printJacqueline Kennedy’s dowdy daughter Caroline Kennedy has released “never-before-heard audio recordings of interviews conducted with the former first lady in 1964, shortly after her husband’s assassination,” together with a book, “Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life With John F. Kennedy.” We know Jackie Kennedy for her style, sophistication, sense of history, and love and knowledge of music and art. We now know something about her well-formulated opinions and astute observations, delivered in dulcet tones and exquisite English. (The other day I used “hermetically sealed,” which was common usage when I was, well, much younger. My husband wanted to know why I was using a term used in engineering!)
Discussions with the late historian Arthur Schlesinger reveal Jackie to be not only a dazzling conversationalist, but a forceful, if ever-so feminine personae.
Especially appreciated is Jacqueline Kennedy’s opinion about the sainted Martin Luther King (whose real worldview I discuss briefly—and unfavorably—in my book). All the more so given how irreverent she is in coming out and dissing a legend in the making. PC was not an issue back then. My book also quotes Kennedy on affirmative action: the man was conservative as few conservatives are today.
From a performance of Pablo Casals in the White House to Beyonce’s bump and grind: how far we’ve fallen. To be fair, Bush was also without class and culture.
UPDATE I (Sept. 16): STYLE & SUBSTANCE. Myron Pauli: Like many a libertarian, you refuse to address issues of culture. A comment such as mine, dealing with an impressive, classy lady—Jackie was certainly mistreated by her husband, but never responded like a tawdry tart, as is the custom nowadays—is reduced to the problem of statism. In a universe in which everything is reduced to the state, is there any place for observations about culture, human accomplishment, personality, etc?
I suggest to you that things would not be so bad if more women today had the class and classical education of a Jackie O. At the very least, women with a similar frame of reference would not feel so obsolete and voiceless.
UPDATE II: “Go, Jackie,” writes Lew Rockwell:
Funny how the media are trotting out Mrs. Kennedy’s daughter, Caroline, to try to smooth over her mother’s taped views: that LBJ was an integral part of the assassination plot (of course, but not mentioned in this article), that she didn’t admire Martin Luther King, FDR, or Churchill, that she rejected feminism, etc.
Never a fan of the Kennedys I never kept up with their adoring, read idiotic,multitudes who insisted that a prohibition enriched family of Boston shanty Irish were somehow America’s royal family. I give some props to JFK only because in today’s Democrat party he would be as out of place as a hog on ice. Consequently I never joined the legion of Jackie lovers. However, after reading the comments of which you speak, especially about LBJ and MLK I must give her credit for being most level headed. And you’re right. The protocol and class a Jackie Kennedy white house was a far cry from today’s current edition, which reminds me of a late night rerun of “Soul Train”.
Well Martyred Saint # 1 (JFK) ordered his brother the attorney general – Martyred Saint # 2 (RFK) – to wiretap the Greatest American in history – Martyred Saint # 3 (MLK) telling dirty jokes about his fellow adulterer. Jackie is shocked!
Frankly, what really galls me is how the leftish media and idiots like John Kerry wind up blaming Vietnam on people like Barry Goldwater (who ran nothing) and Richard Nixon (arguably, guilty of expanding the conflict but who inherited a full-fledged mess) while exonorating the Sainted John who had our CIA assassinate Diem. The sun shall never set on the Kennedy Kult!
Jack or John and Jackie Kennedy were a paradox in this country. What they did separately or together normally carried a distinct appearance of class. Unfortunately, the myth far exceeds the facts; nor did the values of both Kennedys survive. His infidelity was almost legendary and is copied by more Democrats than ever before; whereas, his desire to manage the government properly has been ignored by his successors. Jackie was pointed out and almost idolized for her dignity and class. However, none of her successors (Democrat) have ever attempted to follow her example. She reflected Macy’s front window; where the Democrat females that follow her reflect late Salvation Army.
I saw her once at Park and 60th. She was wearing an umbrella hat. Can’t remember if it was raining, or not.
Fond memory of her husband as well. Summer of (I think) 1962. My parents and I are driving up a steep mountain road in Yosemite Nat’l Park. Happened to glance out the back window, and see a somewhat makeshift log security barrier crash down on the road. We get to a scenic overlook. Deserted. Then two long black limos drive up. Pat Brown – then Gov. of Calif – and his entourage get out of one, JFK and 2 Secret Svc guys get out of the other. He walks over shakes everybody’s hand, we make some small talk….then my dad decides he wants to get his camera out of the car but makes a too-sudden move. The security guys wrestle him to the ground and commence beating the tar out of him. I”m vastly enjoying the spectacle, but JFK sidesteps to block my view; I sidestep; he sidesteps. Finally he looks over his shoulder and says, “OK that’s enough”; my dad, not too damaged, finally gets his picture, and I get one of my favorite remembrances.
As I was only five when JFK was assassinated my memories of the Kennedeys are limited indeed. Mostly I remember Jackie’s images in black and white as part of the JFK funeral.
Your husband’s response to “hermetically sealed” is pretty amusing. When Johnny Carson hosted the Tonight Show he used “hermetically sealed” rather frequently, particularly when he played The Mighty Carnak (or Carnac?).
@Myron if I remember correctly JFK’s role in the assisination of Diem was originally revealed in the Pentagon Papers. It’s ironic the information that came out about JFK while Nixon was investigated.
I have always thought that Malcolm X, in spite of some very disagreeable views, had much more integrity than the Rev. Dr. MLK.
@ James Huggins, you really ought to learn the difference between Shanty Irish and Lace Curtain Mick. Elsewise if you ever come up to my neck of the woods you might get your jaw dislocated.