1960s Handbook - Jackie Kennedy's White House Tour
The 1960s Handbook takes a closer look at the cultural references that appear in each week's episode of Mad Men.
Jacqueline Kennedy's Valentine's Day tour of the newly-restored White House was a major media event in 1962, drawing 56 million viewers and earning the First Lady an honorary Emmy. The one-hour broadcast of A Tour of the White House with Mrs. John F. Kennedy aired on all three major networks and was the "first primetime documentary to explicitly court a female audience," according to Professor Michael Curtin of the University of Wisconsin - Madison.
Mrs. Kennedy cut a dignified figure as she pointed out objects of interest, including items that belonged to former Presidents. Her thorough restoration efforts stemmed from her disappointment in "that dreary Maison Blanche" -- as she called it -- before she moved in. She wanted to make it "the most perfect house in the United States" as well as a museum that reflected the nation's cultural history. "It just seemed to me such a shame when we came here to find hardly anything of the past in the house," she told her TV audience in her upper-crust accent.
The final product "effectively represents changing attitudes about the public and private roles of American women," Professor Curtin wrote. He noted that the First Lady came across as an authoritatively modern woman with a keen sense of history and an appreciation of the arts, even as she was presented as wife and mother. "In these respects, she might be seen as symbolic of female aspirations to re-enter the public sphere," a portrayal that resonated with female viewers.
Click the button below to watch the full tour.
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This video seems very strange -- Jackie Kennedy seems like a Stepford wife -- speaking in a monotone with no facial expressions and too perfect looks. It's rather creepy viewing it in 2008.
You have to view it through the eyes of the time...it was a very different time then. She was very conscious of her role as First Lady and, as she said, she thought the way in which the presidency was presented to the world was "so important." She was also conscious of her image as First Lady, so why wouldn't she strive to look perfect? After all, this was a time when people always dressed up for social events. For example, check out the audience members in vintage footage of something like "The Ed Sullivan Show" and you'll see women in evening gowns and men in coats and ties. That was the norm back then.
As for her "monotone" voice and lack of facial expressions, this was one of the reasons why she hated giving interviews -- besides the whole privacy issue -- she hated the way she came across on television. Some people have "stage presence"; other don't. She may, at times, have seemed to come across as somewhat dumb, but as we all know, she was far from it. She was extremely intelligent, spoke fluently in several languages and had a photographic memory.
I'm certain she did this television tour because she felt it was important historically and to make the American people aware of her efforts to restore and preserve the White House, an effort which continues to this day.
You're right - "evening gowns" was the wrong description, your description of "church clothes" was much better. My point (and yours) was that people dressed up to go out or, to put it another way, people seemed to care a lot more about their appearance in public than they do today.
well, yes it probably did draw 56 milloin viewers; w/ 3 cjannels what else was there to watch?
Having been born in 1950 and having adopted "hippie" dress in high school and college, I can say it was a welcome relief not to have to climb into stockings or pantyhose or panty girdle and a dress. I love to dress up, but I wouldn't want to wear what those women were wearing. Constrictive clothing/constrictive opportunities.
The clothes got a lot more fun in the latter part of the sixties and in the early 70's. Fashion really went to Hell in a handcart in the mid 1970's with leisure suits, and polyester. The 80's weren't so great either. Fashion definitely seems to be making a come back in the 21st century ; maybe we can thank that other fabulous tv show, Sex and the City.
In the clips shown on the episode, I didn't see her as artificial or "Stepford" at all.
What I did see was a very nervous woman, determined not to flub up. She definitely was not comfortable before the camera. I will say that her voice was a revelation, very soft and practiced not to give offense. Not her regular speaking voice. Can you imagine her saying, "Caroline! Stop teasing your brother right now!" in that voice and facial expression? :-)
Well, if one believes the gossip about the times (JFK and RFK's affairs with Marilyn Monroe and all the other affairs supposedly conducted while married to Jackie/Ethel) maybe she was trying to prove she could at least SOUND just like Marilyn. "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" and all that crap....
