Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Abbie Rowe · Public domain · source
Name	Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Birth date	July 28, 1929
Birth place	Southampton, New York
Death date	May 20, 1994
Death place	New York City
Occupation	First Lady of the United States, book editor
Spouse	John F. Kennedy, Aristotle Onassis
Children	Caroline Kennedy, John F. Kennedy Jr., Patrick Bouvier Kennedy

Contents

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was a highly influential and iconic figure in American history, known for her elegance, intelligence, and dedication to the Arts. As the wife of John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, she played a significant role in shaping the country's cultural and social landscape, often in collaboration with notable figures like Pierre Salinger and Theodore Sorensen. Her interests and passions, which included French literature, Italian Renaissance art, and Classical music, were reflected in her support for institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the New York City Ballet. Throughout her life, she was associated with prominent individuals, such as Andy Warhol, Truman Capote, and Lee Radziwill, her sister.

Early Life and Education

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was born in Southampton, New York, to John Vernou Bouvier III and Janet Lee Bouvier, and spent her childhood in East Hampton, New York, and McLean, Virginia. She developed a strong interest in French language and Literature, which led her to study at the Sorbonne in Paris, where she was exposed to the works of Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. Her education also included time at George Washington University and Vassar College, where she was influenced by professors like Dorothy Kenyon and Marianne Moore. Her love for Horse riding and Polo was fostered during her time at the Potomac School in McLean, Virginia, and she often attended events like the Preakness Stakes and the Kentucky Derby.

In 1953, Jacqueline married John F. Kennedy, then a United States Senator from Massachusetts, in a ceremony at St. Mary's Church in Newport, Rhode Island, attended by guests like Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. and Rose Kennedy. The couple had four children: Caroline Kennedy, John F. Kennedy Jr., Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, and Arabella Kennedy, who was stillborn. As the First Lady of the United States, she worked closely with the White House staff, including Letitia Baldrige and Nancy Tuckerman, to restore the White House and promote the Arts through events like the National Medal of Arts ceremony. Her husband's presidency was marked by significant events, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Berlin Wall construction, and the Space Race with the Soviet Union, which involved figures like Nikita Khrushchev and Sergei Korolev.

As First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis played a crucial role in promoting American culture and history, often in collaboration with institutions like the Smithsonian Institution and the National Gallery of Art. She was a strong supporter of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, which were established during her husband's presidency. After John F. Kennedy's assassination in Dallas, Texas, she continued to be involved in public life, working with the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum and the American Ballet Theatre. In 1968, she married Aristotle Onassis, a wealthy Greek shipping magnate, in a ceremony on the island of Skorpios, which was attended by guests like Maria Callas and Stavros Niarchos.

In her later years, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis pursued a career as a book editor, working with publishers like Viking Press and Doubleday. She was a strong advocate for the preservation of historic buildings and landmarks, such as Grand Central Terminal and the Brooklyn Bridge, and worked with organizations like the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. She passed away on May 20, 1994, at the age of 64, in New York City, due to complications from Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery alongside her first husband, John F. Kennedy, in a ceremony attended by Bill Clinton, Nancy Reagan, and other notable figures.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis's impact on American culture and society is still felt today, with her influence evident in fields like Fashion, Interior design, and the Arts. She was a style icon, known for her elegant and sophisticated sense of fashion, which was often showcased in publications like Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. Her love of History and Preservation has inspired countless individuals and organizations, including the National Park Service and the Historic Preservation Society. Her legacy continues to be celebrated through various institutions and events, such as the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir in Central Park, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., and the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, which has hosted exhibitions like the Alexander McQueen retrospective and the Coco Chanel exhibition. Category:American First Ladies