Jackie Kennedy and New York: Personal and Historical Stories

740 Park Avenue: A Family Story

• Jacqueline Bouvier’s maternal grandfather embodied the American dream. Born to Irish immigrant parents, he attended City College of New York, the city’s first free university and oldest institution of higher learning, before going on to Columbia. He spent his career in finance and real estate. In 1929, as New York’s skyline climbed higher than ever, James Lee oversaw construction of 740 Park Avenue, a building at the corner of 71st Street and Park Avenue.
• That same year, young Jacqueline was born in Southampton into a wealthy and influential family. Two years later, her parents moved to New York and settled into an apartment at 740 Park Avenue, a gift from her grandfather. Jacqueline lived there from age 2 to 8, until her parents separated. From her earliest years, she moved through the city’s most prestigious social circles with ease.
• Stop by 740 Park Avenue to see a landmark of the Jazz Age, built on the fortunes of Wall Street and the rising power of Park Avenue’s elite.

Jackie Kennedy and Her Love of Horses in New York

• Jacqueline spent her youth between Manhattan and the family estate of Lasata on Long Island. Encouraged by her mother from an early age, Jackie developed a passion for equestrian sports. Competitive by nature, she won a double prize at the annual National Horse Show held at Madison Square Garden. At just 11 years old, her name appeared in the New York Times.
• Note: The Madison Square Garden of 1940 was the third version of this venue, which has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. This version stood between 49th and 8th Avenue, not at its current location on 34th Street.

A Record at Vogue: The Shortest Internship Ever

• During her studies at Georgetown University in Washington D.C., Jackie won a competitive selection to intern for 12 months at the prestigious fashion magazine Vogue.
• She lasted half a day. Possibly the shortest internship on record. Several theories exist about why she left so abruptly. The most credible suggests that Jackie felt uncomfortable in such a female-dominated environment.
• Jacqueline Bouvier was then hired as a photo-reporter for the Washington Times-Herald in Washington D.C. Months later, she met John Fitzgerald Kennedy (called Jack by those close to him). The rest is history.

Jackie Kennedy, Icon of Style

• During trips to France, Jackie discovered French elegance. She cultivated a refined and distinguished style. While her look often drew inspiration from Coco Chanel in the 1960s, all her clothes were made in the United States, particularly in New York, as a matter of principle.
• The boutique Chez Ninon became Manhattan’s most famous shop, known for creating the pink suit Jackie wore on November 22, 1963, the day President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. The store remained open until 1996.

A Coveted Silver Service at the Met

• Jackie was determined and knew how to persevere. As First Lady, she wanted to make history central to the White House. Every object there, she believed, should have a story. Familiar with the collections at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met), she set her sights on obtaining a silver service. She pleaded with the museum’s director to let her borrow it.
• He refused, saying it had to stay in the collection. But Jackie didn’t give up. While the director was away, she managed to have the prestigious set delivered to the White House, leaving only a note: “I have your silver service, thank you.”

1040 Fifth Avenue: An Apartment with a View

• After President Kennedy’s death, Jackie purchased a luxurious apartment on Fifth Avenue overlooking Central Park. The price: $200,000. From the 15th floor, this 15-room apartment looks out over Central Park and its famous reservoir.
• This apartment became her refuge for 30 years, until her death on May 19, 1994.

Her Greatest New York Battle: Grand Central Terminal

• Have you heard of Grand Central Terminal, full of secrets and stories? If you’ve been there, you may have seen the plaque honoring Jackie Kennedy. When a real estate project threatened this Beaux-Arts masterpiece, she stepped in during 1975 to fight back. She contacted the Municipal Art Society and created the Grand Central Preservation Committee.
• While New York Mayor Abe Beame struggled to pull the city out of financial crisis, she sent him a letter that became legendary. The former First Lady’s influence saved the day. Years later, Grand Central was preserved and added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Publishing: A Passion Project

• After her second husband, the wealthy and controversial Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, died, Jackie settled permanently in her New York apartment. Having never really worked since her marriage to JFK, she decided to enter publishing. Imagine the stir when she walked into her office at Viking Press at 625 Madison Avenue!
• Fun fact: Jackie edited Michael Jackson’s autobiography, “Moonwalk,” at Doubleday before joining Viking.

The Ultimate Tribute: The Jacqueline Kennedy Reservoir

• On your next walk through Central Park, take a loop around the famous reservoir. Built in 1862, it carries water from the Croton Aqueduct to the city. The grandest buildings of Central Park West and Fifth Avenue reflect in its waters. In spring, cherry blossoms bloom along its path. Runners circle it alongside strollers from the Upper West and Upper East Side neighborhoods. Sit on a bench—perhaps one where Jackie sat with her companion Maurice Templesman, taking in the unique beauty of the city.