She Was Born Into a Wealthy Family in New York
While you may have assumed that Jackie Kennedy rose up through the social ladder, that’s not the case. Instead, she was born into a wealthy family with a New York socialite mother and a Wall Street stockbroker father. But while her parents had a lot of money to their name, that’s not to say that their lives weren’t without struggle. It’s been noted that her father was a bad gambler and regularly lost portions of their fortune.
As a result, her parents often had to live by the ‘fake it until you make it’ rule, pretending that they still had money and ties to other wealthy families even when they didn’t.
Her Father Made Sure That She Had Everything She Wanted
Although his gambling habits often made it hard to do so, Jackie’s father wanted to make sure that his beloved daughter had everything she could ever want or need. He spoiled her and attended to her every need, making sure that she would grow up in America’s elite. Because of this, Jackie had a very privileged childhood. She grew up riding prize-winning horses and even took part in horseback riding competitions herself.
She was also sent to Manhattan’s Chapin School, an elite private school where she rubbed shoulders with other socialites and even royalty. During this time, she was one of the most popular girls in school – but she also rebelled.
First, Jackie Fell in Love With the Son of an Author
When it was time for Jackie to go to college, she didn’t want to follow the traditional route. Although her family wanted her to attend the female-only Vassar College in order to stay away from the big city and focus on her attention, Jackie dreamed of attending Sarah Lawrence and expanding her horizons. Her parents ultimately won the fight, but Jackie got her own back by traveling back home to Manhattan every weekend.
In her junior year, Jackie jumped at the chance to study abroad and moved to Paris. Here, she met and fell in love with John P. Marquand Jr, the son of a famous American author. She wanted to marry him, but her mother disapproved.
Then, She Started to Focus on Her Own Writing Career
With her mother’s disapproval in the back of her mind, Jackie moved back to the U.S. and tried to focus on her education and career instead. And after graduating with a BA in French Literature, she moved to get a headstart in journalism. In fact, she beat hundreds of applicants to land a job at the prestigious Vogue magazine, where recruiters praised her obvious independence, zest for life and fiery personality.
However, after just one day at Vogue, her editor advised that she quit and move to Washington instead. At the time, she was 22 years old, and her prospects of marrying the right man were dwindling.
She Worked Her Way up to Become a Trusted Journalist
Although Jackie took her editor’s advice and moved to Washington, she didn’t do so to find a husband. Instead, she moved to Washington to work at the Washington Times-Herald and prove she was a trusted journalist. And while she started as a part-time receptionist at the paper, she later climbed the ladder to become a fully-fledged reporter with her own segment that suited her charming personality down to a T.
Jackie’s segment saw her stop men on the street and ask them questions about her life. Through these interviews, she met high-profile politicians and made her way into high social circles. It was here that she met John F. Kennedy.
At First, Jackie Wasn’t Interested in Dating JFK
After working her way into the high society circles of Washington, Jackie grew close to countless political players. And while everyone could see that JFK was the perfect man for her, she wasn’t so sure. Sure, they were both journalists from well-to-do families, were both raised Catholic, and had a similar sense of humor, but she didn’t initially feel that romantic spark between them. So, she initially shot him down.
When JFK asked Jackie out on a date, she reluctantly accepted but wrote in her diary that she found his “toothpick legs” to be slightly offputting. However, the date must have gone well as they got together soon after that.
Jackie Visited the Same Psychiatrist as Her Husband’s Former Lover
The supposed affair between John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe is one that has rocked the high society world for decades – especially as it’s believed that Jackie Kennedy knew of her husband’s transgressions. But while she chose to turn a blind eye to their misdeeds, Jackie unwittingly visited the same psychiatrist as her husband’s former lover after he was killed. What’s more, she had no idea that was the case.
Dr. Marianne Kris didn’t feel like she needed to tell Jackie about her other patient, but it wasn’t long before Jackie found out for herself. And this didn’t go down well with her.
