Reading Jackie

by William Kuhn

  · · ·

  Most of Jackie’s colleagues’ favorite memories about her are those in which she ceased to be Jackie the myth and was clearly an ordinary mortal, an editor, a coworker, one of them. Jackie usually had a simple lunch of foil-wrapped celery and carrot sticks at her desk. Very occasionally she ventured downstairs to the company cafeteria. Nancy Tuckerman took her down the first time. Jackie selected different dishes from both the hot and the cold counters. Then she walked by the three islands with cash registers and sat down at a table. When Nancy joined her at the table and asked her, “Did you pay, Jackie?” Jackie said with surprise, “Oh. Do you have to pay?” Nancy went back and paid for her: “I could just see the stories in the papers if I didn’t.”

  On another trip to the cafeteria, one fellow editor remembered Jackie encountering the big Irish cook who routinely stood behind the counter where hot dishes were served. When Jackie took her tray and came to the counter, the smiling cook said in an Irish brogue, as if she saw her there every day, “All right, Jackie! Whaddya want?” After Jackie finished her lunch and went with a friend to drop off her tray, she looked with amazement into the kitchen, where the dishes were being washed, and said, “Gosh, it looks like a dry cleaner’s in there.”

  Another of her colleagues has an indelible image of her. Young Paul Golob, sitting at an internal desk that stood outside the offices with windows, heard a commotion down at one end of the hall. He heard footsteps running down the corridor. He looked up and there was “Jacqueline Onassis in stocking feet running. She wasn’t wearing any shoes and she was tearing down the hall as if she were still a schoolgirl. She was in her sixties then. Did I just see that?” Golob asked himself. “Did it really happen? It humanized her. She was one of us. She was on deadline. It was something any of us would have done.” Reading Jackie was also running Jackie, and for the most authentic vision of that woman, intent on getting one of her titles into print, turn now not to a picture of her but to the pages of one of her books.

  Acknowledgments

  My previous books have been on nineteenth-century British politics and biographies of people at the court of Queen Victoria. One of Jackie’s specialties as an editor was the history of European court life. Nevertheless, I could not have moved between Victorian England and Jackie’s more recent history without the help of two books and the backing of four people. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York staged an exhibition of Jacqueline Kennedy’s clothes from her White House years in 2001. The essays in the book that accompanied the exhibition commented on the way Jackie’s considerable intellect contributed to her sense of style. A few years earlier, Wayne Koestenbaum’s Jackie Under My Skin (1995) touched on the biographical parallel between Jackie’s publishing work on the Russian royal family and her reputation as a regal figure in American history. Both books drew me in and compelled me to reevaluate the woman I thought I knew from having looked at her pictures and read some of her biographies. Two literary agents, Zoë Waldie in London and David Kuhn (no relation) in New York, took my original idea of exploring Jackie’s editorial career and helped make it into something very much more than it had been. Nor would the book have gotten off the ground without Steve Rubin and Nan Talese at Doubleday. These are the ideas and the people who brought this book to life.

  At Carthage College, where I taught for fifteen years and where the initial stages of the research for this book took place, I had the support of generous colleagues: F. Gregory Campbell, Kurt Piepenburg, Judith Schaumberg, David Steege, and Christian von Dehsen. Paul Ulrich and Mimi Yang chaired a committee that funded early trips to the archives. Thanks go also to members of the History Department who encouraged me and took on my classes while I was away: John Leazer, Stephanie Mitchell, John Neuenschwander, Eric Pullin, and Steve Udry. A number of students assisted, too, but most of all I want to thank Claire Rogoski, the sort of bright young person who makes a teaching career fun. The staff at the college’s library who provided information technology support were also essential.

  A number of readers gave me detailed suggestions about how to make a first draft better. I’d like to thank not only my father, Albert J. Kuhn, but also Pamela Kuras and Tom Noer. Ronit Feldman and the rest of the team at Nan A. Talese/Doubleday were instrumental here, too, and I could not have done it without them.

  The book was written at libraries and with the assistance of librarians whose expertise was greater than mine. I’d like to thank the staffs of the Boston Athenaeum, the Boston Public Library, the Harvard University Libraries, the Northwestern University Library, the Newberry Library, the Chicago Public Library, the Library of Columbia College in Chicago, the London Library, and the British Library.

