It’s safe to say that Caroline Kennedy has been through a lot in her life, not least the horrible tragedy that saw her father, President John F. Kennedy, assassinated.
The daughter of John and Jackie Kennedy lived her early years in the White House, but after her family left – just weeks after her father’s death – her life would become even more challenging. In short, no one would leave the Kennedys alone, and the intense scruinty affected Caroline.
Even so, as she grew up, she made sure to keep her father’s legacy alive.
Ultimately, Caroline started her own family, raising three beautiful children. She and her husband, Edwin Schlossberg, have been married for decades, though not much is known about him.
Without further ado, let’s take a closer look at Caroline Kennedy’s life.
Caroline Kennedy was born on November 27, 1957, in New York City. When she was just four years old, she moved into the White House after her father, John F. Kennedy, was sworn in as the President of the United States.
Caroline Kennedy – early life in the White House
The Kennedy family became something of the ideal American family through JFK’s Presidency. It was even referred to as the “Camelot Presidency”, as it brought hope and optimism to many young politicians. The Kennedys became hugely popular as a result.
Now, it wasn’t only JFK himself that was popular, but the entire Kennedy family. Jackie Kennedy became a national treasure, while Caroline was adored. She was often presented in the media as she hung around her father at work in the Oval Office each morning. Caroline could also be seen riding her pony on the White House lawn.
The White House property was transformed during the Kennedy presidency, with swings, a treehouse, and a swimming pool added to make it more suitable for a family with children. For her part, Caroline loved it.
Meanwhile, Jackie’s first major project as First Lady was to restore and preserving the White House. Once this was complete, she gave a tour of the place herself. More than 80 million people watched the broadcast on CBS, with Jackie Kennedy earning herself an honorary Emmy Award.
In hindsight, it’s perhaps not too difficult to understand why the Kennedy family was so famous. When looking back on her life in the White House, Caroline can recall how she walked into her father’s room in the morning, and then continued into his office, where she was “making construction paper necklaces, eating candy, and running around his desk.”
Life was terrific for young Caroline – the Kennedy family was living the dream.
However, everything changed one horrific day in November of 1963.
Jackie Kennedy did everything to protect her children
On November 22, 1963, an infamous tragedy occurred in Dallas, Texas, when President Kennedy was shot and killed. Jackie became a widow aged 34, and millions of people worldwide shared their grief.
Jackie was left alone with her two children, and it wasn’t just their beloved husband and father that the family were mourning.
No, just months earlier, John and Jackie had welcomed a third child, Patrick. Sadly, he passed away after just two days due to a severe lung ailment.
Of course, Jackie and her children were in shock when President Kennedy was shot dead. Only two weeks after his passing, the Kennedy family moved out of the White House and into a new home in Georgetown.
Jackie knew that her family was the center of attention, and did everything she could to protect her children from the media. Unfortunately, it soon became apparent that their family was the talk of the town – the Kennedys had people coming right up to their doorstep, and media camping outside.
In 1964, they left Washington and moved to New York City. They felt it would be easier to blend in such a large city – and they were right. Speaking with The Boston Globe, Caroline recalled how New Yorkers took their family “into their hearts” and respected their privacy.
That’s just how Jackie wanted it to be.
“She was absolutely protective of us,” Caroline told The Boston Globe, adding that Jackie’s kids were “the most important thing to her.”
“I don’t think of myself as famous”
So the paparazzi left the Kennedys alone in New York City. Meanwhile, Caroline got a fresh start in life, and just like the Kennedy women before her, she enrolled at the Sacred Heart School.
She then went on to study at the Brearley School, a private school within walking distance from the family apartment. Caroline usually took the bus, but occasionally walked there, accompanied, of course, by her Secret Service agents.
In an interview with the New York Times – when she was only twelve years of age – Caroline explained that her mother had implemented some rules at home. She was only allowed to watch television during weekends. Everyone knew who she was, but Caroline wasn’t bothered about it at all.
“I don’t think of myself as famous,” she said. “I’m not really [bothered by too many reporters or photographers. It seems they’re only around when I’m with my mother. I just don’t think of what it’ll be like when I’m older.”
