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Sunday, June 30, 2013

From the White House to their beachside mansion, inside the places John F Kennedy and Jackie O once called home

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

John F Kennedy and Jackie O captured America's heart as the youngest and most charismatic First Couple in history.
The two - who came from wealthy families - were both beautiful and charming in equal measures.

When they first met at a dinner party hosted by a mutual friend, Jackie, born Jacqueline Lee Bouvier, was just a year out of college and was already engaged to a local stockbroker named John Husted.

Her engagement to Husted lasted just three months and, once the two had parted, Jackie began dating Kennedy. John, who was known as Jack, and Jackie confirmed their own engagement just months later.
After marrying on September 12, 1953, Jack and Jackie moved in to their first home together  - a brick townhouse in Georgetown that they rented for a year.

Georgetown home in 1954
Domestic bliss: The couple look happy and in-love in a 1954 photo taken inside their first Georgetown home
JFK and Jackie O
First home: John F Kennedy and Jackie O rented this brick townhouse, which they nicknamed the Red House, in Georgetown from 1953-1954



They later flitted from one townhouse to another in the area, one of which was a brownstone house at 3321 Dent Place, which they affectionately nicknamed 'The Red House'.
They only lived there for five months, however, until a spinal procedure intended to cure the then-senator's wartime back injury forced him to briefly move back to his home state of Massachusetts.

3/9/1954
Home sweet home: The newlyweds (pictured in 1954) lived here - which they nicknamed 'the Red House' - for just five months, until a spinal operation forced JFK to move back to his home state of Massachusetts
Hickory Hill
Bad memories: In 1954, Kennedy purchased Hickory Hill (pictured), a large estate in McLean, Virginia. But after the stillborn birth of Jackie's daughter in 1956, she apparently refused to return to the property


In 1954, Kennedy purchased Hickory Hill, a large white brick estate in McLean, Virginia, dating back to 1870.
The house boasted 12 bedrooms and 10.5 bathrooms, and sat on almost six acres of land.
A year later, though, he sold the property to his brother Robert, who became Attorney General of the United States while living there with his wife Ethel and their children.
According to the Huffington Post, the stillborn birth of their daughter in 1956 made Jackie not want to return to the property.


Back to Georgetown
Historic: They moved back to Georgetown in 1957, where they purchased a grey row house at 2808 P Street. Here, Kennedy developed much of his presidential campaign and released his book, Profiles in Courage


After leaving Hickory Hill, they moved back to Georgetown in 1957, where they purchased a grey row house at 2808 P Street.
At this address, Kennedy developed much of his presidential campaign and released his book, Profiles in Courage.
From 1957 to 1961, during the height of his presidential campaign, the couple lived in a different house in Georgetown, located at 3307 N Street.

Georgetown
Lead-up to his election: From 1957 to 1961, during the height of his presidential campaign, the couple lived in a federal mansion in Georgetown, located at 3307 N Street

This home was a three-story Federal mansion, with red brick with black shutters.
Though they moved often during their marriage, one home-away-from home was a constant for the Kennedy couple.
In 1929, when Kennedy was young, his parents purchased what came to be known as the Kennedy Compound - a sprawling house in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.
Many happy vacations, both as a couple and once they had children, were taken at their beloved beach house in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, before taking up residence in the White House in 1961.
  
See more Kennedy Family photos
Hyannis Port
Home away from home: The political couple (pictured in 1953 after announcing their engagement) vacationed at the Kennedy Compound - a sprawling property in Hyannis Port Massachusetts

Hyannis Port
Beach break: Both JFK (pictured with Jackie and Caroline in August, 1960) and his brother Robert purchased homes on Irving Place, adjacent to their parents' property in Hyannis Port

In time, both JFK and his brother Robert purchased homes on Irving Place, adjacent to their parents' property, and he and Jackie often vacationed there with their children, Caroline and John, Jr.
In 1961, when Kennedy was elected the 35th President of the United States, he and his wife, then 31, moved into into the White House.
Their children were one and three when they made this historic move, although they initially stayed with relatives while the White House was being repainted.

29 Jun 1962
Final residence: In 1961, when Kennedy was elected the 35th President of the United States, he and his wife, then 31, moved into into the White House (pictured on June 29, 1962)


White House
Family ties: Their children, Jack Jr (pictured) and Caroline, were one and three when they made this historic move, although they initially stayed with relatives while the White House was being repainted


Jackie confessed in a 1964 interview, which can be found on USAToday.com, that while they were often pictured looking the most at ease in their vacation home, their years in the White House were in fact their 'happiest years'.
They resided here until JFK's assassination on November 22, 1963.
The Georgetown houses where JFK and Jackie O resided can be visited on historic walking tours.

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