Today is the 100th anniversary of New York’s Grand Central Station. Jackie Kennedy Onassis played a significant role in preserving Grand Central and other New York City landmarks. A plaque in Grand Central commemorates Jackie’s role in preserving the station:
In an age when few people sought to preserve the architectural wonders that are a daily reminder of our rich and glorious past, a brave woman rose in protest to save this terminal from demolition. Because of her tireless and valiant efforts, it stands today as a monument to those who came before us and built the greatest city known to mankind. Preserving this great landmark is one of her many enduring legacies. The people of New York are forever grateful.
In the 1975 photo above Jackie is pictured with Ed Koch who was at the time serving in the House of Representatives. He went on to serve as Mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989. Ed passed away today at age 88.
Forget the ugly Christmas sweaters! Mrs. Kennedy dressed in style at the White House Christmas Party. Here’s an up-close view of the dress worn by Mrs. Kennedy to the 1962 staff Christmas reception at the White House.
Designed by Hubert de Givenchy, this dress is made of deep pink silk radzimir. There is minimal detail on the front of this dress, but the back has a ribbed-weave silk fabric twisted and finished with a hand tied bow.
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy hosts a tea party for wives of new ambassadors. The guests stand in front of the grand staircase in the Entrance Hall of the White House.
Guests include: Neila Zouiten Bourguiba (wife of Ambassador Habib Bourguiba, Jr. of Tunisia); Mrs. Frédéric Guirma of Upper Volta; Mrs. Sergio Fenoaltea of Italy (first name unknown); Helena Drozniak (wife of Ambassador Edward Drozniak of Poland); Mrs. Michel Gallin-Douathe of Central African Republic; Seelawathie Rambukwella Gopallawa (wife of Ambassador William Gopallawa of Ceylon); Mrs. Matrika Prasad Koirala of Nepal; Nepalese interpreter Bhinda Malla; Mrs. Il Kwon Chung of South Korea; Mrs. Emmanuel Datnongo Dadet of Congo; Virginia Rusk (wife of Secretary of State Dean Rusk); Mrs. Ousmane Diop of Senegal; Mrs. Seydou Conte of Guinea.
Though it was the convention of the time, I really hate it when women are listed as Mrs. Husband’s First and Last Name. A quick google search suggests Mrs. Il Kwon Chung may be Park Hye Soo as that is the name given for his wife in this 1994 obit (although it may be a later marriage).
A watercolor of the White House Jacqueline Kennedy painted as a gift for President Kennedy. JFK hung this painting in the Oval Office of the White House, but we have it on display here at the JFK Library.
![life:
The caption that accompanied this photo in the March 30, 1962, issue of LIFE:
At Jaipur, sitting in an elaborately carved howdah, Jackie and her sister [Lee Radziwill] ride on a trumpeting female elephant, newly painted and spangled for the show.” Published in the March 30, 1962 article of LIFE titled, “Jackie Leaves Her Mark on India and Vice Versa.”
See more photos here.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5bhqqGHt21qbz9meo1_500.jpg)
life:
The caption that accompanied this photo in the March 30, 1962, issue of LIFE:
At Jaipur, sitting in an elaborately carved howdah, Jackie and her sister [Lee Radziwill] ride on a trumpeting female elephant, newly painted and spangled for the show.” Published in the March 30, 1962 article of LIFE titled, “Jackie Leaves Her Mark on India and Vice Versa.”
See more photos here.
Fifty years ago, Jacqueline Kennedy went on a goodwill trip to India and Pakistan. Here’s the First Lady at the Taj Mahal, Agra, India. March 15, 1962.
Photo gallery - Jacqueline Kennedy in India and Pakistan
"I saw myself in the mirror; my whole face spattered with blood and hair… I wiped it off with Kleenex… I thought, no one really wants me there. Then one second later I thought, why did I wash the blood off? I should have left it there, let them see what they’ve done…"
—
Jackie Kennedy
The “Camelot” Interview with T.H. White, excerpts published in Life magazine
November 29, 1963
(Source: en.wikiquote.org)
Former first lady Jackie Kennedy (whose husband President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated in 1963) and Coretta Scott King at Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1968 funeral. /Moneta Sleet Jr/Ebony Collection
(via sonofafieldnegro)
