Music: “How To Handle a Woman” by Richard Harris from “Camelot”

The inauguration of John F. Kennedy in 1961 brought to the White House and to the heart of the nation a beautiful young wife and the first young children of a President in half a century.

She was born Jacqueline Lee Bouvier, daughter of John Vernon Bouvier III and his wife, Janet Lee. Her early years were divided between New York City and East Hampton, Long Island, where she learned to ride almost as soon as she could walk.

She was educated at the best of private schools; she wrote poems and stories, drew illustrations for them, and studied ballet. Her mother, who had obtained a divorce, married Hugh D. Auchincloss in 1942 and brought her two girls to “Merrywood,” his home near Washington, D.C., with summers spent at his estate in Newport, Rhode Island. Jacqueline was dubbed “the Debutante of the Year” for the 1947-1948 season, but her social success did not keep her from continuing her education. As a Vassar student she traveled extensively, and she spent her junior year in France before graduating from George Washington University. These experiences left her with a great empathy for people of foreign countries, especially the French.

In Washington she took a job as “inquiring photographer” for a local newspaper. Her path soon crossed that of Senator Kennedy, who had the reputation of being the most eligible bachelor in the capital. Their romance progressed slowly and privately, but their wedding at Newport in 1953 attracted nationwide publicity.

With marriage “Jackie” had to adapt herself to the new role of wife to one of the country’s most energetic political figures. Her own public appearances were highly successful, but limited in number. After the sadness of a miscarriage and the stillbirth of a daughter, Caroline Bouvier was born in 1957; John Jr. was born between the election of 1960 and Inauguration Day. Patrick Bouvier, born prematurely on August 7, 1963, died two days later.

To the role of First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy brought beauty, intelligence, and cultivated taste. Her interest in the arts, publicized by press and television, inspired an attention to culture never before evident at a national level. She devoted much time and study to making the White House a museum of American history and decorative arts as well as a family residence of elegance and charm. But she defined her major role as “to take care of the President” and added that “if you bungle raising your children, I don’t think whatever else you do well matters very much.”

Mrs. Kennedy’s gallant courage during the tragedy of her husband’s assassination won her the admiration of the world. Thereafter it seemed the public would never allow her the privacy she desired for herself and her children. She moved to New York City; and in 1968 she married the wealthy Greek businessman, Aristotle Onassis, 23 years her senior, who died in March 1975. From 1978 until her death in 1994, Mrs. Onassis worked in New York City as an editor for Doubleday. At her funeral her son described three of her attributes: “love of words, the bonds of home and family, and her spirit of adventure.”

After publishing The Best-Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in 2001, Ms. Kennedy was inspired by the overwhelming response to the book.  As a result, Ms. Kennedy created this anthology of more than one hundred poems for children selected from family favorites.

Caroline Kennedy is an attorney and the editor of the New York Times best selling A Patriot’s Handbook, The Best-Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Profiles in Courage for Our Time, and the co-author of The Right to Privacy and In Our Defense: The Bill of Rights in Action.

From 2002-2004, Ms. Kennedy served as chief executive for the Office of Strategic Partnerships for the New York City Department of Education where she helped raise more than $65 million in private support for the city’s public schools.  She currently serves as the Vice Chair of The Fund for Public Schools.

Ms. Kennedy is the President of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and a member of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award Committee. She is a Director of the Commission on Presidential Debates, and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and serves as Honorary Chairman of the American Ballet Theatre.

Ms. Kennedy was born on November 27, 1957. She is a graduate of Harvard University and Columbia Law School. She lives in New York City with her husband Edwin Arthur Schlossberg, president of Edwin Schlossberg Inc., a multi-disciplinary design company that specializes in interactive exhibit design and museum master-planning. They have three children.

