‘Demure’ Jackie Kennedy bedded film stars, singers and TWO of JFK’s brothers… we reveal what new Natalie Portman movie Jackie didn’t show
America's most iconic First Lady played the part of the grieving widow perfectly, spin doctoring her husband's death and hiding scandalous life from the public
TO the watching world Jackie Kennedy appeared the perfect widow, displaying dignity and grace as she struggled with the horrific murder of the President she had loved.
But a new film reveals how America’s most iconic First Lady was in fact the ultimate spin-doctor — shrewdly manipulating her husband’s image in the days after his assassination.
Natalie Portman plays JFK’s widow in the critically acclaimed movie Jackie and is favourite to win the Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal, which shows her coolly crafting the legend of his presidency as a new Camelot.
The idea of Kennedy as a noble King Arthur-type figure presiding over a golden age of wisdom and chivalry was a myth Jackie needed to build in order to hide the grim truth.
This was a loveless marriage under deep strain in the weeks leading up to the bullets striking the President in Dallas in November 1963.
But while the film alludes to JFK’s affairs, which Jackie knew about, it does not show the outwardly demure First Lady’s wild secret love life both as a married woman and as a widow.
Her lovers included two of her dead husband’s brothers and big-name stars such as brooding actor Marlon Brando and even British comedian Peter Cook.
During her own lifetime Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy proved to be as good at keeping her own image intact as she had been at crafting JFK’s legacy.
But since her death from cancer aged 64 in 1994, far more about her illicit trysts has become known.
Most shocking of all was how close she got to John’s younger brothers Ted and Bobby — both married men.
Even before her husband’s murder, Bobby had spent a lot of time with her at the family home in Massachusetts during John’s long absences.
And after the assassination, government spies believed she was spending time in Bobby’s bed, with a restricted FBI file stating about him: “The subject seems to spend all his free time with Mrs John F Kennedy.
"Although it can’t be confirmed at this time, they appear to be sharing the same hotel suite.”
They were not always discreet, because one of Bobby’s former lovers saw him getting affectionate with Jackie as she was sunbathing topless.
But father-of-11 Bobby had to give up the relationship when he made his own bid for the presidency in 1968 — which ended in his assassination during the campaign.
Jackie’s hook-ups with notorious womaniser and US senator Ted were more clandestine and serious.
He was quoted as telling a ex-aide about the late President, known to him as Jack: “I’ve always been in love with Jackie, right from the beginning.
“When Jack died, I knew she was seeing Bobby, too, but that didn’t stop me. Bobby couldn’t always be with her.”
Jackie is also said to have followed in JFK’s footsteps by bedding Hollywood greats.
While the President famously slept with Marilyn Monroe, Jackie is said to have been seduced by Brando and fellow actors Gregory Peck and William Holden, as well as singer Frank Sinatra and Peter Cook.
Brando wrote about sleeping with JFK’s widow in the year after the President was killed.
Jackie had invited him back to her Washington home after a heavy drinking session and danced closely to him.
The actor said: “She kept waiting for me to try to get her into bed. When I failed to make a move, she took matters into her own hands and popped the magic question, ‘Would you like to spend the night’?
“I said, ‘I thought you’d never ask’.”
Her brief fling with Peter Cook, however, reportedly took place before the President’s death, while the comic was performing a revue on Broadway.
Writer and fellow revue member Alan Bennett once revealed: “I may be libelling her, but I think Peter had an affair with Jackie Kennedy.
“I have an image of her standing next to Peter, stroking his arm, in the dressing room and he certainly went to parties with her.”
She also bedded Oscar-winning actor William Holden, a huge star at the time, during her marriage, in an act of revenge for John’s cheating.
And in 1963, just one month before JFK’s fateful trip to Dallas, she had been in Europe with Aristotle Onassis — who would in 1968 become her second husband.
She had turned to the Greek shipping magnate for comfort after the death of her son Patrick at just two days old.
He, meanwhile, made no secret of lusting after Jackie and many frowned at her decision to spend time with him.
She also developed a reputation for neglecting her First Lady duties in favour of hosting extravagant parties.
Jackie spent most Fridays to Monday away from Washington, often riding her horses.
In her absence she would leave tiresome tasks such as leading tours of the White House to the then Vice President’s wife Lady Bird Johnson.
She also loved sharing the high life enjoyed by films stars, drinking Champagne every day and, of course, wearing her famously chic designer clothes.
As JFK’s former personal secretary once said, discussing the reasons why she believed Jackie decided to marry tycoon Onassis — 23 years her senior: “Jackie loved the money. Onassis had money.”
Jackie also loved smoking. She avoided being photographed with a cigarette in order to keep her clean-cut First Lady image, but had a three-pack-a-day habit for 40 years.
Meanwhile JFK required a host of painkillers to get him through the day.
Years of back pain, migraines and Addison’s disease — which meant his adrenal glands did not function — left him reliant on a cocktail of drugs including codeine and methamphetamine.
That there is not a shadow of this reality staining the golden, shining image of a healthy JFK gunned down in his prime is thanks to his wife.
Despite her reluctance to take part in formal duties during his presidency, as soon as he died she took the reins.
And her instant understanding of the importance of creating a myth came despite the trauma of cradling her bloodied husband in the open-top limo in which he had been shot at her side.
As actress Natalie Portman said: “It’s such an unimaginably horrific situation Jackie went through.”
But the very next weekend after the assassination, Jackie summoned a journalist for an interview for the mega-selling magazine Life.
Again and again she likened her husband’s presidency to King Arthur’s reign, which she claimed — falsely — her husband had been fascinated by.
She even said that at night before going to bed they would play the title song of the Broadway musical Camelot.
JFK’s favourite line of the song, according to Jackie, was its final one: “Don’t ever let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment that was Camelot.”
She also told the reporter: “There will be great presidents again, but there will never be another Camelot.”
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When the article was published, the public imagination was transfixed — and the magical, glamorous idea of the new Camelot has never faded.
Natalie said: “The importance they had to the American people shows how strong the story she told was.”
Or as the character she plays in the new film states: “People like to believe in fairytales.”
- Jackie (15) is in cinemas now.
Still leading the fashion pack
MELANIA TRUMP knew exactly how to look like a First Lady on Friday – just copy Jackie Kennedy.
More than 50 years after she left the White House, Jackie’s look is still instantly recognisable – neat and tailored, in light colours, with matching accessories.
Here, we reveal the women she has inspired.
