Jan Pottker - Janet and Jackie: The Story of a Mother and Her Daughter, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

The author and publisher have provided this e-book to you for your personal use only. You may not make this e-book publicly available in any way. Copyright infringement is against the law. If you believe the copy of this e-book you are reading infringes on the authors copyright, please notify the publisher at: us.macmillanusa.com/piracy.

Contents

To my mother, Olga Somenzi Pottker

Acknowledgments

The greatest influence on Jackie Kennedy Onassis was her mother, Janet Auchincloss. While I was researching and writing Janet and Jackie, the critical role Janet played in shaping Jackie became clear to me. The Kennedy family, larger than life, has dominated the stories of Jackie, even though she was married to Jack Kennedy only eleven years of her life.

Janet had a long life; alas, Jackie did not, dying after a short illness at age sixty-five. Janet had died only five years earlier: Jackies mother was clearly the most constant guide in her life. Yet Janet has stayed unknown to most people.

Janet and Jackie puts a stop to this nonsense and supplies the missing pieces to the jigsaw puzzle of Jackies life. I could not have written this book without the help of Janet Auchinclosss children and friends. First, I would like to thank Yusha (Hugh D. III) Auchincloss, Janets eldest stepson the man who, as a teenager, welcomed Janet, Jackie, and Lee into the Auchincloss family and who remained a constant presence throughout their lives. Yusha oversaw Janets care in her last decade when she suffered from Alzheimers disease, and his kindnesses to her during her life were many. Yusha was generous to me also, spending long hours sharing his reminiscences during my three trips to Newport. At his Castle residence on Hammersmith Farm, he arranged for me to spend time with the woman who was Janets caregiver over her last decade, Elisa (Mrs. Joseph J.) Sullivan. Elisas patience in sorting through Yushas massive collection and pointing out special items was incredible, and I thank her. Most important, Yusha generously supplied me with correspondence from Janet and about her, giving me access to precious Auchincloss documents.

Yusha also introduced me to his wonderful daughter, Maya Auchincloss, Janets grandchild and Jackies niece. She kindly provided me with anecdotes and memories about both women and, especially, told me what it was like to be a grandchild in the environment Janet created for her large family.

Jamie (James Lee) Auchincloss, Janets only son, was pivotal to my understanding both of his mother and of her relationship to Jackie, his half sister. I deeply appreciated Jamies political sense and his ability to home in on the similarities between the women.

Lewis Rutherfurd, Janets son-in-law (he was married to Janets third daughter, Janet Jr., who died of cancer at thirty-nine), who lives in Hong Kong, was helpful in our several brief telephone conversations, especially regarding the influence of Janets father, James T. Lee, on Janet and subsequently on Jackie.

John H. Davis, the first cousin and biographer of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis ( Jacqueline Bouvier: An Intimate Memoir, The Bouviers: Portrait of an American Family, and The Kennedys: Dynasty and Disaster, 18481983 ), provided his memories of a young Aunt Janet Bouvier when she was married to her first husband, Jack, and of Janets larger-than-life father. John Davis was also Janets godson. His adult observations on Janet and Jackie provided insight to the women and their relationship with each other.

Maude Davis also gave me her memories of Aunt Janet and how the intricate family relationship shaped by the Janet and Jack divorce played out sadly in later years.

Kathleen Bouvier, who is the widow of Jackies first cousin Michel Bouvier, supplied fond remembrances of Jackies father. She also understands the traditional values that formed Janets own behavior. And she wrote Black Jack Bouvier: The Life and Times of Jackie Os Father, which fills in a part of Jackies history that other writers have missed.

Mimi (Mary-Lee) Cecil, who is Janets niece and Jackies first cousin, graciously hosted me over a three-day period and contributed anecdotes about Janet and Jackie, as well as stories of her beloved grandfather, the developer and banker James T. Lee. Mimi Cecil is married to William A. V. Cecil, who is responsible for establishing his grandfathers Asheville, North Carolina, property, Biltmore Estate, as this countrys largest privately owned estate that is open to the public.

Jock (John F. Jr.) Nash, whose grandmother Esther (Mrs. Norman) Auchincloss Biltz was the elder sister of Janets second husband, was of great help and gave me previously undisclosed information about the Auchincloss family.

Margaret (Mrs. Robert L.) Kearney spent days and days with me talking about Hugh D. Auchincloss and his large family. As Hughdies personal secretary for more than two decades, she was able to provide details about the family and their lifestyle that could have come from no other person.

Marta Sgubin was governess to John Jr. and Caroline for the pivotal years of their lives and the one who gave them stability during their mothers marriage to Aristotle Onassis. After the children grew up, she became Jackies family cook and, after Jackies death, wrote Cooking for Madam. Sgubin knew Janet before she ever met Jackie and often took the children to Hammersmith Farm sans Jackie; she saw with a keen eye the nuances of similarities and differences between Janet and Jackie, and between Janet and Rose Kennedy. I believe that Janets insistence that Jackie hire Marta is, at least in part, the reason for the sound character formation of John Jr. and Caroline.

Letitia Baldrige, Jackies first White House social secretary and a longtime friend to both Janet and Jackie, provided her perspective on the Auchincloss family and their social group. She was supportive of my idea to celebrate Janets life and gave me two lengthy interviews while she was on deadline herself. Her recent book, In the Kennedy Style: Magical Evenings in the Kennedy White House, is a valuable look at the nighttime celebrations she planned so carefully with Jackie.

Thanks go to those who shared memories of their professional relationship with Janet and Jackie. Mary Barelli (Mrs. Raymond A.) Gallagher worked first as Janets personal secretary and then as Jackies. After Jackie moved to New York and later married Ari Onassis, Gallagher wrote My Life with Jacqueline Kennedy as a way to explain to a surprised world who Jackie really was. Gallagher kindly shared her fond memories of Janet and some of her thoughts on the mother-daughter relationship.

Michael Dupre, who was Janets personal chef during the 1980s, contributed his memories of Janets last years and of Jackies visits. Michael now is the innkeeper of Rhode Island House, one of Newports finest B&Bs, which hosts a guest room named for the Auchincloss family. Prominently placed in the inns entry is an outdoor garden sculpture from Janets estate, given to him by her grateful family.

The story of the sale of Merrywood, the Auchincloss estate in McLean, Virginia, is a snapshot of Jackie in action. Several players in that episode gave me their memories. Thanks go to the Honorable Stewart L. Udall, Secretary of the Interior under President John F. Kennedy, who told me of both Jackies and Bobbys push to stop Merrywoods development.

C. Wyatt Dickerson, who later purchased Merrywood, told me many colorful stories about the brouhaha over the planned sale and development, as well as what it was like to renovate and refurbish the Auchincloss estate.