Jackie Kennedy: The Onassis Years

Introduction in the crisp autumn of 1968 the shimmering Waters of the ionian sea bore witness to an extraordinary Union on the secluded island of scorpios Greek shipping Tycoon Aristotle Onasis and America's widowed first lady jacqulyn Kennedy vowed to intertwine their Destinies but the event was far from the enchanting scenes one might imagine it was a wedding that sent ripples of shock across the high societies of Europe and the United States jarring the elite and captivating the public imagination you see Jacqueline at 39 had been the radiant Heart Of Camelot her grace underlined by tragedy following the assassination of President Kennedy and her choice to marry 62-year-old Onasis a man ens snared by controversy seemed to many a sorted betrayal of Her Image in American eyes he was the epitome of Ruthless ambition a man claing his way through the power echelons without regard for decorum but for Jackie he was a source of comfort and support in a tumultuous decade as they stood together the couple embodied an enigma that would forever alter their legacies melding tragedy controversy and an undeniable Allure into the annals of 20th century law in today's episode we'll dive deep into the social dynamics wealth and woe of this iconic old money Saga as we Describe the life of Jackie Kennedy during the Onasis years Chapter 1: Meeting The Greek [Music] in the fall of 1963 amidst the shimmering waves of the Mediterranean jacalin Kennedy first encountered Aristotle Onasis aboard the Christina his luxurious yacht and this meeting facilitated by her sister Lee radil who was rumored to have her own intimate history with the Greek Tycoon marked the beginning of a complex web of relationships that would Captivate the world's attention you see Lee Radell born car Lee bouier was the epitome of high society elegance and Allure and her social orbit included a dazzling array of artists celebrities and the affluent Elite and Onasis known for his expansive shipping Empire and one of the wealthiest men of his era presented a stark contrast to Lee's polished American aristocracy thus the early 1960s saw Lee and Onasis in what was rumored to be more than just a casual acquaintance notably during during a 1963 European tour with President John F Kennedy Jackie's husband which included stops in countries like England and Italy speculation about Lee and onassis's relationship intensified and Vanity Fair later reported that Lee might have harbored hopes for a more significant commitment from Onasis a narrative that remained woven through rumors and conjecture this backdrop of rumored romance set the stage for what would become one of the most talked about alliances of the decade when Arab Aristotle Onasis eventually shifted his affections from Lee to Jacqueline Chapter 2: Attracting Aristotle [Music] Kennedy Jackie Kennedy's path from dating Aristotle Onasis to eventually marrying him was paved with profound personal tragedy and a quest for a secure refuge for herself and her children first in the summer of 1963 before the cataclysmic events that would later Define her public and private life Jackie faced heartbreak with the death of her INF son Patrick which plunged her into a deep depression in October of that same year while still first lady and wife to President johnf Kennedy Jackie met Aristotle Onasis for the first time during a vacation arranged by her sister aboard his yacht Christina and this meeting would later prove fateful laying the groundwork for a relationship built amidst shared spaces of grief and Recovery tragedy struck again just weeks after this meeting when President Kennedy was assassinated on the 22nd of November 1963 in Dallas a harrowing event that left Jackie by his side in his final moments this devastating loss pushed her deeper into despair marking a period of severe depression that would Echo throughout her subsequent years now directly after the assassination Jackie's first love interest was reportedly with architect John Carl warer a man Jackie worked with closely to design the Eternal Flame at JFK's Arlington National Cemetery grave site and during this period their professional relationship blossomed into a personal one marked by shared grief and an emotional bond that led to discussions of marriage during a 1966 trip to Hawaii however Financial strains and differing expectations about their future ultimately led to the dissolution of their romantic involvement with vornea outright admitting that he was in extreme debt and could not provide the lavish lifestyle Jackie was used too it was during this vulnerable time that Aristotle Onasis reached out to Jackie offering not just Comfort but a promise of stability and privacy away from the Relentless public eye and his offer came as a critical turning point for Jackie providing her with a sanctuary where she could seek Refuge from the lingering trauma of her past losses furthermore onassis's idea coincided with a time in which Jackie's concerns for her and her children's safety were growing especially as she continu to be a target for the paparazzi therefore her relationship with Onasis deepened rooted in his promise of protection and an escape from the ever watchful eye of the Publican media but this Bond gained new urgency following the assassination of Robert F Kennedy Jackie's brother-in-law on the 5th of June 1968 his death not only rekindled her fears for her family's safety but also triggered another bout of depression reminiscent of her State following JFK's assassination haunted by the fear of her children becoming targets and desperate to escape the trauma that seemed to follow the kennedies Jackie famously expressed her determination to leave the United States by the summer of 1968 she saw Onasis not just as a partner but as a guardian of her and her children's well-being then their wedding took place on the 20th October 1968 on the Greek island of scorpios in a ceremony designed to emphasize discretion and intimacy attended only by close family and friends however the marriage ignited a storm of public opinion for one by marrying Onasis and changing her last name Jackie lost her entitlement to Secret Service protection as the Widow of a US president exposing her to considerable adverse publicity further controversy surrounded the union due to onassis's previous divorce his former wife Athena