Sandra H. (oldbamagirl) reviewed Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis: A Portrait of Her Private Years on + 293 more book reviews
Interesting historial book re to life and times of Jackie prior to John Jr. death. Anyone over 50 would love it as we can all tell you where we were when JFK and Bobby were assinated. Below, are some quotes and my added editorial opinions on parts of book. I highly reccomend. Gives you the people and personality factoids based and truth from interviews ect. unusual for bios.
Ari Onasssis said soon after his marriage (10/20/1968) to Jackie Kennedy, â Jackie is like a bird. She wants the protection of the nest, yet she wants, as well, the freedom to fly. I offer her both.â Jackie spent 1.5 million on her honeymoon, to include redecorating the home on an isle of Skorpios. He purchased this island for $100,000.00 to insure their privacy. Since they were still married at his death, seven yrs. into the marriage-Ari left Jackie 250 thousand tax free annually. The 3 million cash he paid her on their marriage was a type of reverse dowry in which she gave up all rights to his estate. Jackie sued the estate anyway and ended up with 20 million plus 6 million for taxes. For Onassis, who began his financial empire with only $60.00 in his pocket( then a refuge from the war with the Turks) the career was legend. He owned a fleet of ships larger that most navies which employed over thousand individuals. Most ships were belonged to a separate corporation registered in Panama and flew the Liberian flag. His fortune before age 50 was est. at 500m to 1 Billion. Once asked his formula for success, Onassis came up with this program: work twenty hours a day; be willing to take risks; lend an ear to âimportantâ gossip, & offer tempting bait to get what you want. Ari felt no remorse for sexual dalliances outside of marriage. He expected Jackie to do the same if she wished. He continued a long standing relationship with opera singer Maria Callas after marriage to Jackie. For all of his wealth and power, Ari's family life was tragic. His son Alex was killed in an airplane crash before his death, and after his death, Christina relied on drugs and became grossly obese. She died at 38 years old of pulmonary edema. Maria , whose wealth was estimated at 10 million, grieved herself to death following Ari's death who she considered to be her husband.
The men in Jackie's life tragically died. From JFK to Bobby to Aristotle . Jackie's children fared well and were respected citizens. Joseph Kennedys other children & grandchildren had many drug and alcohol issues. After Jackie's death, John Jr. died at a young age, along with his wife, in an airplane crash off of Martha's Vineyard. Caroline graduated from Columbia law school, is published and has 3 children. Despite the enormous monies, family relationships and contentment with life eluded most of these. Jackie seemed to live a grounded life for all her family tragedies and experiences of wealth, & sudden deaths. She seems to have been an exceptional parent.
Maryanm Kharazmi of the English-language newspaper âKayham International, asked Jackie Kennedy Onassisis: âAre you the same sort of person today My 25, 1972 as you were when you were the wife of President John F. Kennedy?
Jackie replied, âWhy do people always try to see me through the different names I have had at different times? People often forget that I was Jacqueline Bouvier before being Mrs. Kennedy or Mrs. Onassis. Throughout my life I have always tried to remain true to myself. This I will continue to do as long as I live. âI am a woman above everything else. I love children & I think seeing one's children grow up is the most delightful thing any woman can think about. I have been through a lot and I have suffered a great deal, as you know. But I have had lots of happy moments as well. I have come to the conclusion that we must not expect too much from life. We must give to life at least as much as we receive from it. Every moment one lives is different from the other, the good, the bad, the hardship, the joy, the tragedy, love and happiness are all interwoven into one single indescribable whole that is called life.â
Quotes from: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis: A Portrait of Her Private Years by Lester David
Ari Onasssis said soon after his marriage (10/20/1968) to Jackie Kennedy, â Jackie is like a bird. She wants the protection of the nest, yet she wants, as well, the freedom to fly. I offer her both.â Jackie spent 1.5 million on her honeymoon, to include redecorating the home on an isle of Skorpios. He purchased this island for $100,000.00 to insure their privacy. Since they were still married at his death, seven yrs. into the marriage-Ari left Jackie 250 thousand tax free annually. The 3 million cash he paid her on their marriage was a type of reverse dowry in which she gave up all rights to his estate. Jackie sued the estate anyway and ended up with 20 million plus 6 million for taxes. For Onassis, who began his financial empire with only $60.00 in his pocket( then a refuge from the war with the Turks) the career was legend. He owned a fleet of ships larger that most navies which employed over thousand individuals. Most ships were belonged to a separate corporation registered in Panama and flew the Liberian flag. His fortune before age 50 was est. at 500m to 1 Billion. Once asked his formula for success, Onassis came up with this program: work twenty hours a day; be willing to take risks; lend an ear to âimportantâ gossip, & offer tempting bait to get what you want. Ari felt no remorse for sexual dalliances outside of marriage. He expected Jackie to do the same if she wished. He continued a long standing relationship with opera singer Maria Callas after marriage to Jackie. For all of his wealth and power, Ari's family life was tragic. His son Alex was killed in an airplane crash before his death, and after his death, Christina relied on drugs and became grossly obese. She died at 38 years old of pulmonary edema. Maria , whose wealth was estimated at 10 million, grieved herself to death following Ari's death who she considered to be her husband.
The men in Jackie's life tragically died. From JFK to Bobby to Aristotle . Jackie's children fared well and were respected citizens. Joseph Kennedys other children & grandchildren had many drug and alcohol issues. After Jackie's death, John Jr. died at a young age, along with his wife, in an airplane crash off of Martha's Vineyard. Caroline graduated from Columbia law school, is published and has 3 children. Despite the enormous monies, family relationships and contentment with life eluded most of these. Jackie seemed to live a grounded life for all her family tragedies and experiences of wealth, & sudden deaths. She seems to have been an exceptional parent.
Maryanm Kharazmi of the English-language newspaper âKayham International, asked Jackie Kennedy Onassisis: âAre you the same sort of person today My 25, 1972 as you were when you were the wife of President John F. Kennedy?
Jackie replied, âWhy do people always try to see me through the different names I have had at different times? People often forget that I was Jacqueline Bouvier before being Mrs. Kennedy or Mrs. Onassis. Throughout my life I have always tried to remain true to myself. This I will continue to do as long as I live. âI am a woman above everything else. I love children & I think seeing one's children grow up is the most delightful thing any woman can think about. I have been through a lot and I have suffered a great deal, as you know. But I have had lots of happy moments as well. I have come to the conclusion that we must not expect too much from life. We must give to life at least as much as we receive from it. Every moment one lives is different from the other, the good, the bad, the hardship, the joy, the tragedy, love and happiness are all interwoven into one single indescribable whole that is called life.â
Quotes from: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis: A Portrait of Her Private Years by Lester David
