriage ended in bitter divorce in 1940 and thereafter Janet married Hugh Dubley Achincloss Jr in 1942, a lawyer from a prestigious old family. In spite of this, Jack Bouvier continued to see his children as often as possible, supporting them, paying for their education, giving them monthly allowances, charge accounts and horses to ride. He courted them more as a suitor than a father to get their consistent affection. Being flamboyant and adventurous, he lived with a great style and extravagant whims. Jackie adored her father. She could never forgive her mother for the divorce, which was an emotional wrench for both of them. Jackie was only 13 at the time and moving to Merrywood with her stepfather and his three children meant leaving New York and the frivolity that only her father could provide.
Education
Jackie’s early years were divided between New York City and East Hampton, Long Island, where she learned to ride almost as soon as she could walk. She was educated at best of private schools. A headstrong child, she was initially a discipline problem at Miss Chapin’s, a fashionable school in east Manhattan. The summers were spent at the Achincloss home, Hammersmith Farm, in New Port, Rhode Island. Jackie attended Miss Porter’s School for girls in Connecticut and Vassar College where she excelled in history, literature, art and French. Jacqueline was dubbed "the debutante of the year" for 1947-48. Her social success did not keep her from continuing her education. While attending Vassar, Jackie traveled extensively. She had a great empathy for people of foreign countries, especially the French. After studying at the Sorbonne in Paris for her junior year, she returned to the United States to earn a degree in French literature from George Washington University in 1952.
JACQUELINE KENNEDY ONASSIS
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was a widow of John F Kennedy, 35th President of the United States and Aristotle S Onassis, a Greek businessman. She was constantly in the spotlight during her years as the First Lady (1961-1965) and afterwards, she was much admired for her composure, beauty and grace. She was familiarly known as ‘Jackie’.
As first lady, Mrs Kennedy sought to make the nation’s capital a source of pride and center of culture. She supervised the redecoration of the White House. She helped plan a national cultural center, the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. A role model for the American women and the women world over, Jackie Kennedy went through the sun and shade of circumstances, never letting the spirit die.
• July 28, 1929
Jacqueline Lee Bouvier born to Janet Lee Bouvier and John Vernon Bouvier III.
• 1940
Jacqueline’s parents divorced.
• 1942
Janet Lee Bouvier remarried Hugh Dubley Auchincloss Jr.
• 1944
Jackie was sent to boarding school at Miss Porter’s in Farmington, Connecticut.
• 1947
Jackie was named Debutante of 1947.
• 1951
Met John F Kennedy.
• 1952
Graduated from George Washington University.
• 1953
Married John F Kennedy, Senator from Massachusetts.
• 1957
Gave birth to Caroline Kennedy.
• November 1960
Gave birth to their son John Jr.
John F Kennedy elected President of the United States.
• 1962
Gave the world a filmed tour of the White House.
• August 1963
Gave birth to Patrick, who died 2 days later.
• November 1963
The President assassinated at Dallas, Texas.
• 1968
Jackie Kennedy married Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis.
• 1975
Aristotle Onassis died.
Began working as an editor at New York.
• 1978
Took up a job as an associate editor at Doubleday Publishing.
• 1994
Diagnosed for cancer.
• May 19, 1994
Jackie passed away.
The Role Model
Jackie’s words described her position – ‘I feel as though I have turned into a piece of public property’. During the presidential campaign the press and the public focused intently on the young Mrs Kennedy. In their living memory no candidate’s wife had looked so elegant. The blond cut of her hair, the clean simple lines of her brightly colored clothes – American women craved for the ‘Jackie Look’. It was the sheer novelty of her – a new woman for a new time - the 60s. Jackie – the subject of all this attention was bewildered and asked – "What does the way I wear my hair have to do with my husband’s ability to serve as President ?" The scrutiny was so intense that she needed professional help. Oleg Cossini, a New York designer was hired to make her look divinely simple and truly distinct. She revolutionized dressing sense for a female public figure. She loved slacks and shorts and riding habits. Bill box hats, small square and round hats her trademark, became a national obsession.
Trips Abroad – Her Charm
In the late spring of 1961, the first couple took their first trip abroad. They went to Paris, Vienna and London.
In Paris they were to meet General Charles de Gaulle, a man greatly admired by the President and Jackie. Paris went wild over the arrival of the Kennedys. They were given a tumultuous welcome. The President said in his first Parisian press conference that it wouldn’t be altogether inappropriate to introduce himself to the audience as, "I am the man who accompanied Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris !"Jackie’s every appearance was a phenomenon and adored by everyone. Though General de Gaulle was normally an unbending
figure, he was at his gallant most, since he conversed with Jackie in his own language.
This aided the President who needed the respect of this French authoritarian and his appraisal on how to approach Khrushchev in Vienna. In Vienna he was scheduled to confront Nikita Khrushchev, the belligerent chairman of the Soviet Union. He had caused terrible problems for the former US president. While the two men were locked in a bitter confrontational battle, Khrushchev adored Jackie instantly. During the reception held for the visiting delegation, Khrushchev and Jackie were seated next to each other and his eyes bulging, could hardly contain himself. Soon they were laughing and bantering back and forth, an entirely different Khrushchev from the one ever seen earlier. During John F Kennedy’s tenure, she took many trips to different countries like India, Mexico, Venezuela, Canada, Greece, Colombia, Turkey and Morocco.
Jackie was pregnant again in 1963. During this time she appeared in public only twice and weeks before the baby was due, on August 7, 1963, she gave birth to a baby boy, whom they
named Patrick.Patrick seemed to be completely normal and healthy, but he had an infection and he died two days later. The President and Jackie were heartbroken.
• "I have been through a lot and have suffered a great deal. But I have had lots of happy moments as well. The good, the bad, hardship, the joy, the tragedy, love and happiness are all interwoven into one single, indescribable whole that is called life. You can not separate the good from the bad. And perhaps there is no need to do so either."
– Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
• "If you bungle raising your children, I don’t think whatever else you do well matters very much."
– Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
• "I hope now that people will realize that there was something under that bill box hat."
– Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
• "She graced our history. And those of us who knew and loved her. She graced our lives."
– Senator Edward M Kennedy.
• "Jackie speaks fluent French. But I only understand one out of all the words she says – and that word is de Gaulle."
– Jack F Kennedy.
• "Love of words, bonds of home and family, and a spirit of adventure."
– John Jr, her son.
• "She was part of the landscape. I will miss her."
– A local in New York.
• "Her style was not vanity but a way of living not simply adorning herself but expressing her vision of beauty in the world."
– Richard Martin, Associate Curator, Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.