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deletereply jayaramanms wrote on Jun 3, ’08 Wow. Yes it is unbelievable that she will write poetry. You have shared an important information. Thank you. Your write up is also beautiful – similarly the song of Richard Harris. Thanks for everything. My blog for this week is a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. It is available at – http://jayaramanms.multiply.com/journal/item/189. Pl. see.

deletereply brian51 wrote on Jun 3, ’08, edited on Jun 3, ’08 Since seeing Ms. Kennedy interviewed about her work in education, I have known what a special human being that she is. An American jewel that not enough of her fellow citizens realize that they have. here is mine…  http://brian51.multiply.com/journal/item/152/Pas_De_Deux

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Jun 3, ’08 Thank you for your comment, brian51. I wanted to present her as a whole human being, not just a president’s air-head wife. She was very educated and intelligent. She brought culture and class into the White House. However, many people still remember her as just a dumb housewife. How sad.

deletereply sanssouciblogs wrote on Jun 3, ’08 Jackie was class all the way–she had far more than her husband.  She brought culture to the White House, bedazzled heads of state, overshadowed the President. She spoke fluent French, studied at The Sorbonne. I don’t know of anyone who thought of her as just a dumb housewife. She was one helluva First Lady. The way she handled herself at Jack’s funeral was beyond grace. She raised 2 wonderful kids; Caroline follows readily in her mother’s footsteps. Terrific post, sis!

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Jun 3, ’08 Thanks for the great comment, sis !

deletereply mommyajg wrote on Jun 3, ’08 What a wonderful woman she was.  I wish I could have known her.  Thanks for sharing a piece of her with us.

deletereply kwika wrote on Jun 3, ’08 A special lady indeed.

deletereply danceinsilence wrote on Jun 4, ’08 I have, since a child, have had great respect for her and what she has done. If i remember correctly, she was the first First Lady to have camera crews follow her along on a tour of the White House, which was then unprecedented. She brought fashion, style and grace to the forefront. I still remember to this day her courage during the entire few days, from the assisignation to JFK’s funeral, how she maintained that aura about herself. I concur with Sans … she was far from an airhead wife. She had more grace, charm and guts in her little finger than most would in their entire body. Thanks for doing this one. You just brought back a flood of good memories. http://danceinsilence.multiply.com/journal/item/353

deletereply lonewolfwithin wrote on Jun 4, ’08 you’re right… i never would have guessed she wrote poetry, and quite well, i might add! thank you so much for the enlightenment!

deletereply sweetpotatoqueen wrote on Jun 4, ’08 What an accomplished lady this woman was. It’s nice to see that her legacy lives on in her writing for other generations to enjoy. I enjoyed reading about this American icon. Great blog!

deletereply asolotraveler wrote on Jun 4, ’08 your posts are always thoughtful and a genuine delight.  thanks again

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Jun 4, ’08 Thanks for your comments, everyone. I remember her growing up. She had such grace and style.

deletereply belita747 wrote on Jun 4, ’08 Reading something related to that Great Lady is always a pleasure….reading her poetry brought me a great pleasure blended with admiration and respect to her memory that together with her mark will always make part of the USA and of the World’s XX century history… Thanks for your visit and kind words dropped on my humble post.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Jun 4, ’08, edited on Jun 4, ’08 Thanks for commenting, belita. I just read in Yahoo news that Caroline Kennedy is going to help Obama pick a Vice President. What timing !

deletereply fluffyj wrote on Jun 4, ’08 A talented woman and family.  Lovely reading.  I may have to add one of her books at least to my library in the near future.  -j http://fluffyj.multiply.com/journal/item/279

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Jun 4, ’08 I’d like to try Caroline’s other books as well as the other poetry book she compiled.

deletereply philsgal7759 wrote on Jun 4, ’08 Nice poetry and a lovely lady

deletereply luluone wrote on Jun 5, ’08 Wow! I think the poems are very beautiful I love Sea joy, thanks for sharing http://luluone.multiply.com/journal/item/186/Poetry_Wednesday_-_A_Sweet_Lullaby

deletereply luluone wrote on Jun 5, ’08 by the way the book seems interesting, I hope it will be published here too:-((

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Jun 5, ’08 Thanks for your comment, luluone. I was able to get the book of poetry at my local library.

deletereply bostonsdandd wrote on Jun 5, ’08 Ahhh! The grace she also brought to the White House and to the world. I will always remember three great ladies from history and she’s one of them. I LOVE the poem about Autumn. Thanks for including that one )))))!!!! Great post.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Jun 5, ’08 Thanks for your comment, Lori, I like both poems. I would like to look for other poems written by her.