Jackie Kennedy: PTSD and a Remarkable Fighting Spirit

The History Reader ^ | J. Randy Taraborrelli

[CondoleezzaProtege]

In July 1964, Jackie Kennedy visited her mother and stepfather, Janet and Hugh Auchincloss, at the family’s homestead, Hammersmith Farm in Newport. She was suffering greatly. It had been just eight months since she witnessed the murder of her husband, John F. Kennedy, in Dallas on November 22, 1963.

One afternoon during this visit, Jackie dragged herself down to the beach to join Janet and her son (Jackie’s half-brother), Jamie Auchincloss, under an umbrella. She looked dreadful, medicated, and hungover. Janet was as annoyed as she was worried. “Jacqueline,” she began—and this is according to Jamie’s memory of the conversation—“we’ve all lost Jack, but it’s been eight months! You have to snap out of it.” Janet then reached for her daughter’s hand and said, “The only way you’ll ever get through this thing is to start living your life again in a normal fashion. Do we have an understanding?” Jamie recalled, “Jackie was a little startled. She blinked a few times and said, ‘Thank you, Mummy.”

Later, Jackie said of that moment, “I needed to get on with things and Mummy knew it. How remarkable. How remarkable is that?”

But after just eight months, she was expected to get over it?

[CondoleezzaProtege]

She was Catholic by pedigree, but not sure if the faith dimension shaped her in the way it did her sisters by marriage: Ethel Kennedy, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, etc…who were famously quite devout.

From what little I know though, the former First Lady clearly had inner fortitude in spades because up till then (and with more tragedy to come later with Robert Kennedy etc…) she was able to stand before the public while experiencing everything from miscarriages to stillbirths and generational family dysfunction behind the scenes. Kudos to her priests and anyone who offered their spiritual support…

In many ways, Jackie’s era was actually less prayer-filled and “Christian” as a culture. Certainly in the way the public narrated or made sense of tragedy…

[DallasBiff]

Jackie married a Greek billionaire, and lived out of wedlock to a Jewish book publisher.

Yeah she respected JFK.

[cowboyusa]

Erika has her deep faith, something that Kacke didn’t have. Ethell eas the devout Catholic.

[Jamestown1630]

I think having a rich inner life is very sustaining.

People who are always outward-focussed don’t seem to have the same resilience; they have less ability to get ‘out’ of the world and obtain a little respite.

[Racketeer]

You are exactly right. For some reason society wants to take away your soul with medication. There are very strong people in this world as well as very weak people. Everyone else are just normal.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Care to elaborate?

What is the significance of her having married another man after she was widowed, or living with another man long after her husband died?

You make it sound as if she completely disrespected her late husband by such actions. Please elaborate if you care to do so.

[lee martell]

This author; Randy Taraborelli, is an excellent writer of celebrity biography books. I have read several of his works.
Bio of Frank Sinatra, Bio of Michael Jackson, Bio of Diana Ross, Bio of Elizabeth Taylor.

These are not Bio books in the vein of Kitty Kelly, if you remember her. Kitty specialized in sleazy, toxic rumors.
Frank Sinatra hated her.

[Jamestown1630]

What’s wrong with marrying a billionaire - especially when you’ve got two small kids and crazies are trying to kill Kennedys?

She needed that protection. Maybe you should try walking in her shoes a ways.

[Navy Patriot]

JFK was unworthy of respect.

[ClearCase_guy]

Time to roll out a series of articles about the Magic of Camelot and the awesome superiority of the Kennedy Family. Jack Schlossberg is running for office, and he needs all the help he can get.

[ryderann]

I remember from years ago that Joe gave her a million dollars so she wouldn’t divorce Jack.

[DallasBiff]

You make it sound as if she completely disrespected her late husband by such actions. Please elaborate if you care to do so.

Jackie was a gold digger like her father, "Black Jack" Bouvier, she learned from her natural father.

Flame away.

[cowboyusa]

He would be a right winger today.

[cowboyusa]

The rest of the family doshinors, JFK RFK and Rfk, JR.

[Dilbert San Diego]

No flame for me. I just wanted to know what you meant. I didn’t know what the heck you were talking about. Thanks for clarifying.

[gloryblaze]

... Jackie was a gold digger like her father, "Black Jack" Bouvier, she learned from her natural father....

As was her sister, Lee.

[drSteve78]

Finding plenty of disgust in an otherwise sane place here. Yours is one of the few responsible questions.

[Liz]

Kack and Jackie and children going to Sunday Mass.

In his memoir, Jackie's dress designer said Jack told him he would never quote Jefferson in a presidential speech b/c of the man's antipathy towards Catholics.

[Navy Patriot]

Name one “right wing” person of national stature, today, that practices the degenerate lifestyle that JFK practiced.

[cowboyusa]

Wrong, he honored Jefferson publicly ar a White House reception.