Jackie Delayed Her Engagement to Focus on Her Career
As Jackie and JFK’s relationship blossomed, he knew what to do. JFK bought a ring and proposed to his beloved lady – but she didn’t accept his proposal immediately. As a fiercely independent and confident woman with big career goals, she had also been given the chance to fly to England and cover Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation for the paper. So, she couldn’t turn it down and miss the opportunity.
During her time in England, Jackie reportedly started to second-guess her relationship with JFK. He was a charming young gentleman, and she began to worry that his eyes would wander later down the line.
In the End, JFK’s Mother Convinced Jackie to Accept His Proposal
When Rose Kennedy learned that Jackie had yet to accept her son’s proposal, she decided to step in. She loved Jackie and knew that she would make the perfect wife and the perfect addition to their high society family, but she understood her concerns. After all, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. reportedly engaged in countless extramarital affairs during their marriage. But what was her advice to Jackie? Well, she told her to grin and bear it.
Rose told Jackie that JFK – like all men – would likely have an affair and that she should ignore it and focus on her own life. This seemed to convince Jackie, as she later returned home and accepted his proposal.
Their Wedding Was an Expensive High-Society Affair
Before too long, Jackie and JFK were exchanging their wedding vows in front of their guests. And in true high society form, their wedding was the event of the season. Their families pulled together their enormous wealth to plan a wedding for the upper echelon of the political and social worlds, and an 800-strong guest list watched the couple get hitched in St. Mary’s Church in Newport on Rhode Island.
Thanks to their high-society ties, their marriage was blessed by the Archbishop of Boston and even Pope Pius XII. This was meant to set them up for success, but that didn’t happen.
Although They Tried for a Family, They Were Hit With Heartbreak
With Jackie officially a Kennedy, the newlywed couple hoped to have a family and welcome children into their home. However, they faced heartbreak after heartbreak, as conceiving proved to be a struggle. In fact, it took two years for Jackie to fall pregnant, but that first pregnancy sadly ended in a miscarriage. They fell pregnant shortly after, but their second pregnancy ended in a stillbirth. This took a huge toll on Jackie, who spiraled into a depression.
In an effort to take their minds off their pain in 1957, Jackie put all of her time and effort into helping her husband run for Senate. She posed as the perfect political wife.
Jackie Proved to Be Extremely Popular in the Political World
Although all eyes were on JFK as he campaigned for Senate, there was no denying the fact that Jackie was a political asset. In the public’s eyes, she was the perfect housewife and exactly how the typical American woman should be. She dressed appropriately, she supported her husband, and she was as bright as a spark. In fact, JFK’s political advisor made sure that Jackie was by her husband’s side the whole time as the crowds loved her.
Amongst the hubbub of their campaigns, the couple’s prayers were also answered. In 1957, the couple fell pregnant once again and finally welcomed their first bundle of joy into the world: Caroline Kennedy.
Despite Their Perfect Image, John Was Sneaking Around
In the eyes of the world, JFK and Jackie Kennedy really were the perfect couple. They were growing a family, they were making their way up the political ladder, and they seemed so in love. But it was a different story behind closed doors. JFK would regularly leave Jackie and their daughter at home alone and come back late at night – and Jackie knew that he was sneaking around with other women.
On one fateful night, Jackie ran away from home distressed, and JFK felt he had no choice but to call an ambulance. She was then sent to Valleyhead Psychiatric Clinic, where she underwent terrifying and painful electroshock treatment.
JFK’s Father Persuaded Jackie to Stay With Her Husband
After she was kept in the psychiatric hospital against her will, Jackie began to rethink her marriage. Did she really want to be with someone who was having very public affairs? She felt lost, and she began to question whether she should divorce her husband. But when JFK’s father caught wind of her thinking of leaving him, he knew he had to step in. After all, the future president of the United States couldn’t get divorced.
Joseph P. Kennedy knew that his son needed a woman like Jackie by her side, so he reportedly offered her $1 million to stay with JFK and deal with her circumstances. As we all know, she accepted.
