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Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

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Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis was a highly influential American figure. She served as the First Lady of the United States from 1961 to 1963.

Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy
Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy

Beyond her role in the White House, she became a symbol of 1960s fashion. Her impact on American culture and her personal resilience made her a global icon. She remains one of the most recognizable women in modern history. Even decades after her death, she is remembered for her intellect and style.

Jacqueline was born on July 28, 1929, in Southampton, New York. Her father, John Vernou "Black Jack" Bouvier III, was a Wall Street stockbroker. Her mother was Janet Norton Lee.

Jacqueline Bouvier by David Berne, 1935
Jacqueline Bouvier by David Berne, 1935

She grew up in Manhattan and at the family estate, Lasata, in East Hampton. Her childhood was shaped by her father's praise and her interest in many activities. She was an enthusiastic equestrian who competed in horse riding. She also studied ballet and became very skilled at foreign languages. She was particularly fluent in French, Spanish, and Italian.

Her education was rigorous and helped prepare her for a complex life. She attended the Chapin School in Manhattan for seven years. Later, she attended the Holton-Arms School and Miss Porter's School in Connecticut.

Jacqueline Kennedy at the Taj Mahal, 15 March 1962
Jacqueline Kennedy at the Taj Mahal, 15 March 1962

At Miss Porter's, she was known for her wit and her skill as a horsewoman. She then attended Vassar College, a women's institution in Poughkeepsie, New York. During her junior year, she studied abroad in France at the University of Grenoble and the Sorbonne. She eventually graduated from George Washington University in 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts in French literature.

Before her marriage, Jacqueline explored different professional paths. She briefly held a junior editorship at Vogue magazine in New York and Paris. However, she left the position after only one day. She then found work at the Washington Times-Herald.

Jacqueline Kennedy at the Taj Mahal, 15 March 1962
Jacqueline Kennedy at the Taj Mahal, 15 March 1962

There, she served as an "Inquiring Camera Girl" for $25 a week. In this role, she interviewed random people on the street and took their photographs. This job required her to be witty and curious about the world around her.

In May 1952, she met John F. Kennedy at a dinner party in Washington. He was a congressman from Massachusetts at the time. They shared many interests, including Catholicism and a love for reading. The couple married on September 12, 1953, in Newport, Rhode Island.

Toni Frissell, John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier on their wedding day, 1953
Toni Frissell, John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier on their wedding day, 1953

They had four children together. When John F. Kennedy won the presidency in 1960, Jacqueline's public role changed significantly.

As First Lady, she redefined the position through cultural leadership. She led a major restoration project to preserve the history of the White House.

White House Dinner in honor of President of Tunisia. President Habib Bourguiba, Mrs. Bourguiba, Mrs. Kennedy... - NARA - 194199
White House Dinner in honor of President of Tunisia. President Habib Bourguiba, Mrs. Bourguiba, Mrs. Kennedy... - NARA - 194199

She also hosted intellectual and cultural events for international guests. Her fashion sense, often called the "Jackie Look," influenced people worldwide. In 1962, Time magazine recognized her achievements by naming her Woman of the Year. She traveled extensively, using her language skills to connect with many different nations.

Following the assassination of her husband in 1963, life changed deeply.

JFK's family leaves Capitol after his funeral, 1963
JFK's family leaves Capitol after his funeral, 1963

She and her children largely withdrew from the public eye for several years. In 1968, she married the Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis. This marriage caused significant controversy at the time. After Onassis died in 1975, she moved to New York City to begin a new chapter. She worked as a professional book editor at Viking Press and later at Doubleday.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis died in 1994. She is buried at Arlington National Cemetery alongside President Kennedy and two of their children.

OnassisGrave
OnassisGrave

Her legacy is measured by her lasting popularity and cultural impact. In 1999, Gallup included her on its list of the most admired women of the 20th century. She remains a central figure in the study of American social and political history.

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🖼️ Images & Media (20)
File:Jacqueline Bouvier by David Berne, 1935.jpg
Jacqueline Bouvier by David Berne, 1935.jpg
File:Toni Frissell, John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier on their wedding day, 1953.jpg
Toni Frissell, John F. Kennedy and...
File:John F. Kennedy after spinal surgery cph.3c33052.jpg
John F. Kennedy after spinal surgery...
File:KennedysElectionDayBoston.png
KennedysElectionDayBoston.png
File:JBKJFKMalraux.jpg
JBKJFKMalraux.jpg
File:White House Dinner in honor of President of Tunisia. President Habib Bourguiba, Mrs. Bourguiba, Mrs. Kennedy... - NARA - 194199.jpg
White House Dinner in honor of President...
File:Charles Collingwood murrow27s boys.jpg
Charles Collingwood murrow27s boys.jpg
File:1962 White House Christmas Tree - John and Jacqueline Kennedy 1.jpg
1962 White House Christmas Tree - John...
File:Jacqueline Kennedy at Vijay Chowk, New Delhi.jpg
Jacqueline Kennedy at Vijay Chowk, New Delhi.jpg
File:Jacqueline Kennedy at the Taj Mahal, 15 March 1962.jpg
Jacqueline Kennedy at the Taj Mahal, 15...
File:John F. Kennedy motorcade, Dallas crop.png
John F. Kennedy motorcade, Dallas crop.png
File:Lyndon B. Johnson taking the oath of office, November 1963.jpg
Lyndon B. Johnson taking the oath of...

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