(02-12-2017 11:53 AM)Linda Anderson Wrote:  

(02-12-2017 11:27 AM)JMadonna Wrote:  Mamie Eisenhower had 1 aide paid for by her husband.
Jackie's aide was paid for by the taxpayers. The rest of the first ladies followed this tradition until Hillary needed 4. Laura Bush had 1 and then Michelle needed 23.

According to Snopes, Michelle Obama's staff size was about the same number as her predecessors.

"A look at some first ladies and their staff sizes:

Laura Bush: Between 24 and 26 by end of President George W. Bush’s term in 2009, according to Anita McBride, Mrs. Bush’s chief of staff.

Lady Bird Johnson, whose signature issue was beautifying roadways, had a staff of 30, said Stacy A. Cordery, a history professor at Montmouth [sic] College in Illinois who studies first ladies.

Betty Ford had almost the same number.

Jacqueline Kennedy, who made renovating the White House her cause, had about 40 people on staff, Cordery said."

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/firstlady.asp

I had seen the same type of article concerning the accurate number of aides to First Ladies over the past fifty years. Although I don't trust snopes.com after I read background on it, the article I read was very similar.

I will admit to being of the generation that was totally smitten with Jackie Kennedy because of her style and glamour and education. I also thought that, at the time of her redecorating the White House, she brought back many pieces that the U.S. already owned from prior White House furnishings - instead of procuring newer and more expensive pieces?? I also remember watching her tour of the White House with dozens of other students in our one-TV recreation room in my college dorm.

(02-12-2017 02:14 PM)L Verge Wrote:  I had seen the same type of article concerning the accurate number of aides to First Ladies over the past fifty years. Although I don't trust snopes.com after I read background on it, the article I read was very similar.

I think it's good that Snopes.com lists their sources so that we can research their claims for ourselves.

Last February the cast was in town to film scenes for the funeral. I see the story in the paper and decide to go to St. Matthew's to see if I could meet Natalie Portman (if I get my Lincoln miniseries picked up by a network, Natalie Portman will make an excellent Mary Todd). When I get to the church, there is a man eating an Italian BMT from Subway on the steps. He is dressed as a priest in the black clothing they wear. The odd thing was, it was a Friday during Lent, the actor is playing a priest and eating a sub with meat in it. He swallowed a bite and asked if he could help me. He had a British accent and was not at all Cardinal Cushing. So I said "Is Natalie Portman around?" He said no, it was lunch break, and I had come in the middle of it. So I went home. That fall I see the cast list, and John Hurt is playing the Priest. I think to myself, that was John Hurt and I didn't recognize him. He died a few weeks after I saw the movie.

True story

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(02-11-2017 11:01 PM)PaigeBooth Wrote:  Yes, Jackie grew up wealthy and married into wealth. She had nannies during her time in the White House, but she was a devoted mother. She guarded her children from the spotlight as much as possible, which was often difficult given her position as First Lady.

One interesting fact about Jackie: she did not like the title "First Lady." It reminded her of a race horse!

There's actually a stakes race called the First Lady run during Fall Stars Weekend at Keeneland.

http://www.nbcsports.com/video/photo-cal...ady-stakes

I had never seen this before - well worth watching:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CbFt4h3Dkkw

Laurie-- you are correct in that Jackie obtained more historic pieces that where previously used in the White House instead of new ones. Jackie believed strongly that it was a shame that each president could sell off whatever he didn't like during his time in office. Jackie brought back tasteful, beautiful pieces of furniture and revolutionized the White House style. She also made certain that if there was something a future president didn't like, the pieces would be preserved at the Smithsonian.

Eva-- I am sorry to hear the movie portrays Jackie as wanting to sell the White House antiques for her children's schooling. Jackie wanted those pieces to stay in either the White House or the Smithsonian; she did not need the money. This sounds like something the movie may have exaggerated.

That is a great question about what JFK would have accomplished had he lived. He was president for just a little over 1,000 days, but the positive impact he left was incredible. Everywhere, people admired him for his optimistic vision of the future.
He was in the middle of a tax cut for American's when he was killed. He never lived to see that go into effect.

I am sorry to chime in so late and when the conversation has moved on already!
Eva, I took my mum to see the movie the other week because I knew that she liked Mrs. Kennedy a LOT. I was a little afraid she would not enjoy the theme, especially when it turned dark toward the end. But she was quite happy with the film and told me that it reminded her a lot about the times that she actually witnessed as a young woman.

What made me smile was the fact that my mum was a little concerned that I only went to see the film because of her - so whenever Lincoln was mentioned, she elbowed me in the side and went "EH - YOU LIKE???". When Jackie was presenting Lincoln art during the interview, she promised to seriously reconsider her resentments of "General Pointy Nose"...that's what she calls him (SORRY! Cats train easier than mothers!)

(02-13-2017 02:20 PM)Angela Wrote:  (SORRY! Cats train easier than mothers!)

My two grown sons would agree with you!

(02-13-2017 02:29 PM)Gene C Wrote:  

(02-13-2017 02:20 PM)Angela Wrote:  (SORRY! Cats train easier than mothers!)

My two grown sons would agree with you!

And I would completely understand!
This lil bugger is with me since January...just check out how well he responds to my teachings ;-)

Neat. Looks like soon he'll study law - selftaught... (I was neither much successful with my cat nor my mother. Especially as for the cat he rather seems to train me.)
Does your mom think Jackie was portrayed like she thought her to be when she (your mom) was younger?

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PS: Angela - your mom might like this DVD - one of the most fascinating on JFK during presidency I have seen, also a lot of private family videos.
https://www.amazon.de/Spiegel-TV-DVD-Nr-...B00934U0I6

BTW - it is said that he was very sick, chronically, and had never become president if the public had known. What exactly he suffered from I have never heard being specified. Does anyone know?

He suffered from Addison's Disease and a bad back that was the result of carrying too much weight during the PT109 rescue operations.
He almost died from Scarlet Fever as a child.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addison's_disease

Thanks, Thomas!

(02-13-2017 05:14 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  Neat. Looks like soon he'll study law - selftaught... (I was neither much successful with my cat nor my mother. Especially as for the cat he rather seems to train me.)
Does your mom think Jackie was portrayed like she thought her to be when she (your mom) was younger?

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PS: Angela - your mom might like this DVD - one of the most fascinating on JFK during presidency I have seen, also a lot of private family videos.
https://www.amazon.de/Spiegel-TV-DVD-Nr-...B00934U0I6

BTW - it is said that he was very sick, chronically, and had never become president if the public had known. What exactly he suffered from I have never heard being specified. Does anyone know?

Eva, I don't know too much about her but my mother was very pleased by the performance. She mentioned that some footage looked like it could have been original, so close did the actress come to moving und gesturing like Jackie.
Thank you for the DVD suggestion....perfect Easter present :-)

(02-11-2017 03:15 PM)PaigeBooth Wrote:  I have been asked to give a speech about the assassination of President Kennedy and the conspiracy therories next month, and am looking forward to it.

Many thanks to Paige for sending this link to her speech! Kudos, Paige!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_uJeJRZ...e=youtu.be

Paige was also kind enough to send a couple of video clips from the question and answer session that followed her talk:

CLICK HERE

and

CLICK HERE