Jackie was born Jacqueline Lee Bouvier on July 28th, 1929 in Southampton, New York to a stock broker known as ‘Black Jack Bouvier’ and to Janet Norton Lee. After her parents’ divorce in 1940, Jackie spent much time between her father’s homes in New York and Long Island and her mother’s homes in Virginia and Rhode Island. Growing up, Jackie had a typical childhood she attended her first two years of college at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York then attended her third year of college abroad in Grenoble France. Once she returned home she attended the George Washington University in Washington D.C graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in French Literature.
At the time U.S Representative John. F. Kennedy and Jackie belonged to the same social circles and had many mutual friends. After their first encounter during a dinner party the two began formerly dating and soon their engagement was announced on June 25th 1953. They were married on September 12th 1953 and honeymooned in Acapulco, Mexico then settled in their new Virginia home shortly after. In 1955 however, Jackie suffered a miscarriage and gave birth to a still born baby in 1956. Later though Jackie gave birth to Caroline in 1957 and John in 1960. When Kennedy announced his run for presidency, Jackie instantly became a huge supporter going almost everywhere with him on campaign trails until being recommended by a doctor to stay at home to avoid pregnancy complications. As first lady Jackie did not mind being interviewed or participating in photo shoots. She instantly became recognized and notorious for her fashion and restoring the White House home decoratively.
She gave up much of her time planning social events and became increasingly popular amongst foreign leaders. She mingled with many artists, writers, directors, actors, poets, musicians, politicians, diplomats, and statesmen. It was the help of her natural social skills and her sharp eye for design that led her to the spot of being the most popular and well known first lady of the United States. In August of 1963, Jackie gave birth to a premature son who died in the Hospital and later that year she would be remembered as she led the country in mourning over the death of her husband and the President of the United States John F. Kennedy.
Five years later after the death of her brother in law Robert F. Kennedy she became fearful that the Kennedys were being targeted and that her children would be next. She met and married Aristotle Onassis, a wealthy Greek shipping magnate, who could provide the protection and security that Jackie sought. They married in Skorpios, Greece but would be stricken with more grief in 1973 when Onassis’ only son died in a plane crash. Later on March 15th 1975, Onassis himself died due to health complications in Paris leaving Jackie to fight for her financial rights against the Greek governments rule against how much a non-Greek surviving spouse could receive. She would later settle for $26 million which was accepted by her from Onassis daughter Christina Onassis.
Jackie died on May 18th 1994 from cancer that had spread throughout her body. However, she will always be remembered and respected as a fashion icon that helped shape the White House’s social functions, inspire women across the world, and carved her way through all sorts of photographs and paintings. Her most memorable painting is of her just after Kennedy’s death that hangs in the White House. Jackie was born as a Leo and as a snake under Chinese astrology. These two horoscopes combined create a highly intellectual social achiever and just like many other Leo/Snakes carved their way through history.
Sources:
A&E Biography: “JACQUELINE KENNEDY ONASSIS”