livanos was still living sparking unfounded fears of Jackie's EXC communic ation by the Roman Catholic Church a notion dispelled by Boston's Archbishop Cardinal Richard Cushing as nonsense despite the controversies Jackie found in her marriage to anasis the financial security and emotional backing necessary to rebuild her life and Onasis was diligent in ensuring that Jackie's children maintain their Kennedy connections and he supported her personal Pursuits including her successful foray into the publishing industry but Jackie and onassis's marriage while filled with moments of closeness was not without its [Music] Chapter 3: The Ups and Down of Life as Jackie Onassis challenges Jackie's years with Aristotle were filled with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows one notable difficulty was their significant age difference Onasis was 63 and Jackie was 39 at the time of their marriage and this Gap sparked endless speculations about their relationship's Dynamics portraying Jackie as vulnerable and dependent on onassis's wealth for her and her children's well-being yet Jackie was far from a mere figurehead in their relationship her influence as a revered public figure and her Adept social skills were assets that Onasis appreciated as they navigated the elite Circles of society together furthermore Jackie used her position to Champion cultural preservation and engage in publishing while Onasis enjoyed the doors that her status opened in the lofty Realms of global influence however the marriage faced internal strains primarily due to anas's frequent absences and rumored infidelities which left Jackie longing for more consistent companionship and emotional support yet life with Aristotle Onasis was also renowned for its opulent experiences and the expansive array of properties he amassed across the globe for example his pensant for luxury was epitomized in his acquisition of scorpios a private island in the ionian sea which he purchased in 1962 Onasis transformed this once Baron Isle into a veritable Paradise replete with a grand villa guest houses and even a helipad creating a secluded Haven for his family and distinguished guests and it was here as we mentioned that he we Jacqueline Kennedy in 1968 Beyond Scorpios onassis's real estate portfolio was vast and varied including a historic townhouse on New York City's Upper East Side previously owned by John D Rockefeller Jr and a myriad of residences in glamorous cities like Paris London and Monte Carlo he also boasted ownership of a castle in the south of France enhancing his reputation as a global Tycoon additionally Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis no stranger to luxury herself brought her own prestigious properties into the marriage she had grown up in a palacial apartment at 740 Park Avenue in Manhattan one of the city's most sought-after addresses constructed by her grandfather and following her Union with Onasis she maintained a New York base acquiring a sprawling 14 room apartment at 104th Avenue with sweeping views of Central Park the couple also enjoyed escapes to lataa a grand estate in East Hampton which had been in Jacqueline's family since 1925 and thus Jackie's years as an Onasis were a complex interplay of of lavish luxury and frustrating self-doubt as the highly flawed but wonderfully charismatic Greek magnate spun his yarn both publicly and Chapter 4: Life After Aristotle privately the final chapter of Aristotle onassis's life was marked by deep personal tragedy with the loss of his son Alexander in a plane crash in 1973 which precipitated a rapid decline in his health and Onasis succumbed to respiratory failure on the 15th of March 1975 in Paris at the age of 69 now the complexities of his estate were immediately felt by Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis due to restrictions under Greek law on what a non-greek surviving spouse could inherit after 2 years of legal negotiations she settled for $26 million from Christina Onasis Aristotle's daughter and sole Heir relinquishing any further claims then jacquin's life post Aristotle was a blend of returned to her roots and new Ventures she permanently relocated back to the United States dividing her time among Manhattan Martha's Vineyard and the Kennedy Compound in hyannisport Massachusetts in 1975 jacine embarked on a new career path as a Consulting editor at Viking press though she resigned two years later amid controversies over the publication of a novel involving a fictional assassination plot against Ted Kennedy her career in publishing continued at double day where she worked as an associate editor and influenced a wide array of Publications including Larry gonik the cartoon history of the universe and works by notable figures such as Kari Simon and Diana veland additionally Jacqueline also remained active in public life and cultural preservation she notably LED efforts to save Grand Central Terminal from Demolition in the 1970s and opposed the construction of a skyscraper that would overshadow Central Park in the 1980s her commitment to Historic preservation was therefore widely recognized and celebrated including her efforts to save Anana the home of artist Frederick Edwin church yet despite withdrawing from much of her former public political engagement Jacqueline made exceptions such as her involvement in Ted Kennedy's 1980 presidential campaign and her support for Bill Clinton in the early 1990s she also offered guidance to Hillary Clinton on managing life in the white house with a young child in the later years of her life jacquelene faced personal health challenges she was diagnosed with non Hodgkins lymphoma in December 1993 and underwent chemotherapy her condition worsened rapidly and she sadly passed away on the 19th of May 1994 in her Manhattan apartment surrounded by her loved ones Jacqueline's funeral was then held at the church of St ignacius lyola the same church where she had been baptized and confirmed and she was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery alongside her first husband President Kennedy and their children Patrick and Arabella and now we'd love to see you in the comments what is your opinion of the Onasis years in Jackie's Legacy we love hearing your input and we can't wait to hear from you below thanks for joining for another episode of old money luxury and cheers until next time