  I also received expert assistance from archivists who guided me through the manuscript collections of the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston; the Bodleian Library in Oxford; the Library of St. John’s College, Cambridge; the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas, Austin; the New York Public Library; the Library of the University of Arizona, Tucson; the National First Ladies’ Library in Canton, Ohio; and the Library of Wesleyan University.

  A number of people allowed me to see papers in their own collections; among them I would like to thank Robert Alderman, Ruth Ansel, Irina Clow, Elizabeth Crook, William Dalrymple, Lynn Franklin, John Loring, Philip Myers, Edna O’Brien, and Jann Wenner.

  I had help with photographs from a number of people who are credited elsewhere, but I am particularly grateful for the research and assistance of Catherine Talese. Robert Nedelkoff was also a helpful resource in conducting research, especially into U.S. government records.

  The people who agreed to be interviewed for this book, mainly Jackie’s colleagues and authors, also made it possible. I have listed their names in a separate section, but I would like to record here what a thoughtful group of people they were and what a pleasure it was to learn through them about what it was like to work with Jackie.

  Writing a book is a reminder of how important friends are in keeping the show on the road. Warm thanks, then, last of all, to Nimish Adhia, Greg Baer, Mary Bishop, Pauline Bieringa and Wyger Velema, Carol Birnbaum and Adam Manacher, Jane Bond, Bradford Brown and Maribeth Gettinger, Ric Camacho, Carrie Clark, Richard Davenport-Hines, George Dickson, Gregory and Cristina Gaymont, David Gelber, Lisa Jane Graham and David Sedley, Michael Holland, Nigel Hubbard, Fritz Kuhn, Rajiv Laroia, Julia MacKenzie, Sheila Markham, David Parrott, Christopher Phipps, Marla Polley, Laura Ponsonby, Nabeel Razzaq, John Martin Robinson, Ian and Catherine Russell, John Silva, Mark Studer, and Paul Wolfson.

  Books Edited by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

  1976

  De Pauw, Linda Grant, and Conover Hunt. Remember the Ladies: Women in America, 1750–1815. With the assistance of Miriam Schneir. New York: Viking/Pilgrim Society.

  Onassis, Jacqueline, ed. In the Russian Style. With the cooperation of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Introduction by Audrey Kennett, designed by Bryan Holme. New York: Viking.

  1978

  Kennedy, Eugene C. Himself! The Life and Times of Mayor Richard J. Daley. New York: Viking.

  Zvorykin, Boris. The Firebird and Other Russian Fairy Tales. Edited and with an introduction by Jacqueline Onassis. New York: Viking.

  1979

  Adams, William Howard. Atget’s Gardens: A Selection of Eugène Atget’s Garden Photographs. Introduction by Jacqueline Onassis. Exhibition sponsored by Royal Institute of British Architects, London; International Center of Photography, New York; International Exhibitions Foundation, Washington. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.

  Appelbaum, Stephen A. Out in Inner Space: A Psychoanalyst Explores the New Therapies. Garden City, N.Y.: Anchor/Doubleday.

  Chase-Riboud, Barbara. Sally Hemings: A Novel. New York: Viking.

  Zaroulis, N. L. Call the Darkness Light. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.

  1980

  Grace, Princess of Monaco, with Gwen Robyns. My Book of Flowers. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.

  Vreeland, Di
ana. Allure. With Christopher Hemphill. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.

  Weller, Edwin. A Civil War Courtship: The Letters of Edwin Weller from Antietam to Atlanta. Edited by William Walton. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.

  1981

  Bernier, Olivier. The Eighteenth-Century Woman. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday/Metropolitan Museum of Art.

  Cook, Don. Ten Men and History. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.

  Kennedy, Eugene C. Father’s Day: A Novel. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.

  Loring, John, and Henry B. Platt. The New Tiffany Table Settings. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.

  Ramati, Raquel. How to Save Your Own Street. In collaboration with the Urban Design Group of the Department of City Planning, New York. Garden City, N.Y.: Dolphin Books [Doubleday].

  Turbeville, Deborah. Unseen Versailles. Introduction by Louis Auchincloss. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.

  1982

  Cott, Jonathan, and Christine Doudna. The Ballad of John and Yoko. Garden City, N.Y.: Dolphin Books [Doubleday] / Rolling Stone Press.

