John and Jackie Kennedy - The
Original Presidential Power Couple
Assassination
fever, unfortunately, hit the swinging sixties with the deaths of beloved
President John F Kennedy and the later assassination of Martin Luther King, it
seems like a generation known for the promotion of peace holds two of the
biggest tragedies in the twentieth century. Before the untimely death of
Kennedy though he and his wife Jackie Kennedy became the most famous power
couple in the sixties, the Barack and Michele Obama of today’s society. They
became worldwide celebrities.
Their love
was looked upon by the American public throughout Kennedy’s presidency, they
seemed smitten with each other and the younger generation aspired to grow up to
be a Jackie or a John, to find love like theirs. Pictures from the early
sixties show their perfect family life and love, which gave America a sense of
happiness during the bleak Cold War era. The couple was also an inspiration to
many young couples in America who were trying to have families but were going
through personal tragedies along the way. If the Kennedys could carry on after
the tragic death of their new-born son Patrick and two previous miscarriages then
so could every else, they were a truly strong couple whose love got them
through the losses. It was just unfortunate that Jackie’s ‘first extended
public appearance since the loss of their baby, Patrick, in August 1963’ would
be the last with her husband.[1]
 |
| Kennedy Family in 1963 |
Every young man
aspired to be Kennedy, with his lavish youthful looks and a successful career,
he became the youngest president to ever be elected, an inspiration to the
generations before him. Jackie was also the youngest First Lady in nearly a
decade, giving America a sense of youth, this also was one of the reasons why
the couple became so popular in America during the sixties. The power couple
even had inspiration in the world of fashion during the sixties, especially
Lady Kennedy, ‘Jackie’s prim skirt suits, pillbox hats and super-sized dark
glasses made her the style inspiration for women across America.’[1]
Although the focus in the couple’s fashion was normally on Jackie’s style,
Johns style carried on past the sixties. Top fashion designer Michael Kors recently
praised Kennedy; ‘his cool confidence, combined with his charisma, smile and
all-American spirit, gave everything he wore a sense of relaxed polish. It’s
that mood that continues to inspire men’s style today.’[2]
The couples fashion during the sixties is thus still impacting modern fashion,
which no other presidential couple has done before, therefore this makes them
the first presidential power couple.
Even after
the death of John, Jackie carried on being America’s sweetheart, with America
mourning with her throughout the rest of the sixties, she eventually became known
as Jackie O after remarrying and was a celebrity until she died of Cancer in
1994, forever carrying on the couple’s legacy. Without this sixties power
couple, presidential couples that came to be such as Bill and Hilary Clinton,
and the Obamas, would not have had the same impact as they had when they were
in the White House.
[1] 1960S
Fashion Icons: Meet 25 Women Who Shaped The Swinging Decade - Victor Xenia
London", Victor Xenia London, 2017,
https://www.victorxenialondon.com/1960s-fashion-icons-meet-25-women-shaped-swinging-decade/.
[2] Andrew
WWD, "Remembering John F. Kennedy's ‘Effortless’ Style 100 Years After His
Birth", Latimes.Com, 2017,
http://www.latimes.com/fashion/la-ig-wwd-jfk-100-years-style-20170530-story.html.
[1] "November
22, 1963: Death Of The President - John F. Kennedy Presidential Library &
Museum", Jfklibrary.Org, 2017,
https://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/JFK-in-History/November-22-1963-Death-of-the-President.aspx.
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