Jacqueline Lee (Bouvier) Kennedy Onassis
"One must not let oneself be overwhelmed by sadness."
She was born on July 28, 1929, at Southampton Hospital in Southampton, New York.
Her parents were Wall Street stockbroker John Vernou
"Black Jack" Bouvier III and socialite Janet Norton Lee.
She was an equestrienne.
Horse-riding would remain a lifelong passion.
She also took ballet lessons, was an avid reader, and excelled at learning languages.
It was said that she was a bright student but often misbehaved.
One of her teachers said she was "a darling child, the prettiest little girl, very clever, very artistic, and full of the devil".
Her mother said she thought that her daughter would finished her assignments in school and then get bored and act out.
Her father was a alcoholic and had extramarital affairs.
The family had also struggled with financial difficulties following the Wall Street Crash of 1929.
Her parents separated in 1936 and divorced four years later.
She was deeply affected by the divorce and had a "tendency to withdraw frequently into a private world of her own".
Her mother then married Standard Oil heir Hugh Dudley Auchincloss, Jr.
Jackie regarded her stepfather as a close paternal figure.
Her senior class year book described "her wit, her accomplishment as a horsewoman, and her unwillingness to become a housewife". She graduated among the top students of her class and received the Maria McKinney Memorial Award for Excellence in Literature.
In the fall of 1947, Jackie entered Vassar College in New York.
Jackie was an accomplished student.
She participated in the school's art and drama clubs and wrote for its newspaper.
She disliked college and didn't go to any social functions.
Jackie spent her junior year in France, at the University of Grenoble in Grenoble, and at the Sorbonne in Paris.
She transferred to George Washington University in Washington, D.C., graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in French literature in 1951.
She took continuing education classes in American history at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. during the early years of her marriage to John F. Kennedy.
While attending George Washington, Jackie won a year junior editorship at Vogue magazine.
She had been selected over several hundred other women nationwide.
The position entailed working for six months in the magazine's New York City office and spending the remaining six months in Paris.
On her first day at Vogue, the editor advised her to quit and go back to Washington.
Jackie quit and returned to Washington after only one day of work.
Jackie got a job as a part-time receptionist at the Washington Times-Herald.
Just after midnight on June 5, 1968, Robert Kennedy was mortally wounded by gunfire by Sirhan Sirhan at a celebration of his victory in the California Democratic presidential primary.
In the fall of 1947, Jackie entered Vassar College in New York.
Jackie was an accomplished student.
She participated in the school's art and drama clubs and wrote for its newspaper.
She disliked college and didn't go to any social functions.
Jackie spent her junior year in France, at the University of Grenoble in Grenoble, and at the Sorbonne in Paris.
She transferred to George Washington University in Washington, D.C., graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in French literature in 1951.
She took continuing education classes in American history at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. during the early years of her marriage to John F. Kennedy.
While attending George Washington, Jackie won a year junior editorship at Vogue magazine.
She had been selected over several hundred other women nationwide.
The position entailed working for six months in the magazine's New York City office and spending the remaining six months in Paris.
On her first day at Vogue, the editor advised her to quit and go back to Washington.
Jackie quit and returned to Washington after only one day of work.
A week later, she was given the position of "Inquiring Camera Girl".
She sometimes sought interviews with people of interest, such as six-year-old Tricia Nixon.
Jackie was briefly engaged to a young stockbroker, John G. W. Husted, Jr.
She called off the engagement after three months.
Jackie and U.S. Representative John F. Kennedy were formally introduced by a mutual friend, journalist Charles L. Bartlett, at a dinner party in May 1952.
Kennedy proposed to her after the November election.
She had been assigned to cover the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in London for The Washington Times-Herald.
After a month in Europe, she returned to the United States and accepted Kennedy's marriage proposal.
She then resigned from her position at the newspaper.
Their engagement was officially announced on June 25, 1953.
Jackie and Kennedy were married on September 12, 1953, at St. Mary's Church in Newport, Rhode Island,
An estimated 700 guests at the ceremony and 1200 at the reception that followed at Hammersmith Farm.
Her wedding dress is now housed in the Kennedy Library in Boston, Massachusetts.
Jackie suffered a miscarriage in 1955 and in August 1956 gave birth to a stillborn daughter, Arabella.
Jacqueline gave birth to a daughter Caroline on November 27, 1957.
John Kennedy noticed the value that his wife added to his congressional campaign.
The size of the crowd was twice as big when she accompanied her husband.
In November 1958, when John Kennedy was reelected to a second term he called Jackie "simply invaluable".
On January 3, 1960, John F. Kennedy announced his candidacy for the presidency and launched his campaign nationwide.
Jackie accompanied her husband to campaign events.
Shortly after the campaign began, she became pregnant and decided to stay at home in Georgetown.
