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Top 10 Sensational Facts about Jacqueline Kennedy

Jacqueline Kennedy n茅e Jacqueline Lee Bouvier was an American First Lady from 1961 to 1963. The wife of John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, Jacqueline was known for her sophistication and style. Married to John F. Kennedy from 1953 to 1968, Jacqueline later married her second husband, Aristotle Onassis who was one of the richest men in the world.

Born on July 28, 1929 in Southampton, New York, Jacqueline was the elder of two daughters. The daughter of Janet Lee and John (鈥淏lack Jack鈥�) Bouvier III, a stock speculator, Jacqueline enjoyed activities such as writing, horseback riding and painting.

On September 12, 1953, two years after Jacqueline met John F. Kennedy, the couple got married in Newport, Rhode Island at St. Mary鈥檚 Roman Catholic Church. Jacqueline was a distinctive first lady and the youngest US first lady in about 80 years.

Below are ten amazing facts about Jacqueline Kennedy.

1. One of Jacqueline鈥檚 legs was a little shorter than the other

Jacqueline Bouvier in 1935. Photo by David Berne/

With her perfect posture and poise, it was not easy to tell that one of Jacqueline鈥檚 legs was shorter than the other. Kathy McKeon the former first lady’s personal assistant disclosed that Jacqueline had uneven legs.

McKeon revealed this in her book titled Jackie’s Girl: My Life with the Kennedy Family. In the book, McKeon states that Jacqueline鈥檚 heels required a quarter-inch lift attached to one heel on each pair of shoes.

2. Jacqueline was criticized and admired for her trendy outfits

John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy with French Culture Minister Andr茅 Malraux. Photo by White House /

In the 1960s, Jacqueline was one of American fashion trendsetters. Her chic style and taste for expensive French couture was however, controversial.

After she became first lady, the Kennedy team thought her classiness and expensive taste would make them seem out of touch with the American family.

To help address this, Joseph Kennedy, Jacqueline鈥檚 father-in-law, put her in touch with Oleg Cassini, an American-based designer. Cassini designed over 300 of Jacqueline鈥檚 unique outfits.

3. Jacqueline turned down an opportunity to work at Vogue

While in college, Jacqueline took part in Vogue magazine’s Prix de 麻豆APP contest as she wanted a yearlong junior editorship at Vogue magazine. The editorship was split between 麻豆APP and New York.

Jacqueline was selected as a winner of the contest but her mother鈥檚 did not want her to leave the country and Jacqueline had to turn down the win.

4. While working at the Washington Times-Herald, Jacqueline interviewed Richard Nixon

After graduating from George Washington University in 1951, Jacqueline鈥檚 first job was at the Washington Times-Herald newspaper.

While working at the paper, Jacqueline interviewed Richard M. Nixon and also covered the 1952 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

5. Jacqueline had been engaged previously to a stockbroker

President John F. Kennedy motorcade, in Dallas, Texas on Friday, November 22, 1963. Also in the presidential limousine are Jackie Kennedy, Texas Governor John Connally and his wife, Nellie. Photo by Victor Hugo King/

Before Jacqueline got engaged to John F. Kennedy, she had been engaged to John G. W. Husted Jr., a stockbroker.

Acting impulsively, the short lived engagement did not develop into a marriage.

6. Jacqueline felt John F. Kennedy鈥檚 characteristics were similar to those of her father

According to Jacqueline, her father John Vernou Bouvier III, was a womanizer. She saw similar characteristics in John F. Kennedy and was a bit apprehensive about trusting him.

Before getting married, Jacqueline sent a letter to Joseph Leonard, an Irish priest, expressing her fears. She said John F. Kennedy was like her father and according to Jacqueline, her mother nearly died from the way Jacqueline鈥檚 father treated her.

7. Jacqueline did not like her wedding dress

Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy in her wedding gown. Photo by Unsplash/

Jacqueline鈥檚 wedding to John F. Kennedy was a public event due to Kennedy鈥檚 political position. As such, she had very little say in the wedding preparations including what she wanted for a wedding dress.

The New England Historical Society stated that Jacqueline did not like her wedding dress. Jacqueline felt the high fashion dress “accentuated her flat chest” and “made her look like a lampshade.”

8. Jacqueline did not want to be just a housewife

John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy at Appleton, Wisconsin. Photo by Jeff Dean/

Despite her doubts about being part of the world of politics, Jacqueline did not want to be just a housewife. In 1953, while she was 23 years old, Jacqueline sent a letter to Leonard.

In the letter she said maybe she was bedazzled by the glamour and pictured herself in the world of men of destiny and not just a housewife.

Jacqueline added that the world could be glamorous from the outside but it could also be hell if you were in it and lonely at the time.

9. Jacqueline had a secret romantic relationship with JFK鈥檚 British ambassador to the U.S.

After the death of her husband and before her second marriage, Jacqueline had a relationship with David Ormsby-Gore.

Ormsby-Gore was the fifth Lord of Harlech as well as the British ambassador to the United States under JFK. Ormsby-Gore lost his wife in a car accident at the same time that Jacqueline lost her husband and it was their grief that brought them together.

Jacqueline turned down Ormsby-Gore’s proposal as she felt it was not a good idea to marry someone who had a close relationship with her late husband.

10. Jacqueline worked as an editor before her death and played a role in securing a book deal with Michael Jackson.

Lyndon B. Johnson taking the oath of office aboard Air Force One at Love Field Airport two hours and eight minutes after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, in Dallas, Texas. Jackie Kennedy (right), still in her blood-soaked clothes, looks on. Photo by Cecil W. Stoughton/

From a very young age, Jacqueline loved literature. After her second husband鈥檚 death in 1975, she moved to New York to work as a book editor. Jacqueline worked at Viking Press as a consulting editor before moving to Doubleday books.

She worked at Doubleday in New York until her death on May 19, 1994. While at Doubleday, Jacqueline helped secure a lucrative book deal with Michael Jackson.

Jacqueline also worked on a number of popular books such as, The Cartoon History of the Universe by Larry Gonick鈥檚, Michael Jackson鈥檚 autobiography, Moonwalk and Translations of Cairo Trilogy by Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz鈥檚.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis worked to protect and preserve America鈥檚 cultural heritage throughout her life. With a strong dedication to her family and country, Jacqueline devoted herself to her children and to making the world better through literature, art and public service.