Invitation

The theme of my evening is "Grace and Resilience: A Celebration of Wisdom through Experience." After watching the film Jackie, I learned that despite the many tragedies that Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis experienced, she was a symbol of amazing strength. This evening takes place on the 25th anniversary of her husband, President John F. Kennedy's death. At this stage of her life, Jackie remained a prominent figure in society, because she used the wisdom she had gained earlier in life to advocate for other causes. Jackie was passionate about the arts, architecture, and culture. According to the Smithsonian, in 1975, she helped prevent the destruction of the famous Grand Central Terminal in New York City. She was persistent, arguing that the building was a symbol of history and beauty. I chose to host the evening at Grand Central Terminal, because without her wisdom and resilience, it may not have existed in 1988.

Guest List

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis is hosting the evening. She has arranged this dinner to celebrate her love of culture with others. She and President Kennedy were known for bringing elegance to the White House. They often entertained guests with sophisticated food and classical music. Jackie also became a fashion icon by wearing pearl necklaces and pillbox hats. She had an identity apart from being First Lady to the President.

Robert F. Kennedy, also known as Bobby, was JFK's younger brother. He supported Jackie after JFK's assassination. Bobby is displayed as a very important character in the film and it was very clear to me that he wanted to bring her comfort. I chose to invite Bobby to this dinner as a way for Jackie to express her gratitude for his support.     

Nancy Ludlow Tuckerman was Jackie's personal secretary. She is featured in the film as a close friend and confidante to Jackie, especially after JFK's assassination. For example, she helped Jackie respond to the many condolence letters she received. I chose to invite Nancy to this dinner because she remained in Jackie's life until her own death.

Pablo Larrain is the director of Jackie. He is Chilean, and therefore, did not feel personally connected to the story of the Kennedys, an iconic American family. However, after he learned more about Jackie herself, he became interested in portraying an emotional journey from the perspective of a strong woman. I chose to invite Pablo to this dinner because he also views Jackie as a symbol of grace and resilience.

Theodore H. White was a journalist and historian featured in Jackie. After JFK's assassination, Jackie summoned him to the White House and asked him to help preserve JFK's legacy by writing a heroic article about him. I chose to invite Theodore to this dinner because I think Jackie deserves the same recognition that JFK received.

Pablo Casals was a cellist and composer from Spain. In Jackie, he is featured playing cello during a dinner party at the White House. The scene is a flashback to when JFK was living, and he and Jackie would co-host dinner parties. JFK awarded Pablo a Presidential Medal of Freedom for his musical talents. I chose to invite Pablo to this dinner to play music for the other guests, as a positive reminder to Jackie of her life as First Lady but also the 25 years since, where she has continued to enjoy the arts.

Although they were not featured in Jackie, I chose to invite Nancy Reagan and Michelle Obama, future First Ladies, to this dinner. Nancy and Jackie shared similar interests in fashion and culture. Most importantly, however, Nancy experienced similar trauma to Jackie when Ronald Reagan was injured from an assassination attempt. I think that Jackie could share wisdom with Nancy at this dinner, assuring her that Reagan would recover and that she will grow stronger because of the experience. I also chose to invite Michelle Obama because she too was an iconic First Lady. Not only was she the first African American First Lady, but she established her own identity at the White House. I think Michelle, like Nancy, would draw strength and inspiration from Jackie.