early years 

Jacqueline was born July 28, 1929 in Southampton, New York. Her mother, Janet Norton Lee, was of full Irish descent, and her father, John Vernou Bouvier III, was only one quarter French. Growing up during the depression had it's effect on the Bouvier family due to John's careless investments. After these harder times Jackie and her younger sister, Caroline (or "Lee" as she was later called) had a deep fear of poverty despite their comfortable lifestyle.

Jacqueline attended the most pretigious private schools, starting at the Chapin School for girls at age 6.

Throughout her young school years her teachers had many positive things to say about Jackie, such as her zest for learning, her beauty, her creativity, and her cleverness but it didn't matter to her. She was more worried about the estrangement between her mother and father, that eventually ended with divorce in 1940.

Two years later Jackie's mother, Janet, remarried to Hugh D. Auchincloss Jr. which upset Jackie deeply, due to her strong connection with her father. Over the years Jackie and her sister switched between their mother's homes in Virginia and Rhode Island, and their father's homes in New York City and Long Island.

The rest of Jackie's secondary education was at Miss Porter's School in Farmington, Connecticut, where she was praised on her intelligence as much as her beauty.

Making her society debut in 1947, Hearst columnist Igor Cassini named her "Debutant of the Year." He went on to compliment her as a "regal brunette with who has classic features and the daintiness of Dresden porcelain." He further enthused about her poise and grace. This turned Jackie into an overnight star, which came along with fabulous society balls and parties.

Scoring the highest possible percentile on her College Board exams Jackie was accepted into Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York.