The Kennedys have long been of fascination to the American public. Renowned figures in the family have served as politicians and statesmen, as well as revered personalities in the fields of public service, entertainment and business. Perhaps the most famous of its members was former president John F. Kennedy, whose impressive rise into the highest political office in the United States and tragic passing have been seared into the memories of people across the world.
Many still fondly remember the 35th president of the US, also known as JFK, as well as his wife, Jacqueline “Jackie” Kennedy. Together, they reigned over the White House and administration of the day in what has come to be known as “Camelot.” Nowadays, it is remembered as a highly mythologized and shining example of what the US government should look like.
John and Jackie embodied an era of elegance and charisma, and the pair had a profound influence on the zeitgeist of the time. Their partnership, marked by their shared ideals, intelligence and unwavering poise, captivated the nation and the world. John’s presidency was characterized by his vision of progress and unity, while Jackie was the embodiment of elegance, culture and international sophistication. Her role as First Lady was not limited to ceremonial duties; Jackie leveraged her background in art and history to bring cultural enrichment to the White House. She renovated and restored the presidential residence, showcasing its historical significance and fostering a sense of national pride.
Prior to John’s election as president in 1961, the pair had welcomed their first child, a daughter named Caroline Kennedy. Born into a dynasty that will not be soon forgotten, Caroline now remains the only surviving member of the celebrated couple’s immediate family. Read on to find out more about Caroline’s life and her family.
Caroline, alongside her famous family, won the hearts of Americans in the ’60s when her father, John, became the country’s youngest president. She was just shy of her 3rd birthday when he won the election. Born on Nov. 27, 1957, in New York City, Caroline’s journey would also see her uphold her family’s legacy with a life dedicated to public service and leadership.
Caroline was born into a world of privilege and responsibility. Her early years were marked by the adoration of the American public, who affectionately referred to her as the “First Daughter.” The Kennedy family’s tenure in the White House was a time of optimism and change, and young Caroline bore witness to her father’s historic speeches, initiatives and international endeavors.
Caroline’s early education took place at the White House, where she was taught by tutors alongside her brother, John F. Kennedy Jr., who was born 17 days after their father was elected. Caroline was famous for hanging around with her father in his Oval Office as he went about his business. Life was good for the Kennedy princess. Swings and a pool were fitted onto the property to make the White House conducive for children.
However, tragedy struck just three years later when her dad was assassinated. Life, as Caroline and her family knew it, changed drastically. While the nation lost its beloved leader, the president’s family lost a father and friend. As the nation reeled, Caroline’s mother, Jackie, became a pillar of strength and composure, leaving an indelible impression on the American public. Her dignified demeanor during the state funeral procession, known as the Eternal Flame, symbolized the nation’s mourning and resilience. Jackie’s courage in the face of personal loss became an enduring symbol of grace under pressure.
Although the Kennedys moved out of the White House two weeks later, the media’s attention was still very much on them. That publicity has remained with the family to date. At this point, Jackie decided to move her children to New York City to keep them away from the media and the public. Caroline told the Boston Globe about how dear she and her brother were to their mom.
“She was absolutely protective of us; we were the most important thing to her,” she said. “She encouraged us to follow our own interests.”
Caroline also had some other wonderful things to say about Jackie.
“She was incredibly curious about the world, she loved adventure,” Caroline shared. “She was many wonderful things as a mom.”
The move turned out to be the right move for Jackie and her kids, as the city offered them far more protection and anonymity under its wings. In an interview with the New York Times when she was only 12, Caroline said, “I don’t think of myself as famous” and added:
“I’m not really bothered by too many reporters or photographers. It seems they’re only around when I’m with my mother. I just don’t think of what it’ll be like when I’m older.”
In the same interview, a close friend of Jackie’s had this to say about Caroline:
“I think her mother has tried to raise her just as if she were an ordinary child, so that she is not to feel any different from anybody else. That’s why she guards her so frantically from publicity. And I think she has done a wonderful job of bringing her up. … She’s pretty and she’s smart. And she has so much more. I think she’s going to be a formidable woman when she grows up.”
Caroline went on to pursue her higher education with the same dedication she witnessed in her parents. She graduated with a degree in Fine Arts from Radcliffe College, now part of Harvard University, in 1980. She then attended Columbia Law School, receiving her Juris Doctor degree in 1988.
While she had harbored dreams of becoming a professional photographer, she soon learned that with the incessant media coverage on her as well as the entourage of Secret Service agents who would never leave her side, it would be nigh impossible for her to make a living as one.
While Caroline’s legal education equipped her for a career in law, she found her true calling in public service. In the early 1990s, she became involved in education reform, championing causes such as improving public schools and promoting literacy. Her commitment to education led her to serve on the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, where she actively worked to preserve her father’s legacy and promote educational programs.
Caroline’s literary pursuits have also garnered attention and respect. She authored several books. However, it was her role as the editor of “Profiles in Courage for Our Time” that solidified her literary reputation. This anthology, a sequel to her father’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book “Profiles in Courage,” highlighted the stories of contemporary political figures who exhibited courage in their decision-making.