  Kennedy, Eugene C. Queen Bee. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.

  1983

  De Combray, Richard. Goodbye Europe: A Novel in Six Parts. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.

  Sloane, Florence Adele. Maverick in Mauve: The Diary of a Romantic Age. With commentary by Louis Auchincloss. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.

  1984

  Auchincloss, Louis. False Dawn: Women in the Age of the Sun King. Garden City, N.Y.: Anchor/Doubleday.

  Bernier, Olivier. Louis the Beloved: The Life of Louis XV. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.

  Plimpton, George. Fireworks. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.

  1985

  Bernier, Olivier. Secrets of Marie Antoinette: By Marie Antoinette, Queen Consort of Louis XVI, King of France. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.

  Patnaik, Naveen. A Second Paradise: Indian Courtly Life, 1590–1947. Introduction by Stuart Cary Welch, illustrations by Bannu. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.

  1986

  Kirkland, Gelsey. Dancing on My Grave: An Autobiography. With Greg Lawrence. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.

  Loring, John. Tiffany Taste. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.

  1987

  Bernier, Olivier. Louis XIV: A Royal Life. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.

  Cott, Jonathan. The Search for Omm Sety: A Story of Eternal Love. In collaboration with Hanny El Zeini. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.

  Loring, John. Tiffany’s 150 Years. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.

  Udall, Stewart L. To the Inland Empire: Coronado and Our Spanish Legacy. Photographs by Jerry Jacka. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.

  Wise, David. The Samarkand Dimension. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.

  1988

  Campbell, Joseph. The Power of Myth. With Bill Moyers. Edited by Betty Sue Flowers. New York: Doubleday.

  Giles, Sarah. Fred Astaire: His Friends Talk. New York: Doubleday.

  Jackson, Michael. Moonwalk. New York: Doubleday.

  Loring, John. The Tiffany Wedding. New York: Doubleday.

  Redford, Dorothy Spruill, with Michael D’Orso. Somerset Homecoming. New York: Doubleday.

  Stenn, David. Clara Bow: Runnin’ Wild. New York: Doubleday.

  1989

  Bernier, Olivier. At the Court of Napoleon: Memoirs of the Duchesse d’Abrantès. New York: Doubleday.

  Custine, Astolphe, Marquis de. Empire of the Czar: A Journey through Eternal Russia. Foreword by Daniel J. Boorstin, introduction by George F. Kennan. A translation of La Russie en 1839. New York: Doubleday.

  Eggleston, William. The Democratic Forest. Introduction by Eudora Welty. New York: Doubleday.

  Kennedy, Eugene C. Fixes. New York: Doubleday.

  Loring, John. Tiffany Parties. Preface by Aileen Mehle, introduction by Jane Lane. New York: Doubleday.

  Moyers, Bill D. A World of Ideas: Conversations with Thoughtful Men and Women About American Life Today and the Ideas Shaping Our Future. With Betty Sue Flowers. New York: Doubleday.

  Pushkin, Alexander. The Golden Cockerel and Other Fairy Tales. Illustrated by Boris Zvorykin, translated from the French by Jessie Wood, introduction by Rudolf Nureyev. New York: Doubleday, 1990.

  Simon, Carly. Amy the Dancing Bear. Illustrated by Margot Datz. New York: Doubleday.

  Steinke, Darcey. Up Through the Water. New York: Doubleday.

  Zamoyska-Panek, Christine, with Fred Benton Holmberg. Have You Forgotten? A Memoir of Poland, 1939–1945. New York: Doubleday.

  1990

  Gonick, Larry. The Cartoon History of the Universe 1, Volumes 1–7, From the Big Bang to Alexander the Great. New York: Doubleday.

  Kirkland, Gelsey. The Shape of Love. With Greg Lawrence. New York: Doubleday.

  Mahfouz, Naguib. The Cairo Trilogy: Palace Walk, Palace of Desire, Sugar Street. New York: Doubleday, 1990, 1991, 1992.

  Moyers, Bill D. A World of Ideas II: Public Opinions from Private Citizens. With Andie Tucher. New York: Doubleday.

  Riboud, Marc. Capital of Heaven. New York: Doubleday.

  Simon, Carly. The Boy of the Bells. Illustrated by Margot Datz. New York: Doubleday.