Jackie became the subject of intense media attention with her fashion choices.
She was admired for her personal style and was frequently featured in women's magazines
She named as one of the 12 best-dressed women of the world.
On November 25, 1960, Jacqueline gave birth to the couple's first son, John F. Kennedy, Jr., via Caesarean section.
Her husband was sworn in as president on January 20, 1961.
She became a trendsetter.
She was the first presidential wife to hire a press secretary. She usually would shy away from making public statements, and strictly controlled the extent to which her children were photographed.The First Lady attracted worldwide positive public attention and gained allies for the White House and international support for the Kennedy administration and its Cold War policies.
She also dedicated her time to the promotion of American arts and preservation of its history.
The restoration of the White House was her main contribution
One of her unrealized goals was to found a Department of the Arts. She did contribute to the establishment of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Furnishings and other items had been taken from the White House by presidents and their families when they departed.
To track down these missing furnishings and other historical pieces, she personally wrote to possible donors.
She also initiated a Congressional bill establishing that White House furnishings would be the property of the Smithsonian Institution.
She founded the White House Historical Association, the Committee for the Preservation of the White House, the position of a permanent Curator of the White House, the White House Endowment Trust, and the White House Acquisition Trust.
She was the first presidential spouse to hire a White House curator.
She made more official visits to other countries than any of the preceding First Ladies.
She proved popular among international dignitaries.
After arriving in France in 1961, she impressed the public with her ability to speak French, as well as her extensive knowledge of French history. Time magazine seemed delighted with the First Lady and noted, "There was also that fellow who came with her."
President Kennedy joked, "I am the man who accompanied Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris – and I have enjoyed it!"
The Kennedys then traveled to Vienna, Austria.
When President Kennedy asked to shake the Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev's hand for a photo, Nikita stated, "I'd like to shake her hand first."Kikita later sent her a puppy, which was the offspring of the dog that had gone to space during a Soviet space mission.
Kennedy undertook a tour of India and Pakistan with her sister Lee Radziwill in 1962.
She was gifted with a horse called Sardar by the President of Pakistan, Ayub Khan.
Jackie was fluent in Spanish, which she used to address Latin American audiences.
In early 1963, Jackie was again pregnant.
She spent most of the summer at a home she and the president had rented on Squaw Island.
On August 7, she went into premature labor and gave birth to a boy, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, via emergency Caesarean section at nearby Otis Air Force Base.
The infant's lungs were not fully developed, and he died of hyaline membrane disease two days after birth.
The First Lady proceeded to enter a state of depression after losing her son.
The loss of their child brought the couple closer together in their shared grief.
Jacqueline's friend Aristotle Onassis invited her to his yacht to recuperate.
President Kennedy initially had reservations, but relented because he believed that it would be "good for her."
The First Lady returned to the United States on October 17, 1963.
On November 21, 1963, the First Lady and the president left the White House for a political trip to Texas.
The First Lady was wearing a bright pink Chanel suit and a pillbox hat, which had been personally selected by President Kennedy.
A 9.5-mile motorcade was to take them to the Trade Mart, where the President was scheduled to speak at a lunch.
The First Lady was seated to her husband's left in the third row of seats in the presidential limousine, with the Governor and his wife seated in front of them.
Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and his wife followed in another car in the motorcade.
The motorcade turned the corner onto Elm Street in Dealey Plaza.
The First Lady heard what she thought to be a motorcycle backfiring.
She did not realize that it was a gunshot until she heard Governor Connally scream.
Within 8.4 seconds, two more shots had rung out.
One of the shots struck her husband in the head.
Immediately, she began to climb onto the back of the limousine ro grab a piece of her husband's skull.
Secret Service agent Clint Hill ran to the car and leapt onto it, directing her back to her seat.
She would later testify that she saw pictures "of me climbing out the back. But I don't remember that at all".
The President was rushed to Dallas' Parkland Hospital.
The First Lady was allowed to be present in the operating room.
After her husband was pronounced dead she refused to remove her blood-stained clothing.
She also regretted having washed the blood off her face and hands, explaining to Lady Bird Johnson that she wanted "them to see what they have done to Jack".
She continued to wear the blood-stained pink suit as she boarded Air Force One and stood next to Johnson when he took the oath of office as President.
The suit was donated to the National Archives and Records Administration in 1964 and, under the terms of an agreement with her daughter Caroline Kennedy, will not be placed on public display until 2103.
Jackie planned her husband's state funeral and modeled it after Abraham Lincoln's service.
She requested a closed casket.
The funeral service was held at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington D.C. and the burial took place at nearby Arlington National Cemetery.
Jacqueline led the procession on foot and lit the eternal flame at the grave site.
"Don't let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief, shining moment that was known as Camelot. There'll be great presidents again ... but there will never be another Camelot." Jackie stated about her husband's presidency.