First: Try to remember that the general public did not know about President Kennedy's affairs at that time. In today's transparent and intrusive media world that seems impossible, but it is true. Second: it is also true that Kennedy was in trouble for reelection. Mrs. Kennedy was along on that trip to Dallas because she was of incalculable value to President Kennedy. It could be said that she kept her part of the marriage bargain far better than he did. In any case, her cultural contribution to the country and the Kennedy Administration went beyond the White House restoration: bringing the Mona Lisa to the White House under special arrangement; Pablo Casals at the White House; she was a citizen of the world long before Barack Obama coined the phrase. That soft little-girl voice prevented Abe Beam from demolishing Grand Central Station. Have some respect.
Oh, and P.S. If you think Vice President Lyndon Baines Johnson would have let Texas go to Barry Goldwater, you are smoking crack. Read a little history, please!
Well said, Ruth and Ritt.
Interestingly enough, Normal Mailer, a White House guest whom the Kennedy Administration crossed off its list after he made inappropriate remarks to Jackie, castigated her artificial voice in a published commentary, perhaps as a form of vengeance. Marilyn Monroe actually mocked Jackie's public voice to Bobby Kennedy and there's a photo of the actress with a black wig seemingly parodying the First Lady. Marilyn had a fantasy that she could become wife of a President and fill Jackie's shoes (little chance there). Despite the highly nervous posture Mrs. Kennedy showed initially, as the program unfolded she warmed to her task and her true passion for the fine arts and history shone in better light. She often imagined herself a "creative art director of the world" and, in this case, truly fulfilled her avocation.
Interesting comments. I always believed that Jack and Jackie were a great couple and inspirational in that they were so family oriented. You have to remember that republicans believed that Kennedy could not get elected because he was Catholic. And that was only part of the hatred they threw at him. The affairs attributed to the assasinated brothers could have been the product of the media after they died -when they were not around to defend themselves - you see, many stories could be fabricated, or history can be changed by those who want to besmirch a great president's reputation. Because of his intelligence, looks and charm JFK inspired the youth and imagination of the country. He was on the side of justice and change and social reform. He was a threat to Big Business, Madison Ave (our own Mad Men) and the war machine. Jackie Kennedy was pure class and MMonroe was a manufacture sex symbol and quite unstable. Draw your own conclusion. Did you know that JFK suffered from constant back pain and had to wear a brace. I could barely lift his own children.
Ha - meant to say "He could barely lift his own children" !!
I was 8 years old when I watched Jackie's White House tour. All these years later, I still remember the program. Seeing it now, Mrs. Kennedy does seem a bit stilted. When the program is seen in the context of the times in which it was created, Jackie's demeanor is much more understandable.
Her voice and manner reflect her background of finishing schools, Vassar and a participant in the
"haute monde" of mid century society.
What many people don't realize is that Jackie O had a great sense of humor about herself and the absurdities of life. So did JFK. Once when a photographer caught a shot of Jackie falling off her horse (horses were a great life long passion) she called JFK to complain about the photo. The President's reply: "But Jackie, it's big news when the first lady falls on her ass!"
Many years later when Jackie was married to Onassis, a paparazzo took shots of a naked Jackie O on a private beach in Greece. Onassis was very upset when his wife's pictures appeared in the press. Jackie's reply was said to be "Oh Ari, don't let this bother you, they are saving YOUR pictures for the Christmas issue!"
I loved this episode, because all the female characters in the episode had their eyes glued to Jackie on the screen -- even Joan was trying to disentangle herself from her prized boyfriend, the doctor, during their make-out session on the couch to watch Jackie. I laughed so hard. That was exactly what it was like the night that documentary was telecast. Women were spellbound. Did Jackie's manner seem strange? We didn't even notice. We had never seen a First Lady on TV...talking. The writing about this event was, as in every episode, astoundingly authentic. You rock, writers!