Jackie & John F. Kennedy Jr. A Mother’s Love

For someone who could arguably be referred to as the most famous woman in the world, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis was fiercely private. And who could blame her? Over the course of a lifetime, the former First Lady was a participant in and witness to moments that changed our country and world forever; it was no wonder there were things she’d rather keep to herself. One thing that was never a secret, however, was her love for her children. From the time Caroline and John Jr. were children, the joy they brought to their mother—despite the tragedies that had touched her life—was palpable. Her reverence for parenthood was never more clear than when she said, “If you bungle raising your children, I don’t think whatever else you do well matters very much.” The year 2019 marks the 25th anniversary of the passing of Onassis and the 20th anniversary of her son’s untimely death. Both are losses etched into our collective memory and it’s a testament to each of their lives they continue to serve as inspiration to so many people. In this special commemorative edition, the editors of Town & Country look back at the rarefied world in which Onassis herself was raised, how it impacted her life as a mother, and how her relationship with her children, especially her son, developed over the years. Indeed, Jackie and John Jr. might be gone, but for many of us, this mother’s love will never be forgotten.