..Jackie Kennedy: The White House Years..
When America first met Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, she was a shy woman, who stayed out of the public eye. When JFK was elected President, Jacqueline Kennedy knew she had a lot to do. She had experience a difficult birth, and had just recently delivered her second baby. She adored her children, and did not like the media taking pictures of them, even though JFK snuck them into the White House when she was away. Jackie and JFK's relationship was rocky, and she knew that she had to take a public life role, and leave her private life behind. JFK was always busy campaigning, and had high goals he hoped to achieve. His main was was getting into the White House. Jackie knew his ambitions would come reality, but didn't know it would be this soon.Jackie did not want to raise her children in the White House. Her goal was to raise them as normal, unspoiled children. She once said, "If you bungle raising your children, not much else will matter." She wanted them to live like the rest of the kids lived. Jackie hated politics, and hated all the lies associated with it, causing her rarely to campaign with her husband. She was glad when Jack won the Democratic Nomination, but soon felt sad, and confused when he was elected President. Jackie realized that every word she said, everything she did, and every action she took would be noted, written down, analysed, and critizied.
People camped outside her house during the time between the election and the inauguration, hoping to catch a glimpse of the couple. During this time, she gave birth prematurely to John Jr. after she underwent an emergency C-section.
Jack was busy organizing hsi cabinet, while Jackie took off to the Kennedy's Palm Beach house to recuperate and get away from all the political things around her.
JFK looked forward to the Inauguration, and help organize events, including a model of his PT109 boat that was to be in the Inaguration parade. The day of the Inauguration was covered in thick snow, with a temperature below freezing. The President didn't let it get to him. He wore no hat, coat, nor gloves, as Jackie showed no sign of being cold.
"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country," are prehaps the greatest known quote of our time, said by JFK during his inaguration. Jackie wanted to be different from the rest of the women around her, so she chose a beige wool suit, with a sable collar, and a matching pillbox hat.
They then met in the Capitol Rotunda, as officially President and First Lady. They watched the parade, but after an hour, Jackie decided to go back to the White House, since she was feeling unwell from her pregnancy. She did not attend the luncheon that was held for her family, and Jacks, as guest were disappointed. Jackie did appear later that night, in her white silk gown, designed by Oleg Cassini. She still felt tired from the days events, so she left Jack later as he attended the rest of the Inaugural Balls by himself.
Jackie was determined to dress stylish, elegant, classy, but simple. As the gown at the Inaugural Ball had proved, not knowning that everything she wore would be copied, and newsworthy. She wore white gloves, pillbox hats, and handbags with almost all her suits, and made sure that all her clothes were American made. "The Jackie Look," took over the world. Magazines had look-a-likes modeling her clothes on the cover, as all women bought Jackie looking clothes.
Jackie next became focused on restoring the White House. She felt that no history or American culture was left, from the previous occupants, the Eisenhowers. She wanted the old furniture to be moved, and be replaced with original pieces that would add more history to the house. Sister Parrish was hired, who would help her with ideas for restoring the White House. Forming a board, Jackie convinced private donors to allow her to use their furniture from the private art collections.
When "A Tour Of The White House With Mrs. John F. Kennedy," soon aired on CBS. American's were ga-ga over the new, and improved first lady. They were captivated by her beauty, and style.
"I am the man who accomplied Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris..and I've enjoyed it," said John F. Kennedy, when him and his wife, Jacqueline, arrived in Europe, for Jackie's first appearance as First Lady. It seemed that the crowd did not want JFK...they wanted Jackie. Jackie had only agreed to go, because she had a deep love for Paris. They were to meet with General Charles D Gaulle, over the Bay of Pigs invasion. Jackie was a little nervous about this at first, but when she met him, he was friendly, and she soon relaxed, and enjoyed the motorcade ride. De Gaulle and Jackie talked about the French culture, arts, and history, as she charmed him with her abilitly to speak French fluently.
The visit to Paris had made Jackie an Icon, and made JFK realize how much he needed her as his wife. When they flew to Vienna, Khruschev was not looking forward to meeting Jackie. The meeting between him and Jack did not go well, as Kruschev paid attention to Jackie all night, trying to figure out what had made De Gaulle be so moved by her. Jackie once again charmed Kruschev with her knowledge, though JFK felt no success with him.
Jackie spent her time at the White House organizing State Dinners. Robert Frost recited poetry, The American Shakespeare Company performed their greatest pieces, and Celliest Pablo Cassals performed.
Jacqueline and her sister, Lee, took trips to Pakistan and India, once again greeted with enormous enthusiasm. Jack visited Germany, reciting his famous, "Ich bin ein berliner," speech as well as England and Ireland. Jackie was pregnant, by this time, and took off to Hyannisport to await it's arrival, and to visit her favorite Kennedy, Joe, who had suffered a stroke. She visited him, sat beside him, and read to him, knowing that her children could play on the private Hyannisport grounds.
Patrick Bouvier Kennedy was born shortly, after Jackie took extra caution, since she had a poor history of child births. Despite everything, Patrick was still born with respiratory problems. JFK flew down quickly, since he had not been there last time when Jackie had had a miscarriage with their other child. The baby held on for three days, then he slipped into a coma and died shortly afterwards. Patricks death hit JFK hard, as well as Jackie, bringing them closer together.
When Aristotle Onassis invited Jackie to cruise on his boat, the Christina, Jackie accepted. Jack talked to her everyday, for the first time, as she wrote long love letters to him each night. Their marriage was looking brighter, even though he continued to have affairs, they had pride to one another, and a strong love.
Jackie and Jack did not know that all this love, happiness, and the successful marriage they had just found, would soon be taken away. They were certain that Jack would win his re-election campaign, and the future looked bright for them.
After Dallas, Caroline and John Jr. were left without a father, as Jackie did her best to raise them as normal kids, and move on without Jack. Jackie once said, "Jack was the love of my life. No one will ever know that a big part of me died with him." The White House Years were the happiest time of Jackie's life. For one brief shining moment, the world experienced a Presidency of class, style, elegance, and grace. Something that would not be seen again for a long time.