JACQUELINE KENNEDY, HISTORIC CONVERSATIONS, THE FOURTH CONVERSATION III
Knoxville, Tennessee (JFK+50) Today JFK+50 continues our report on the 4th conversation from "Jacqueline Kennedy, Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy," published by Hyperion.
The fourth conversation was recorded on March 23, 1964.
Arthur Schlesinger asks:
"What were your own thoughts about getting in the White House?"
Jacqueline Kennedy answers:
"I used to worry about (it)....It'll be a goldfish bowl, the secret service, I'll never see my husband (but I) found out it was really the happiest time of my life."*
*This is added from the JFK Library website:
"It was when we were the closest--I didn't realize the physical closeness of having his office....in the same building & seeing him so many times a day."
"JFK & 1st Family in the White House"
Photo by Cecil Stoughton
JFK Library Photo
Mrs. Kennedy continues:
"Then once we were in....I (worried) about getting out & (Jack) would say, 'it won't be a problem.'"
Mr. Schlesinger asks:
"Did he ever talk about what he might do after he left the White House?"
Jacqueline responds:
"Yes (but he) didn't like to talk about it. (He would) joke & say: 'Oh, I'll be ambassador to Italy.'
Jack was (really) thinking about being (the) publisher of a great (news) paper. I think he would have gone around the world, written a book, done something with his (presidential) library."
Arthur Schlesinger wonders where they would have lived after the White House years.
Mrs. Kennedy says:
"Cambridge (Massachusetts). Jack always said we shouldn't live in Washington. He was right."