In 2008, Caroline expressed her interest in taking over Hilary Clinton’s senate seat left vacant after she was tipped for the secretary of state seat. However, Caroline later withdrew herself from consideration, citing personal reasons. In 2013, former president Barack Obama nominated Caroline to the position of US ambassador to Japan. In 2021, she was nominated by President Joe Biden to become ambassador to Australia, a post she holds to this day.
As for her romantic life, Caroline had in the past been linked to several high-profile men, including British travel writer and conservationist Mark Shand and Argentine tennis player Guillermo Vilas. However, it was while working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art after graduating from Radcliffe College that Caroline would meet the man who would become her husband.
At the time, Caroline had been hired as a research assistant in the museum’s Film and Television Department. There, she became acquainted with Edwin Schlossberg, a designer in the then-novel field of interactive spaces.
After graduating with Columbia University’s first combined doctorate in Physics and English & American Literature, Edwin started out as an artist in the thrilling 1960s New York art scene. He went on to make a name for himself in 1977 when he created the country’s first hands-on learning environment at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. Edwin also dabbled in making his own visual creations, with his works displayed at famed art galleries across the country. His creativity also extended to the written word, and Edwin has produced poetry and released several books.
Caroline wed Edwin on July 19, 1986, in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Though the private couple tried to keep the nuptials low-key, the event turned into a media frenzy, with over 2,000 people showing up at the church to try to catch a glimpse of the pair. Caroline’s uncle, Ted Kennedy, walked her down the aisle while Maria Shriver served as her matron of honor. Caroline looked gorgeous in a puffy-sleeved, drop-waist wedding dress fashioned by Carolina Herrera, a brand her mother also adored.
Caroline and Edwin remain married to this day and share three wonderful grown children.
Edwin is the atypical son-in-law of the Kennedy family. Despite his family’s attraction to public life and service, the designer is averse to publicity and interviews about himself. Talking about the Kennedy family is also forbidden. However, he managed to sit with the Chicago Tribune to talk about his work at some point.
The 78-year-old artist was described by the outlet as a reticent intellectual whose art often captures the way his mind works. Edwin also gave a glimpse into his thought process during the interview.
“Publicity doesn’t interest me,” he said. “The thing that interests me is work. We’re living in a culture that if you spend a lot of time thinking about what other people think about you, it distracts you from what you care about. I like what I do, and that’s what interests me.”
According to the outlet, his CV says that he founded Edwin Schlossberg Inc., “a 40-member multi-disciplinary design company that specializes in museum master planning and exhibit design, public information systems and entertainment sites.”
Edwin is renowned for his art book “WORDSWORDSWORDS,” which he curated in 1968. The book was exhibited at the Jewish Museum in 1968, with the poems presented in an aluminum box. The limited edition artwork consists of poems printed on different sheets that only make meaning when put together. The last poem, printed on four sheets of Plexiglas, would then break apart when the reader picked it up.
“When you put the sheets together, you can read (the poem), but the minute you move it, it all falls apart,” Edwin told Chicago Tribune. “The poem you read that falls apart reads, ‘These words will fall apart to be sure.’”
Caroline and Edwin’s children follow the Kennedy family’s footsteps in activism and public service. Their first child, Rose Schlossberg, studied English at Harvard before getting her master’s degree in interactive telecommunications at New York University. Rose is not into politics but made a web series with a friend about empowered females.
Tatiana Schlossberg is a journalist and a graduate of Yale and Oxford. She is renowned for working for The New York Times and has written for The Atlantic and Bloomberg View. The 33-year-old is quite passionate about climate change. She is also the mom to Caroline’s only grandchild, Edwin, who she shares with her husband, George Moran.
The couple’s third child, Jack Schlossberg, is a political writer who has worked for outlets including the Washington Post and Time. Although the 30-year-old is still undecided about his path in politics, he graduated with a joint MBA and law degree at Harvard Law and Harvard Business School in 2022.
Although none of the three Schlossberg kids met their granddad, he lives in their hearts. They made a video with Caroline to celebrate what would have been his 100th birthday in 2017. They also had an interview with CNN published on May 25, 2017.
“He is a historical figure,” Caroline told the outlet. “One hundred years is a really long time, but I think his legacy and these values are timeless and they live on.”
For Rose, her grandad’s love for equality inspires her. She noted that John would have been proud of America. Nevertheless, she added, “he would be the first to tell us we have a long way to go.”
Tatiana echoed her observations and said, “While my grandfather had reverence for the past, and the lessons it could impart, he also knew that America was a country where change was possible.”
Jack also shared his sentiments and opined that John would have tackled and possibly solved the issue of climate change had he been alive.
What are your thoughts on Caroline Kennedy’s life so far? Is she living up to the legacy of her immensely celebrated parents and family name? What do you think about her three children with Edwin Schlossberg? Let us know — and be sure to pass this on to friends, family and fans of the Kennedys!