  1991

  Crook, Elizabeth. The Raven’s Bride. New York: Doubleday.

  Graham, Martha. Blood Memory. New York: Doubleday.

  Ladd, Mary-Sargent. The Frenchwoman’s Bedroom. New York: Doubleday.

  Larsen, Stephen, and Robin Larsen. A Fire in the Mind: The Life of Joseph Campbell. New York: Doubleday.

  Linscott, Jody. Once Upon A to Z: An Alphabet Odyssey. Illustrations by Claudia Porges Holland. New York: Doubleday.

  Mason, Francis. I Remember Balanchine: Recollections of the Ballet Master by Those Who Knew Him. New York: Doubleday.

  Pope-Hennessy, John. Learning to Look. New York: Doubleday.

  Previn, André. No Minor Chords: My Days in Hollywood. New York: Doubleday.

  Rothschild, Miriam. Butterfly Cooing Like a Dove. New York: Doubleday.

  Simon, Carly. The Fisherman’s Song. Illustrated by Margot Datz. New York: Doubleday.

  Simon, Paul. At the Zoo. Illustrated by Valérie Michaut. New York: Doubleday.

  Walter, Jakob. The Diary of a Napoleonic Foot Soldier. Edited and with an introduction by Marc Raeff. New York: Doubleday.

  1992

  Elliott, Carl, Sr., and Michael D’Orso. The Cost of Courage: The Journey of an American Congressman. New York: Doubleday.

  Hampton, Mark. Legendary Decorators of the Twentieth Century. New York: Doubleday.

  Loring, John. The Tiffany Gourmet Cookbook. New York: Doubleday.

  Lowe, David Garrard. Stanford White’s New York. New York: Doubleday.

  Lyons, Robert. Egyptian Time. Photographs by Robert Lyons. With a short story by Naguib Mahfouz, translated by Peter Theroux, introduction by Charlie Pye-Smith. New York: Doubleday.

  Radzinsky, Edvard. The Last Tsar: The Life and Death of Nicholas II. Translated by Marian Schwartz. New York: Doubleday.

  Valenti, Jack. Protect and Defend. New York: Doubleday.

  1993

  Bass, Jack. Taming the Storm: The Life and Times of Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr., and the South’s Fight over Civil Rights. New York: Doubleday.

  Jamison, Judith, with Howard Kaplan. Dancing Spirit: An Autobiography. New York: Doubleday.

  Jhabvala, Ruth Prawer. Poet and Dancer. New York: Doubleday.

  Kirkland, Gelsey. The Little Ballerina and Her Dancing Horse. With Greg Lawrence. Illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers. New York: Doubleday.

  Linscott, Jody. The Worthy Wonders Lost at Sea: A Whimsical Word Search Adventure. Illustrations by Claudia Porges Holland. New York: Doubleday.

  Love, Robert, ed. The Best of Rolling Stone: 25 Years of Journalism on the Edge. New York: Doubleday.

  Moyers, Bill D. Healing and the Mind. With Betty S. Flowers and David Grubin. New York: Doubleday.

  Patnaik, Naveen. The Garden of Life: An Introduction to the Healing Plants of India. New York: Doubleday.

  Simon, Carly.
The Nighttime Chauffeur. Illustrated by Margot Datz. New York: Doubleday.

  Stenn, David. Bombshell: The Life and Death of Jean Harlow. New York: Doubleday.

  1994

  Beevor, Antony, and Artemis Cooper. Paris After the Liberation, 1944–1949. New York: Doubleday.

  Cott, Jonathan. Isis and Osiris: Exploring the Goddess Myth. New York: Doubleday.

  Crook, Elizabeth. Promised Lands: A Novel of the Texas Rebellion. New York: Doubleday.

  Frissell, Toni. Photographs, 1933–1967. Introduction by George Plimpton, foreword by Sidney Frissell Stafford. New York: Doubleday/Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.

  Gonick, Larry. The Cartoon History of the Universe 2, Volumes 8–13, From the Springtime of China to the Fall of Rome, India Too! New York: Doubleday.

  Peskov, Vasily. Lost in the Taiga: One Russian Family’s Fifty-Year Struggle for Survival and Religious Freedom in the Siberian Wilderness. Translated by Marian Schwartz. New York: Doubleday.

  Sís, Peter. The Three Golden Keys. New York: Doubleday.

  1995