Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Born 1929 · Age 96
American socialite, writer and book editor; First Lady of the United States (1961–1963); known for White House restoration, cultural diplomacy, fashion, and later career as a New York book editor.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born Jacqueline Lee Bouvier
Born at Southampton Hospital, Southampton, New York, to John Vernou Bouvier III and Janet Norton Lee; baptized at Church of St. Ignatius Loyola and raised Catholic.
Enrolled at Chapin School (Manhattan)
Attended Chapin School for grades 1–7; early education and formative years in Manhattan and Long Island estate Lasata.
Parents separated
Her parents' marriage was strained by alcoholism and affairs; the couple separated in 1936, deeply affecting Jacqueline.
Parents divorced
Her parents' divorce was finalized four years after separation, and the press published intimate details of the split.
Won national junior horsemanship competition
As a youth she excelled in equestrian events and won a national junior horsemanship competition (reported when she was 11).
Mother married Hugh D. Auchincloss Jr.; learned to drive
After her mother's remarriage the family moved to Merrywood estate; as a wedding gift Jacqueline learned to drive a like-new 1940 Ford Deluxe Convertible.
Attended Holton-Arms School
Attended Holton-Arms School in Northwest Washington, D.C. (1942–1944) as part of her prep-school education.
Attended Miss Porter's School
Transferred to Miss Porter's School (1944–1947), a boarding school emphasizing college preparation and manners.
Entered Vassar College
Enrolled at Vassar College to study history, literature, art and French; named a social debutante the summer before college.
Junior year abroad in France
Spent academic year 1949–1950 in France (University of Grenoble and the Sorbonne) which deepened her fluency in French and love of French culture.
Graduated George Washington University (BA French literature)
Transferred to and graduated from George Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts in French literature.
Won 12-month junior editorship at Vogue
Won a highly competitive junior editorship at Vogue (6 months New York, 6 months Paris) but left the position on advice after one day.
Hired at Washington Times-Herald as 'Inquiring Camera Girl'
Became a part-time receptionist and quickly moved to the role of 'Inquiring Camera Girl', interviewing and photographing Washingtonians; paid $25/week.
Announced engagement to John Husted; engagement later called off
Publicly announced engagement to a young stockbroker in January 1952 but ended the engagement about three months later.
Reported on Queen Elizabeth II's coronation
Covered the 1952 coronation of Elizabeth II for the Washington Times-Herald as part of her journalism assignments.
Met John F. Kennedy at a dinner party
Met then-Congressman John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts at a dinner party hosted by Charles L. Bartlett; relationship began and later deepened.
Honeymooned in Acapulco and settled in Hickory Hill
Newlyweds honeymooned in Acapulco, then lived at Hickory Hill in McLean, Virginia during the early years of the marriage.
Engagement to John F. Kennedy announced
Engagement to Senator-elect John F. Kennedy officially announced; she resigned from the newspaper after accepting his proposal.
Married John F. Kennedy
Married John F. Kennedy at St. Mary's Church in Newport, Rhode Island; wedding was a major social event with ~700 guests at the ceremony and 1,200 at the reception.
John F. Kennedy's near-fatal spinal surgery
Her husband underwent a major spinal operation in late 1954, which affected their family life and public duties.
Suffered a miscarriage
Experienced a pregnancy loss, one of several early family tragedies.
Gave birth to stillborn daughter 'Arabella'
In August 1956 she delivered a stillborn daughter, often referred to as Arabella; the couple was deeply affected.
Birth of daughter Caroline
Caroline Bouvier Kennedy was born; the couple began campaigning together more frequently thereafter.
John F. Kennedy reelected to U.S. Senate
John Kennedy won reelection in November 1958; Jacqueline's increased visibility was credited as aiding his campaign.
John F. Kennedy announced presidential candidacy
Kennedy announced his campaign for president; Jacqueline contributed with a syndicated column 'Campaign Wife' and other campaign work.
John F. Kennedy elected President
John F. Kennedy narrowly defeated Richard Nixon to become the 35th U.S. President; Jacqueline was pregnant at the time.
Birth of John F. Kennedy Jr.
Her son John F. Kennedy Jr. was born just weeks after the 1960 election; the media intensely covered mother and newborn.
White House restoration project begun
Initiated major restoration of the White House, established a fine arts committee, solicited donations of historical furnishings, and created the White House Historical Association/Committee for Preservation.
Hired first White House press secretary and social team
Became the first presidential spouse to hire a press secretary (Pamela Turnure) and appointed Letitia Baldrige as social secretary; began carefully managing media relations.
Official visit to France with President Kennedy
Highly publicized visit in which Jacqueline famously spoke French; her popularity in France bolstered cultural diplomacy (Kennedy joked about being 'the man who accompanied Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris').
Established position of permanent White House Curator and Acquisition Trusts
Instrumental in establishing the permanent Curator of the White House, the White House Endowment Trust, and the White House Acquisition Trust to preserve furnishings.
