Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

:Alternate meanings: Jackie O is also an Australian radio host, while Jacqueline Bouvier also refers to a character from "The Simpsons."

First Lady of the United States

Kennedy narrowly beat Richard Nixon in the 1960 presidential election, becoming the 35th President of the United States in 1961. Jackie Kennedy became one of the youngest First Ladies in history.

Related Topics:
Richard Nixon - 1960 presidential election - President of the United States - 1961 - First Ladies

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As First Lady (a title she wasn't fond of, saying it sounded like the name of a horse), she was forced into the public spotlight with everything in her life under scrutiny. She had a strong preference for French haute couture clothes designers, but the clothes were expensive, and wearing them might be perceived as disloyalty to American designers. She often got around such restrictions by having American dressmakers like Chez Ninon in New York copy or adapt contemporary French designs for her. For her state wardrobe, she chose the Hollywood designer Oleg Cassini. During her days as First Lady, she would become a fashion icon domestically and internationally.

Related Topics:
Haute couture - Oleg Cassini

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On February 14, 1962, she took American television viewers on a tour of the White House. The redecoration of the White House was her first major project. What inspired her were her visits there before she was First Lady and being disappointed by what she saw as the lack of historical sense in the rooms. Being an avid lover of history, she felt that the mansion that represented her nation should represent it well. She hired a special commission and raised funds. They tried hard to find authentic furniture and art that would fit the original design of the White House and searched for original portraits of people such as Jefferson and Franklin.

Related Topics:
February 14 - 1962 - Television - White House

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As First Lady, she knew her children would be in the public eye, yet she was determined to protect her children from the press and give them a normal childhood.

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She and her husband planned many social events that brought them to the forefront of the cultural spotlight. They were not like presidential couples before them; they had an appreciation for art, music, and culture. They invited artists and musicians for dinner parties, hosted a special celebration in honor of Nobel Laureates, invited celebrities over, and transformed White House state dinners.

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