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Informationen zum Autor Bonnie Bader has written several biographies for young readers. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. Klappentext Through this engaging Who Was? biography, kids will discover the woman behind the sunglasses. Private and bookish, Jackie Kennedy found herself thrust into the world spotlight as the young and glamorous wife of the President John F. Kennedy. As First Lady she restored the once neglected rooms of the White House to their former glory, and through her charm and elegance became a style icon whose influence is still felt even today. Kids will be fascinated to read about a First Family whose youth, intelligence, and good looks captivated America in the early 1960s. Who Was Jacqueline Kennedy? On May 31, 1961, a large crowd packed the streets of Paris, France. Waving American and French flags, people were waiting for the president of the United States, John F. Kennedy, and his wife, Jacqueline. At last, the car rolled into view. The crowd roared. But they did not shout for the president. Instead, they called out, “Jackie! Jackie!” A shy Jackie looked out the car window and waved. Seven months earlier, her husband had become the youngest person elected president of the United States. He was forty-three years old. Jackie was only thirty-one. She was unsure if she would make a good First Lady. But here she was—young and beautiful and charming—captivating the French people! A harder test would come later. The president of France, Charles de Gaulle, did not really like anything, or anyone, who wasn’t French. The next night, Jackie got ready for a special dinner in the Kennedys’ honor. She did not feel well. Her head throbbed. She did not know what to wear. Two dresses were laid out on the bed. An American designer had made one; a French designer named Hubert de Givenchy had made the other. Jackie chose the Givenchy. She was in France, so she wore something French! Jackie smiled as she glided into the party that night. Her white gown shimmered. Gold clips sparkled in her hair. At the long candlelit table, Jackie sat next to President de Gaulle. She charmed him with her French. She had lived in Paris for a year during college. She knew all about French art and French history. Because of Jackie, President de Gaulle turned to President Kennedy and said, “I now have more confidence in your country.” Talking to reporters back home, President Kennedy jokingly introduced himself as “the man who accompanied Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris, and I have enjoyed it.” It wasn’t only the French president who was fascinated by Jackie. The whole world was. Jacqueline Kennedy had become the most famous woman on earth, yet all her life what she wanted most was privacy. Chapter 1: A Rich Family Jacqueline Lee Bouvier was born on July 28, 1929, in Southampton, New York, into a very rich family. Jackie’s father, John, was handsome and full of life. His wife, Janet, was quiet and shy. She loved riding horses. The Bouviers had two homes. One was a fancy apartment on Park Avenue in Manhattan; the other was a beautiful mansion on Long Island. That was where the family spent summers. It was called Lasata, which was said to be a Native American name for “place of peace.” But the Bouvier home was not peaceful. John (usually called Jack) and Janet argued a lot. Janet was practical. Jack liked to have fun and spend money. Soon after Jacqueline was born, her father lost most of his money. On October 29, 1929, the stock market crashed. It was the start of the Great Depression. Many people lost their jobs and homes. The Bouviers were not hit nearly as hard; still, the family had to move to a smaller apartment. Janet’s father owned the building and let them live there without paying rent. From her father, Jacqueline got a ni...