Instead, Caroline became very interested in history and was a great student at the time. Her mother, it seemed, was successful in getting her children to understand the importance of studying, which would undoubtedly pay off later.
After performing well at her private school, Caroline Kennedy attended Radcliffe College – now part of Harvard – for her undergraduate studies. She wanted to become a photographer, and went on to intern at the New York Daily News. She also worked as a political intern for her uncle, U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy, in the summers.
Why colleagues were scared of talking to Caroline Kennedy
It’s now well known that the Kennedys were very popular. However, the fact that Caroline was a former president’s daughter was too much for some.
On the first day of Caroline’s college internship at the New York Daily News, no one spoke to her for two hours. Why? Well, people were intimidated by who her parents were.
At the same time, they had to hire guards to keep the paparazzi away from Caroline while she was working. Though she was a dedicated and talented photographer, she soon realized that it was a job that was impossible for her.
She decided that “she could never make her living observing other people because they were too busy watching her.”
Caroline Kennedy earned her bachelor’s degree in 1988, and went on to work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She also served as president of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing financial support, creative resources, and staffing to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.
Caroline also served as a member of the national board of directors for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and as chief executive for the New York City Department of Education Office of Strategic Partnerships, alongside other boards.
Caroline Kennedy celebrates her father’s legacy
Largely, Caroline has tried to stay out of the spotlight, though in 2008 she was rumored to be in the race for Hillary Clinton’s vacant spot in the U.S. Senate. Eventually, however, due to personal reasons, she withdrew her bid.
In October 2013, she was appointed as the new U.S. ambassador to Japan, a position she held until 2017. She was appointed the United States Ambassador to Australia in May 2022.
It’s been many, many years since her father passed away, but Caroline still celebrates the legacy he left for the Kennedy family.
“He is a historical figure,” Caroline told CNN as the day John F. Kennedy would’ve turned 100 approached. “One hundred years is a really long time, but I think his legacy and these values are timeless and they live on.”
“I miss him every day of my life. But, growing up without him was made easier thanks to all of the people who kept him in their hearts,” Caroline added.
As stated, Caroline has endeavored to stay out of the spotlight, and the same goes for her husband. Edwin Schlossberg and Caroline reportedly met at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where he worked as an interactive media designer.
So who is her husband? Let’s take a closer look at their long-lasting marriage.
Who is Caroline Kennedy’s husband Edwin Schlossberg?
After meeting at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Caroline and Edwin fell deeply in love. The couple tied the knot on July 19, 1986, in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, but despite their efforts to avoid publicity, their wedding was widely reported on in the media. More than 2,000 people tried to get a glimpse of the couple at the church.
Schlossberg has served as part of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, after being appointed by former President Barack Obama. He has a Ph.D. in Science and Literature from Columbia University and has written 11 books.
Though Caroline has been the talk of the town for decades, Edwin Schlossberg isn’t interested in being famous.
“Publicity doesn’t interest me,” he once said. “The thing that interests me is work. We’re living in a culture that if you spend a lot of time thinking about what other people think about you, it distracts you from what you care about. I like what I do, and that’s what interests me.”
He added: “I design a lot of things, I make art that hangs in museums. I write, I do a lot of different things that interest me. The one thing I always knew that I didn’t want to do, was just one thing.”
Caroline and Edward are parents to three children, all of whom have done great for themselves.
Caroline Kennedy – family, children
Their eldest child, Rose, was born in 1988 and works as an actress. Tatiana, born in 1990, is an environmental journalist who’s written for publications such as Vanity Fair and The New York Times. Lastly, there’s Jack, born in 1993, a lawyer and graduate of Harvard Law and Harvard Business School.
In April of 2022, Caroline and Edwin had the great pleasure of welcoming their first grandchild to the world when their daughter, Tatiana, gave birth to a son. She named him Edwin, after her father.
Caroline Kennedy has gone through plenty of sorrow, grief, and drama throughout her life. But we’re so happy to see that she made it through. We wish her all the best in the future – and hope she gets to spend plenty of time with her newborn grandson.
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