Jacqueline Lee Bouvier and then-U.S. Representative John Fitzgerald Kennedy belonged to the same social circle, and were formally introduced by a mutual friend, journalist Charles L. Bartlett, at a dinner party in May 1952. Bouvier was attracted to Kennedy’s physical appearance, charm, wit and wealth. The two also shared similarities in both being Catholic and writers, enjoying reading and previously having lived abroad.
Kennedy was then busy running for the US Senate but after his election in November, the relationship grew more serious and he proposed marriage to her. Bouvier took some time to accept, due to having been assigned to cover the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in London for The Washington Times-Herald. After a month in Europe, she accepted the proposal upon her return to the United States, and resigned from her position at the newspaper. Their engagement was officially announced on June 25, 1953.
That weekend, the happy couple took a trip to the Kennedy family home in Hyannis Port on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. According to Mashable, they were accompanied by a reporter and photographer for LIFE magazine, which published an issue on July 20 with the headline “Senator Kennedy Goes a-Courting.”
HYANNIS PORT, MA – JUNE 1953: Senator John F. Kennedy on vacation at the Kennedy compound in June 1953 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. HYANNIS PORT, MA – JUNE 1953: Senator John F. Kennedy and fiance Jacqueline Bouvier are interviewed for a LIFE Magazine story while on vacation at the Kennedy compound in June 1953 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. HYANNIS PORT, MA – JUNE 1953: Jacqueline Bouvier on vacation at the Kennedy compound in June 1953 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. HYANNIS PORT, MA – JUNE 1953: Jacqueline Bouvier on vacation at the Kennedy compound in June 1953 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. HYANNIS PORT, MA – JUNE 1953: (L-R) Jean Kennedy, Jacqueline Bouvier and Eunice Kennedy on vacation at the Kennedy compound in June 1953 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. HYANNIS PORT, MA – JUNE 1953: Jacqueline Bouvier on vacation at the Kennedy compound in June 1953 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. HYANNIS PORT, MA – JUNE 1953: Jacqueline Bouvier on vacation at the Kennedy compound in June 1953 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. HYANNIS PORT, MA – JUNE 1953: Senator John F. Kennedy and fiance Jacqueline Bouvier on vacation at the Kennedy compound in June 1953 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. HYANNIS PORT, MA – JUNE 1953: Jacqueline Bouvier is interviewed for a LIFE Magazine story while on vacation at the Kennedy compound in June 1953 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. HYANNIS PORT, MA – JUNE 1953: Senator John F. Kennedy and fiance Jacqueline Bouvier chat with Patricia Kennedy (at the wheel) while on vacation at the Kennedy compound in June 1953 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. HYANNIS PORT, MA – JUNE 1953: Senator John F. Kennedy and fiance Jacqueline Bouvier on vacation at the Kennedy compound in June 1953 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. HYANNIS PORT, MA – JUNE 1953: Senator John F. Kennedy and fiance Jacqueline Bouvier on vacation at the Kennedy compound in June 1953 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.HYANNIS PORT, MA – JUNE 1953: Senator John F. Kennedy and fiance Jacqueline Bouvier play footballl with Edward Kennedy while on vacation at the Kennedy compound in June 1953 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. HYANNIS PORT, MA – JUNE 1953: Senator John F. Kennedy and fiance Jacqueline Bouvier on vacation at the Kennedy compound in June 1953 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.HYANNIS PORT, MA – JUNE 1953: (L-R) Eunice kennedy, Jacqueline Bouvier, Jean Kennedy, Patricia Kennedy with John F. Kennedy and Edward Kennedy (standing) go sailing while on vacation at the Kennedy compound in June 1953 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. HYANNIS PORT, MA – JUNE 1953: Senator John F. Kennedy and fiance Jacqueline Bouvier on vacation at the Kennedy compound in June 1953 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. HYANNIS PORT, MA – JUNE 1953: Senator John F. Kennedy and fiance Jacqueline Bouvier play baseball while on vacation at the Kennedy compound in June 1953 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.HYANNIS PORT, MA – JUNE 1953: Senator John F. Kennedy and fiance Jacqueline Bouvier on vacation at the Kennedy compound in June 1953 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. HYANNIS PORT, MA – JUNE 1953: Senator John F. Kennedy and fiance Jacqueline Bouvier on vacation at the Kennedy compound in June 1953 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. HYANNIS PORT, MA – JUNE 1953: Senator John F. Kennedy and fiance Jacqueline Bouvier chat with Edward Kennedy while on vacation at the Kennedy compound in June 1953 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. HYANNIS PORT, MA – JUNE 1953: Senator John F. Kennedy and fiance Jacqueline Bouvier on vacation at the Kennedy compound in June 1953 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. HYANNIS PORT, MA – JUNE 1953: Senator John F. Kennedy and fiance Jacqueline Bouvier are interviewed for a LIFE Magazine story while on vacation at the Kennedy compound in June 1953 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. HYANNIS PORT, MA – JUNE 1953: Senator John F. Kennedy and fiance Jacqueline Bouvier are interviewed for a LIFE Magazine story while on vacation at the Kennedy compound in June 1953 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. HYANNIS PORT, MA – JUNE 1953: Senator John F. Kennedy and fiance Jacqueline Bouvier go sailing while on vacation at the Kennedy compound in June 1953 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.
(Photos: Hy Peskin/Getty Images)
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