Jacqueline Kennedy OnassisLegendary First Lady

Author: Donna Brown Agins

By: Gianna Ottaviano

Vocabulary Words

● aura - n - feeling that seems to be given off by someone

● arrogant - adj - showing attitude of a person who is very proud

● adequately - adv - able or unable to satisfy

● obliging - adj - willing to do favors

● debutante - n - a young woman who is making her debut

● predicament - n - a bad situation

Jacqueline Lee Bouvier was born July 28,1929 in South Hampton, New York.Her father John Bouvier III, nicknamed Jack,was a wealthy stockbroker. Her mother Janet Lee Bouvier, was a skilled horsewomen. In March 1933, her younger sister Caroline Lee was born,they

called her Lee.Jackie enjoyed reading the arts and loved horseback riding and

also loved the sea.At ten years old she won national championship in junior horsemanship.

1929-1933

Jackie enjoyed riding horses!

In 1939 when Jackie was ten years old her parents got divorced.June 1942 her mother married Hugh D.Auchincloss,a wealthy man.

Jackie and Lee gained two stepbrothers, Yusha and Tommy and astepsister Nina.

In 1944 Jackie went to a all girls boarding school called Miss Porter’s in Connecticut.

In 1945 her mother gave birth to a half-sister named Janet and in 1947 gave birth to a half-brother named Jamie.

In 1947 Jackie entered Vassar College Poughkeepsie,New York.

1939-1947

In College Jackie took art classes in drawing and painting techniques.She also joined a dance group,and worked on the school newspaper.One of her favorite classes was Shakespeare’s writings she also enjoyed the history of religion.

Jackie became debutante of the year,was embarrassed by it but was honored.( Queen of young high society).

In her Sophomore and Junior year studied abroad in France.She worked hard in learning the French language.There she enjoyed the Parisian art galleries & jazz clubs.

In her senior year she enrolled at George Washington University.She took French literature as her major,also had classes in creative writing and journalism.

1947-1950

In 1951 Jackie started working for the Washington Times-Herald newspaper.She was known there as the “Inquiring Camera Girl”.

In Washington DC,Jackie met a stockbroker from New York named John Husted. Soon after they became engaged,the relationship did not work out.

In spring 1951 at a dinner party Jackie met John F.Kennedy a 35 year old Congressman from Massachusetts.They did not see each other again for seven months.They went dancing on their first date.They both enjoyed history,poetry,travel,and loved the sea.

On July 4, 1952,Jackie met the Kennedy family,in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.In May 1953, Jackie went to England to cover Queen Elizabeth II coronation for the newspaper.Before leaving for London Kennedy proposed,she did not answer him.When Jackie returned from England she accepted Kennedy's proposal.

1951-1953

Jackie Kennedy gets married!

September 12,1953 Jacqueline Lee Bouvier married John F. Kennedy at St.Mary’s church in Newport.

In 1955 she became pregnant but had a miscarriage.In 1956 she became pregnant again she had a daughter named Arabella but she died.

In 1957 Jackie’s father went into a coma and died.A few months later Jackie gave birth to a baby girl Caroline Bouvier Kennedy.

In 1960 JFK won the Democratic nomination for President.Jackie was a big help to his campaign.

She wrote weekly column called “Campaign-Wife”,gave press conferences and appeared on T.V. shows.

On November 25,1960 Jackie gave birth to a premature son named John F.Kennedy JR.

Jackie became first lady at age 31.

1953-1960

On January 20,1961 John F.Kennedy became 35 president of the United States.

Before moving into the White House Jackie renovated it with fine arts historical items antiques memorabilia from past presidents.

Jackie’s family was her top priority keeping her family private from the press.She always showed her maturity beyond her years.Jackie was known for her sense of style, poise and class.

In 1962 Jackie won a special emmy award for public service and cash donations for the White House Restoration Fund.

Jackie created a rose garden it became a famous White House landmark.Jackie was a great goodwill ambassador,she appreciated people of all cultures & nationalities.

In August 1963, she gave birth to a son Patrick,who suffered from lung problems and died two days later.Jackie took the death of the baby hard.

1961-1963

Jackie Kennedy and JFK in front of the White House.

In November 1963, Jackie traveled with the president for a re-election campaign to Texas.

On November 22,1963 in Dallas TX.President Kennedy was shot and killed in the head by an assassin Lee Harvey Oswald.

Jackie in shock “What have they done to my husband”.In the hospital Jackie confesses her love for him.She slipped her ring onto his finger this is an Irish custom meaning “together in life together in death”.

On November 25,1963 John F. Kennedy was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Jackie moved with Caroline and John JR.to New York city there they will begin a new life.

1963

On October 20,1968 Jackie married Aristotle Onassis a Greek billionaire.The american people were not happy with Jackies choice.

Jackie ,Caroline ,and John JR.traveled back and forth to New York and Greece.

On March 15,1975 Onassis died,Jackie was 46 years old.She inherited 20 million from his estate.Jackie expressed her gratitude,happiness that he brought into her life at a sad time.

1968-1975

At 47 years old Jackie went back to work as a literary editor, but she quit.Then she started working at Doubleday Publishers.She worked there for 17 years.Jackie became senior editor in 1984.

On October 20,1979 the Kennedy Memorial Library opened.The museum was very special to Jackie because it carried JFK’s memories.

In the early 80’s Jackie met a businessman Maurice Tempelsman, they became close companions.She had found peace and happiness with him.

In December 1993 Jackie became ill,later she found out she had cancer.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis died on May 19,1994,she was 64 years old.Jackie was buried next to John F.Kennedy at Arlington Cemetery.

1976-1994