She Fell Pregnant Shortly After JFK Announced His Presidential Run
1960 was a big year for Jackie Kennedy and JFK. Jackie’s husband announced his presidential run, and she fell pregnant. And while Jackie followed her husband around the country on his campaign as much as she could, she also needed to stay home and rest for the sake of the baby. But even when she couldn’t be there in person, she still continued her facade as the perfect first lady in the running.
From her bed, she published a weekly column about her husband and his run for the presidency. And all of this seemed to work in his favor, as he officially became president that same year.
Jackie Proved That She Was the Perfect First Lady
When Jackie and JFK moved into the White House, Jackie made it her mission to be the perfect first lady. Although she knew that staying married to her husband would come with its challenges, she had made a promise to her father-in-law and intended to keep it. So, she got herself stuck in as first lady and started working on her own project while supporting her husband at the same time.
During those years, Jackie did everything she could to help those in need, promote the arts in America, and restore the White House to its former glory. In fact, she’s credited for making the White House as beautiful as it is today.
She Spent Years Restoring the White House to Its Former Glory
As someone who grew up in high society, Jackie Kennedy was used to living and visiting impressive houses and estates. But she was shocked to find the White House in a state of disrepair when her husband became president. As one of the most historically significant houses in the world, she knew that it couldn’t remain that way. So, she spent years restoring it to the high standard she expected it from it.
With the help of both interior designers and historians, she fixed the problems with the house and filled it with historical artwork, furniture, and accessories. Alongside this, she also put her time and effort into the White House gardens.
During This Time, She Also Became a Fashion Icon
With a newfound purpose and tasks to take her mind off her struggling marriage, Jackie seemed to get her spark back. And this also allowed her the chance to play around with her style and uncover a new look that suited her first lady status. On the back of that, she became a cultural icon and quickly made a name for herself as one of the most stylish women in the world.
During this time, the First Lady collaborated with French-American designer Oleg Cassini to create bespoke dresses, gowns, suits, and hats that would suit her role in the political realm. In fact, she spent $145,000 on clothes every year.
Jackie Impressed Foreign Leaders Across the Globe
As first ladies do, Jackie also spent a huge portion of her time accompanying her husband across the globe to meet foreign leaders and dignitaries. Before she came along, previous first ladies had stood beside their husbands and looked pretty – but Jackie soon proved to everyone that she was so much more than a pretty face. On one occasion, she even produced and directed a documentary about France before making a trip to meet French officials.
In this video, Jackie showed off her French language skills and her intelligence, and it went down extremely well with those who watched it. She was a true force to be reckoned with.
Her Charm Won Over the Hearts of Everyone She Met
Despite the pain in her heart, Jackie was a kind soul with much love to give. She also had a natural charm, which seemed to win over the hearts of everyone she met – even people who were notoriously hard to please. This was the case when JFK and Jackie traveled to Austria to meet Nikita Khrushchev, the powerful Premier of the Soviet Union. Although Nikita was famously a proud man, he was charmed by Jackie.
When the couple met the Premier for the first time, Nikita actually chose to greet Jackie before her president husband. He also gifted her a puppy while they were there.
Jackie’s Language Skills Also Worked in Her Favor
From a young age, Jackie’s parents wanted her to learn different languages. As a result, she became fluent in Spanish, Italian, and French – and this only made her even more popular as she traveled the world with her president husband. When she made her way to Europe and Latin America, officials and the general public were blown away by her international charm, even though she wasn’t speaking in her native language.
For many, the fact that she was willing to speak their mother tongue was a sign of respect, and this went down extremely well with foreign dignitaries looking to spark relationships with the U.S.
Her Meeting With the Queen Came Under Fire
Although those in the room knew what Jackie Kennedy was really like during these overseas visits, many people tried to bring these moments to life. This was the case in the second season of the Netflix show, The Crown. During one particular episode, Jackie and JFK made their way to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen and Prince Philip, but Jackie had some choice words to say about the young Queen when she got back to America.
Jackie could be heard criticising the Queen and Buckingham Palace as a whole, and many began to wonder whether there was any truth in this depiction. Is that really what Jackie thought of them?