1961 brought to the White House perhaps the most memorable First Lady that America has ever known, Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy, wife of John F. Kennedy. It has to be wondered whether Jackie Kennedy's fame would have become so prominent in the minds of the American people had it not been for the tragic assassination of JFK, but history cannot be rewritten. All that is certain is that her name is still mentioned with reverence, love and affection.

Jackie Onassis was born on 28 July 1929. She had one sister, Caroline Lee. Along with poetry, reading and painting, one of her early loves was riding. Indeed it was said that Jackie could ride almost as soon as she could walk. Her education years were spent in a number of private schools and colleges in the US and included a year at the University of Grenoble and the Sorbonne in Paris, where her love of the French was born. In those formative years, Jackie Kennedy's most prominent claim to fame was becoming "debutante of the Year" in the 1947-48 season.

Jackie's first job was working for a Washington newspaper where she was known as an "inquiring Reporter." This entailed roving the streets conducting witty interviews with members of the public. She also attended many society social gatherings. It was during this time that she met JFK. After a failed engagement to John Husted, Jackie and John Kennedy became to see more of each other and their romance and love blossomed, although this relationship remained fairly private. However, their marriage on 12 September 1953 attracted global attention and they soon became one of the most famous couples in the US.

Away from the public, Jackie Kennedy's private life was full of pain during those early years of the marriage as she suffered a miscarriage and the stillborn birth of a daughter. But in 1957 joy returned as she gave birth to a daughter, Caroline and a son, John Jnr followed in 1960 after the Presidential election result of 1960. Two years later more pain followed as son Patrick, born prematurely died at two days old.

The US nation took immediately to JFK during his presidential years and Jackie Kennedy was equally well liked. Although she gave few public appearances and speeches on her own, she was ever popular. Behind the scenes however, Jackie worked tirelessly for the Presidency and her husband, one of her major tasks being the restoration of the White House. She also arranged dinner parties with special guests from the world of entertainment as well

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