On January 3, 1960, John F. Kennedy announced his candidacy for the presidency and launched his campaign nationwide.
Jackie accompanied her husband to campaign events.
Shortly after the campaign began, she became pregnant and decided to stay at home in Georgetown.
Jackie became the subject of intense media attention with her fashion choices.
She was admired for her personal style and was frequently featured in women's magazines
She named as one of the 12 best-dressed women of the world.
Her husband was sworn in as president on January 20, 1961.
She became a trendsetter.
She was the first presidential wife to hire a press secretary. She usually would shy away from making public statements, and strictly controlled the extent to which her children were photographed.The First Lady attracted worldwide positive public attention and gained allies for the White House and international support for the Kennedy administration and its Cold War policies.
She also dedicated her time to the promotion of American arts and preservation of its history.
The restoration of the White House was her main contribution
One of her unrealized goals was to found a Department of the Arts. She did contribute to the establishment of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Furnishings and other items had been taken from the White House by presidents and their families when they departed.
To track down these missing furnishings and other historical pieces, she personally wrote to possible donors.
She also initiated a Congressional bill establishing that White House furnishings would be the property of the Smithsonian Institution.
She founded the White House Historical Association, the Committee for the Preservation of the White House, the position of a permanent Curator of the White House, the White House Endowment Trust, and the White House Acquisition Trust.
She was the first presidential spouse to hire a White House curator.
She made more official visits to other countries than any of the preceding First Ladies.
She proved popular among international dignitaries.
After arriving in France in 1961, she impressed the public with her ability to speak French, as well as her extensive knowledge of French history. Time magazine seemed delighted with the First Lady and noted, "There was also that fellow who came with her."
President Kennedy joked, "I am the man who accompanied Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris – and I have enjoyed it!"
The Kennedys then traveled to Vienna, Austria.
When President Kennedy asked to shake the Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev's hand for a photo, Nikita stated, "I'd like to shake her hand first."Kikita later sent her a puppy, which was the offspring of the dog that had gone to space during a Soviet space mission.
She was gifted with a horse called Sardar by the President of Pakistan, Ayub Khan.
Jackie was fluent in Spanish, which she used to address Latin American audiences.
In early 1963, Jackie was again pregnant.
She spent most of the summer at a home she and the president had rented on Squaw Island.
On August 7, she went into premature labor and gave birth to a boy, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, via emergency Caesarean section at nearby Otis Air Force Base.
The infant's lungs were not fully developed, and he died of hyaline membrane disease two days after birth.
The First Lady proceeded to enter a state of depression after losing her son.
The loss of their child brought the couple closer together in their shared grief.
Jacqueline's friend Aristotle Onassis invited her to his yacht to recuperate.
President Kennedy initially had reservations, but relented because he believed that it would be "good for her."
The First Lady returned to the United States on October 17, 1963.
On November 21, 1963, the First Lady and the president left the White House for a political trip to Texas.
The First Lady was wearing a bright pink Chanel suit and a pillbox hat, which had been personally selected by President Kennedy.
A 9.5-mile motorcade was to take them to the Trade Mart, where the President was scheduled to speak at a lunch.
The First Lady was seated to her husband's left in the third row of seats in the presidential limousine, with the Governor and his wife seated in front of them.
Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and his wife followed in another car in the motorcade.
The motorcade turned the corner onto Elm Street in Dealey Plaza.
The First Lady heard what she thought to be a motorcycle backfiring.
She did not realize that it was a gunshot until she heard Governor Connally scream.
Within 8.4 seconds, two more shots had rung out.
One of the shots struck her husband in the head.
Secret Service agent Clint Hill ran to the car and leapt onto it, directing her back to her seat.
She would later testify that she saw pictures "of me climbing out the back. But I don't remember that at all".
The President was rushed to Dallas' Parkland Hospital.
The First Lady was allowed to be present in the operating room.
After her husband was pronounced dead she refused to remove her blood-stained clothing.
She also regretted having washed the blood off her face and hands, explaining to Lady Bird Johnson that she wanted "them to see what they have done to Jack".
She continued to wear the blood-stained pink suit as she boarded Air Force One and stood next to Johnson when he took the oath of office as President.
The suit was donated to the National Archives and Records Administration in 1964 and, under the terms of an agreement with her daughter Caroline Kennedy, will not be placed on public display until 2103.
Jackie planned her husband's state funeral and modeled it after Abraham Lincoln's service.
She requested a closed casket.
The funeral service was held at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington D.C. and the burial took place at nearby Arlington National Cemetery.
Jacqueline led the procession on foot and lit the eternal flame at the grave site.
"Don't let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief, shining moment that was known as Camelot. There'll be great presidents again ... but there will never be another Camelot." Jackie stated about her husband's presidency.