Imported and promoted American arts and culture at State Dinners
As First Lady she invited artists, writers, musicians and intellectuals to the White House, integrating arts into diplomatic and state functions.
Became First Lady of the United States
John F. Kennedy inaugurated; Jacqueline became First Lady and began high-profile restoration and cultural initiatives in the White House.
Named Time magazine's Woman of the Year
Honored as Time's Woman of the Year in 1962 in recognition of her public role and influence.
State visits: India and Pakistan tour
Traveled to India and Pakistan (with sister Lee Radziwill) to strengthen cultural diplomacy; received gifts including a horse from Pakistan's president.
Wrote foreword to The White House: An Historic Guide
Wrote the foreword to the White House Historical Association's first guide (1962) as part of efforts to catalog and preserve White House holdings.
Won special Emmy (Trustees Award) for the White House tour
Received a special Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Trustees Award (Emmy) for the televised White House tour; only First Lady to win an Emmy.
Received a puppy (Pushinka) from Nikita Khrushchev
Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev sent her Pushinka, a puppy descended from a space dog, as a gift after the Vienna meeting; symbolized personal diplomatic outreach.
Redesigned Rose Garden with Rachel Mellon
Oversaw redesign and replanting of the Rose Garden and East Garden (East Garden later renamed Jacqueline Kennedy Garden after JFK's assassination).
Televised tour of the restored White House
Hosted a CBS televised tour of the White House with Charles Collingwood; viewed by 56 million U.S. viewers and distributed to 106 countries.
East Garden later renamed Jacqueline Kennedy Garden (post-assassination)
The East Garden which she helped redesign was later renamed the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden after her husband's assassination, honoring her restoration efforts.
Birth of son Patrick Bouvier Kennedy (premature)
Gave birth prematurely via emergency Caesarean at Otis Air Force Base; infant transferred to Boston Children's Hospital due to underdeveloped lungs.
Death of infant son Patrick
Patrick Bouvier Kennedy died of hyaline membrane disease two days after birth; Jacqueline entered a period of deep mourning.
Returned from recuperation on Aristotle Onassis's yacht
Traveled to recuperate after Patrick's death on the yacht of Aristotle Onassis; the trip was controversial and publicly criticized when it lasted longer than some expected.
Assassination of President John F. Kennedy
While riding beside her husband in a Dallas motorcade she witnessed his assassination; her blood-stained pink Chanel suit became an enduring symbol.
Planned and presided over JFK state funeral; lit eternal flame
Oversaw funeral arrangements modeled on Abraham Lincoln's funeral, led the procession and lit the eternal flame at his gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery.
Interview with Life magazine (Coined 'Camelot' association)
Gave a high-profile Life magazine interview (Theodore H. White) in which she compared the Kennedy White House years to Camelot; helped shape JFK's legacy.
Offered U.S. ambassadorship to France by President Johnson (reported)
President Lyndon B. Johnson reportedly offered Jacqueline an ambassadorship to France as a gesture after the assassination; widely reported though she did not accept a permanent official role.
White House furnishings protected by Congress
Congress passed legislation (with her support) making White House furnishings of artistic or historic importance the inalienable property of the nation.
Warren Commission report published; she gave a deposition
The Warren Commission completed its report finding Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone; Jacqueline provided a deposition to the Commission during its investigation.
Donated blood-stained pink suit to National Archives (agreement)
The blood-stained pink Chanel suit was donated to the National Archives (1964) with agreement it would not be publicly displayed before 2103.
Married Aristotle Onassis
Married Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis (marriage caused controversy); became Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and entered a marriage to one of the world's wealthiest men.
Domestic partnership with Maurice Tempelsman begins (reported 1980–1994)
Later in life she had a long-term relationship with diamond merchant Maurice Tempelsman (commonly noted 1980–1994). Included here to capture personal partnership that shaped later years.
Death of Aristotle Onassis
Aristotle Onassis died in 1975; his death materially altered Jacqueline's finances and public life (she received a substantial settlement/inheritance).
Began career as book editor in New York City (Viking Press)
Returned to work as an editor at Viking Press in New York City, resuming a professional career after years in public life.
Joined Doubleday as senior editor
Left Viking Press and joined Doubleday as a senior editor, becoming a respected figure in New York publishing and restoring public image.
Siena College surveys begin finding her highly regarded
Surveys of historians conducted periodically by the Siena College Research Institute since 1982 consistently rank her among the most highly regarded First Ladies.
Death in New York City
Died on May 19, 1994, in New York City of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; buried at Arlington National Cemetery beside President Kennedy and two of their children.
Placed on Gallup's Most-Admired Men and Women of the 20th Century list (posthumous)
Posthumously placed on Gallup's list of the Most-Admired Men and Women of the 20th century in 1999, reflecting enduring public admiration.
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