American icon was born 80 years ago, on July 28^th, 1929.

Questions:

1. What kind of influence did she have on the husband President John Kennedy? Did she influence also some of his political decisions and if yes could you please name the concrete example?

2. The book, Bobby and Jackie: A Love Story by C David Heymann, alleges that she had an affair with Robert Kennedy after John was assassinated. Pure nonsense or perhaps not?

Answers:

Lisa Burns, Associate Professor, Media Studies, Quinnipiac University

1. Jackie Kennedy did not take on any kind of advisory or policymaking role in her husband's administration. In fact, she was very apolitical. She focused most of her energy on raising her two young children. Even her pet projects, restoring the White House and promoting the arts, were more focused on her personal interests in art, music and culture than on any political agenda. She avoided many of the traditional duties of first ladies, like society luncheons or speaking to community groups, and instead had Lady Bird Johnson (then the Vice President's wife) attend in her place. Jackie also spent much of her time away from the White House. She and the children often stayed at their Virginia farm or at the Kennedy' family's Cape Cod compound. She also travelled with her sister. Many first ladies have served as their husband's confidants, offering support during times of crisis, yet there's not much evidence to indicate that Jackie played such a role during events like the Cuban Missile Crisis or the Bay of Pigs invasion. Jackie's political contributions were limited to ceremonial functions like state dinners, where she often impressed world leaders by speaking to them in their own language. Her popularity also helped to draw crowds on the campaign trail in 1960 and later on the couple's visits to foreign countries, where again her knowledge of languages and culture helped to charm foreign dignitaries. Yet even her campaign efforts were limited in 1960 because she was pregnant with John Jr., who was born two weeks after his father was elected president.

2. There has been much speculation, but little concrete evidence, that Jackie Kennedy had an affair with Robert Kennedy. Over the years, there has been more convincing evidence of her husband's infidelity with multiple women. It is known that Jackie and Bobby became very close friends, in part because he spent so much time with his brother. Jackie and Bobby also looked to each other for support after JFK's assassination. I believe books that speculate on the love life of Jackie Kennedy continue to be popular because of her continued celebrity status. She has become an American icon who is still remembered and admired around the world. Even today, women like U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni, wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, are compared to Jackie Kennedy, even though the these women have little in common beyond a flair for fashion.

Molly Wertheimer, Professor, Communication Arts and Sciences, Women's Studies, Pennsylvania State University, Hazleton

She did have an influence on his presidency, especially in the area of international affairs. She was welcome in several countries as an important dignitary, especially in France because of her family roots to that country. When John Kennedy spoke in France during one of their visits he introduced himself not as the president of the United States, but as the man who accompanied Jackie Kennedy to France! She also communicated in writing with the Khrushchev who sent her a remarkable note when her husband was assassinated. She was fluent in different languages and addressed foreign audiences in French and Spanish. When her husband died, Lyndon Johnson wanted to appoint her as a foreign ambassador, but she turned him down.