8 Facts You May Not Have Known About JFK And Jackie

The Kennedy marriage has been the subject of fascination for decades, blending glamour, power, and profound tragedy. Here are 8 facts you may not have known about JFK and Jackie.

1. Their Wedding Was Surprisingly Small and Unpublicized.
   While it was the society wedding of the year, their ceremony on September 12, 1953, was relatively modest by today’s standards for a political superstar. It was held at a church in Newport, Rhode Island, with about 750 guests at the reception (a large number, but small for a future president). Notably, a press ban was enforced inside the church, and the couple managed to keep their honeymoon location in Acapulco, Mexico, a secret for a short while.

2. Jackie Was a Prize-Winning Photographer Before She Was First Lady.
   Long before she became a global style icon, Jackie was an intellectual and a professional. In 1951, she won Vogue magazine’s prestigious Prix de Paris writing contest with her witty and intelligent essays. One of the prizes was a job at the magazine, which she turned down on the advice of her mother, who thought it was a bad idea to work in New York City.

3. JFK Secretly Used a Code Name for Jackie: “Lace.”
   During his presidency, the Secret Service used code names for all protectees. While JFK’s was “Lancer” (a reference to Camelot), Jackie’s was “Lace.” The elegant and delicate code name was a fitting, if unintentional, nod to her reputation as a fashion icon.

4. She Saved a priceless artifact from destruction During the White House Renovation.
   During her famous White House restoration project, Jackie discovered that a historic mantelpiece from the State Dining Room, dating back to 1902, was about to be destroyed. She personally intervened, having it carefully crated and stored. Decades later, during the Clinton administration, it was rediscovered in a warehouse and restored to its original place, all thanks to her foresight.

5. JFK’s Infamous Back Brace Likely Contributed to His Death.
   The President suffered from chronic and severe back pain, a result of old sports injuries and his service in WWII. He often wore a rigid back brace and corset to help him stand straight and appear healthy. Historians and medical experts have theorized that after the first, non-fatal shot in Dallas, the brace held his body upright, making him a stationary target for the fatal second shot that hit his head.

6. Jackie Orchestrated the “Camelot” Myth Herself.
   Just days after JFK’s assassination, Jackie gave a famous interview to Life magazine reporter Theodore H. White. In it, she linked JFK’s presidency to the idealistic Broadway musical Camelot, quoting the line, “Don’t let it be forgot, that for one brief, shining moment there was Camelot.” She actively shaped this narrative to define his legacy, ensuring he would be remembered for his idealism and grace rather than his tragic end.

7. They Communicated Through Playful Notes in a French Dictionary.
   The couple, both fluent in French, used a special old French dictionary as a private message board. They would leave notes for each other in its margins and hide it on a bookshelf in the White House private quarters. This intimate detail reveals a playful and intellectual connection between them that was often hidden from public view.

8. She Refused to Change Out of Her Blood-Stained Pink Suit.
   In one of the most powerful and haunting images of the 20th century, Jackie emerged from Air Force One in Washington, D.C., still wearing the iconic pink Chanel suit and pillbox hat, stained with her husband’s blood. She reportedly told her maid, “Let them see what they have done.” It was a moment of raw, defiant grief, and she wore the suit as a testament to the horror of the assassination until after Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in. The suit is now preserved in the National Archives and will not be released to the public until at least 2103.