January 25, 2015 Notes: Rare view of Jackie's White House bedroom looking Northeast. During this time, Jackie was beginning to work with Stéphane Boudin to update the room originally created by Sister Parish in 1961. This image shows the arrangement of artwork to the right of the doorway and the TV in front of the fireplace.

Source: JFK Library May 1963 film by Cecil Stoughton. Image edited by Steven L. Brawley.

January 16, 2015 Notes: The New Room at Mount Vernon. Jackie chose the lawn of President Washington's estate for the July 1961 Kennedy state dinner in honor of  the President of Pakistan.

Image copyright Jake Gariepy (Dapper and Dreamy)

By Mark Henderson

January 4, 2015: The CAROLINE is a part of political and airline history. It was the first private plane to be used in a presidential campaign.

The CAROLINE was built in August 1948 for American Airlines (AA) and was part of the AA fleet untill 1958. The plane was sold to the plane sales firm Fred B. Ayer and Associates of New York City. On September 22, 1959 the plane was purchased by Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. (JPK Sr.) for $385,000.

Reportedly, when Janet Des Rosiers (former secretary/mistress of JPK Sr.) returned from Europe to New York City in March 1958,  JPK Sr. called her and said "You pick any job in NYC and I'll get it for you". Des Rosiers thanked him but she said that she would get her own job. She got a job selling Corvair planes as a plane demonstrator. The job paid a commission. She rung JFK to see if he wanted a demonstration and a test flight was arranged.

JFK and his entourage flew from DC to NYC. JFK was impressed and told Janet that he would lease one for his presidential campaign. A few days latter JPK Sr. rung Des Rosiers telling her, "Hell Janet, Jack isn't going to lease a plane from you, we're going to buy him one." As her commission Janet received six months pay plus additional cash. At JFK's request Janet became stewardess and secretary on the CAROLINE.

Image copyright Jake Gariepy (Dapper and Dreamy).