Jackie and her children remained in the White House for two weeks following the assassination.
President Johnson offered an ambassadorship to France to her, but she turned the offer down, as well as follow-up offers of ambassadorships to Mexico and the United Kingdom.
At her request, Johnson renamed the Florida space center the John F. Kennedy Space Center a week after the assassination.
She purchased a house for herself and her children in Georgetown but sold it later in 1964 and bought a 15th-floor penthouse apartment for $250,000 at 1040 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan in the hopes of having more privacy.
She also oversaw the establishment of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.
During the Vietnam War, Life magazine dubbed Kennedy "America's unofficial roving ambassador".
She and David Ormsby-Gore, former British ambassador to the United States during the Kennedy administration, traveled to Cambodia.
They visited the religious complex of Angkor Wat with Chief of State Norodom Sihanouk.
Her visit was the start of the repair to Cambodian-US relations.
She also attended the funeral services of Martin Luther King, Jr. in Atlanta, Georgia, in April 1968.
Jackie relied heavily on her brother-in-law Robert F. Kennedy.
He had been a source of support after she had suffered a miscarriage early in her marriage, when he, not her husband, stayed with her in the hospital.
Bobby became a surrogate father for her children .
He credited Jackie with convincing him to stay in politics.
She supported his 1964 run for United States Senator from New York.
The two became romantically involved after her husband's death.
Robert Kennedy's advisors urged him to enter the upcoming presidential race. When asked if he intended to run, he replied, "That depends on what Jackie wants me to do".
She encouraged him to run and advised him to not follow Jack, but to "be yourself".
She worried about his safety.
She believed that Bobby was more disliked than her husband.
That there was "so much hatred" in the United States.
She campaigned for her brother-in-law and supported him.
Jacqueline Kennedy rushed to Los Angeles from Manhattan.
Bobby Kennedy never regained consciousness and died 26 hours after the shooting.
Jackie suffered a relapse of the depression.
She came to fear for her life and those of her children, saying: "If they're killing Kennedys, then my children are targets ... I want to get out of this country".
On October 20, 1968, Jackie married Aristotle Onassis, a wealthy Greek shipping magnate.
The wedding took place on Skorpios, Onassis's private Greek island in the Ionian Sea.
She took the legal name Jacqueline Onassis and lost her right to Secret Service protection.
Aristotle Onassis' health deteriorated rapidly following the death of his son Alexander in a plane crash in 1973.
He died of respiratory failure at age 69 in Paris on March 15, 1975. After two years of legal wrangling, Jackie eventually accepted a settlement of $26 million from Christina Onassis—Aristotle's daughter and sole heir.
Jackie returned permanently to the United States, splitting her time between Manhattan, Martha's Vineyard, and the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.
In 1975, she became a consulting editor at Viking Press.
She attended the 1976 Democratic National Convention.
She resigned from Viking Press in 1977.
Two years later, she appeared alongside her mother-in-law Rose Kennedy at Faneuil Hall in Boston when Ted Kennedy announced that he was going to challenge incumbent President Jimmy Carter for the Democratic nomination for president.
She participated in his campaign.
She was then hired by Doubleday, where she worked as an associate editor.
In the 1970s, she led a historic preservation campaign to save from demolition and renovate Grand Central Terminal in New York.
In the 1980s, she was a major figure in protests against a planned skyscraper at Columbus Circle that would have cast large shadows on Central Park.
From 1980 until her death, Jackie had a close relationship with Maurice Tempelsman, who was her companion and personal financial adviser.
She supported Bill Clinton and contributed money to his presidential campaign.
She met with First Lady Hillary Clinton and advised her on raising Clinton wrote that Jackie was "a source of inspiration and advice for me".
In November 1993, Jackie was thrown from her horse while participating in a fox hunt in Middleburg, Virginia.
She was taken to the hospital.
A swollen lymph node was discovered in her groin.
It was initially diagnosed by the doctor to be caused by an infection.
In December, Onassis developed new symptoms, including a stomach ache and swollen lymph nodes in her neck, and was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
She began chemotherapy in January 1994.
She continued to work at Doubleday, but by March the cancer had spread to her spinal cord and brain, and by May to her liver.
Jackie made her last trip home from New York Hospital–Cornell Medical Center on May 18, 1994.
The following night at 10:15 p.m., she died in her sleep at age 64.
John F. Kennedy, Jr. stated she had been "surrounded by her friends and her family and her books, and the people and the things that she loved."
"She did it in her very own way, and on her own terms, and we all feel lucky for that."
On May 23, 1994, her funeral at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola.
She was interred at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, alongside President Kennedy, their son Patrick, and their stillborn daughter Arabella.
President Bill Clinton delivered a eulogy at her graveside service. She left an estate that its executors valued at $43.7 million.
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