JACKIE KENNEDY ONASSIS

Jacqueline Lee Bouvier was born in Southampton, New York, July 28, 1929

Father, John Vernou Bouvier III Mother, Janet Norton Lee. Sister, Caroline Lee The Bouviers divorced in 1940

Janet Bouvier later married Standard Oil heir Hugh D. Auchincloss, Jr. in 1942.

Bouvier spent her early years in New York City and East Hampton, New York, at the Bouvier family estate, "Lasata”.

BEFORE BECOMING A “KENNEDY”

Attended the Chapin School in New York City. Bouvier attended the Holton-Arms School and Miss Porter's

School Columnist Igor Cassini dubbed her "debutante of the year’ when

she made her society debut in 1947. In 1947, Bouvier spent two years of college at Vassar College,

and then spent her junior year in a study-abroad program through Smith College. She spent time in France at the University of Grenoble and at the Sorbonne. She transferred to The George Washington University graduating in 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in French literature.

Bouvier was hired as "Inquiring Photographer" for The Washington Times-Herald..

During this time, she was engaged to a young stock broker, John Husted, for three months.

EDUCATION

Belonging to the same social circle, Bouvier and U.S. Representative, John Kennedy, attended a dinner party in May 1952.

Meet for the first time The two began dating soon afterward

Their engagement was officially announced on June 25, 1953.

Bouvier married Kennedy on September 12, 1953, at St. Mary's Church in Newport, Rhode Island

Created their home in McLean, Virginia. In 1955, Kennedy had a miscarriage and gave birth

to a stillborn baby girl in 1956. Fortunately, Kennedy gave birth to a second daughter, Caroline, in 1957.

BECOMING A “KENNEDY”

On January 3, 1960, John Kennedy announced his candidacy for the Presidency and launched his nationwide campaign.

Unfortunately Kennedy was ordered to stay home because she was pregnant. Even thought she rarely made personal

appearances Kennedy did her part working and writing a weekly syndicated newspaper column, "Campaign Wife.” from Georgetown.

On November 8, 1960, John F. Kennedy beat Republican Richard Nixon in the election.

CAMPAIGN

Jacqueline Kennedy gave birth to the couple's first son, John, Jr.

John F. Kennedy was sworn is as President on January 20, 1961.

Kennedy was note in the spotlight. She did not mind giving interviews or having her picture taken however, she wanted to keep as much privacy as possible for the safety of her children.

In 1963, Kennedy became pregnant. At Hyannis Port, where she went into premature labor on August 7, 1963. She gave birth to a boy, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, prematurely. His lungs were not fully developed, and he died on August 9, 1963.

PRESIDENCY

Kennedy is remembered for: Reorganizing entertainment for

White House social events Restoring the interior of the

presidential home Her taste in fashion To see photos click here

Her popularity among foreign dignitaries

Leading the country in mourning after JFK's 1963 assassination.

Kennedy ranks among the most popular of First Ladies.

CONTRIBUTIONS AS FIRST LADY

On November 21, 1963, the First Couple left the White House for a political trip to Texas to the Trade Mart where the President was scheduled to speak.

Shots were fired and the final shot struck the President in the head. Shocked, she climbed out of the back seat and crawled over the trunk of the car. Secret Service Agent, Hill ran to the car and leapt onto it, directing her back to her seat. The car rushed to Dallas's Parkland Hospital.

At the entrance to her husband’s trauma room, she is recorded saying "I want to be there when he dies”.

When the casket arrived she removed her wedding ring and slipped it onto the President's finger. She said "Now I have nothing left.”

After the president's death, she refused to remove her blood-stained clothing, and regretted having washed the blood off her face and hands.

Kennedy took an active role in planning the details of her husband's state funeral. The funeral service was held at Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, Washington D.C., and the burial at Arlington National Cemetery.

She led the procession there on foot and would light the eternal flame at the grave site, a flame that had been created at her request.

ASSASSINATION OF JFK

Following the assassination Kennedy stepped back from official public view but made a brief appearance in Washington to honor the Secret Service agent, Clint Hill, who had climbed aboard the limousine in Dallas to try to shield her and the President.

Kennedy perpetuated her husband's memory by attending selected memorial dedications.

1967- U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy Memorial in Hyannisport United Kingdom's official memorial to President

Kennedy at Runnymede, England A park near New Ross, Ireland. John F. Kennedy Library: the repository for official

papers of the Kennedy Administration

AFTER THE ASSASSINATION

When Robert Kennedy was assassinated in June 1968, she feared for the of her and her children. She was reported saying that she wanted out of the country. On October 20, 1968, she married Aristotle Onassis, a wealthy, Greek shipping magnate, who was able to provide what she and her children wanted and needed, privacy and protection. As a result of the marriage, the media gave her the nickname "Jackie O", which remained a popular shorthand reference to her.Onassis's health began to turn south and he died in Paris, on March 15, 1975. After two years of legal battle, Kennedy-Onassis eventually accepted a settlement of $26 million, waiving all other claims to the Onassis estate.

JACKIE “O”

After becoming a widower twice Jackie Kennedy-Onassis decided to do something she loved.

She worked as a book editor and worked on many service projects

Her death came in January of 1994. She did of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Kennedy-Onassis' funeral was held on May 23 at Saint Ignatius Loyola Church in Manhattan  At her funeral, her son John described three of her attributes as the love of words, the bonds of home and family, and the spirit of adventure. She was buried alongside President Kennedy, their son Patrick, and their stillborn daughter Arabella at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

OWN IDENTITY

Jackie Kennedy-Onassis talks about her life as a “Kennedy”Click here to hear her words