VHS VIDEO REVIEW -- "Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Remembered"
David Von Pein
Produced by CBS/FOX Video
Released on VHS videotape in 1994
http://www.amazon.com/dp/6303149359/sr=1-3/qid=1163120438
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The above-linked VHS videotape is a great keepsake, and a fine tribute
to the former First Lady of the United States, Jacqueline Bouvier
Kennedy Onassis.
Jacqueline Bouvier married then-Senator John F. Kennedy in September
1953, and then rose to become First Lady, at the age of just 31, when
JFK was inaugurated as the 35th U.S. President in January 1961.
Jackie's grace, dignity, and unparalleled courage following her
husband's tragic assassination in November 1963 helped sustain the
nation in the wake of JFK's death. Five years later, in 1968,
Jacqueline married Aristotle Onassis.
Jackie lived quietly in New York City, as a book publisher, following
Mr. Onassis' death in 1975. She was surrounded by family and friends
when she was taken from the world in the spring of 1994, two months
before her 65th birthday. It was a very sad day for all Americans --
especially those who could easily recall Jackie's nation-binding
strength and courage in the days following President Kennedy's sudden
death.
Produced by CBS News and released on video in 1994, "Jacqueline Kennedy
Onassis Remembered" combines three separate programs onto one video.
Part 1 is a short 7.5-minute CBS-TV overview of Jackie's all-too-short
life (she passed away way too soon, on May 19, 1994, at age 64, just
shortly before CBS produced this videotape). The majority of this short
segment of the video focuses on original CBS footage of President
Kennedy's state funeral, held in Washington on November 25, 1963.
The second portion of the video is a real treat, and a collectible
program unto itself -- the CBS-TV Special, "A Tour Of The White House
With Mrs. John F. Kennedy" (51 minutes). This first-of-its-kind
room-by-room look inside the famous Presidential mansion was originally
aired by CBS on February 14, 1962, and garnered an enormous share of
the viewing audience that night.
Unfortunately, this video's packaging tells a falsehood when it claims
this "Tour" segment is presented "complete". Sadly, it is not the
complete "uncut" program. Missing are the first 7 minutes, when Mrs.
Kennedy gives us a fairly detailed history of the White House (in words
and vintage photographs), including a rather humorous moment when
Jackie quotes a source from 1948 (when the house was in a state of
great disrepair during the Truman administration and had to be gutted
and totally rebuilt on the inside): "The building is standing up purely
from force of habit." :)
For some reason, this preliminary "history" portion of the program,
which is a very interesting and insightful look at the early days of
the Presidential mansion, has been omitted from this video, even though
the box specifically says it is included.
But even without the first few minutes of narrative by Mrs. Kennedy,
this 51-minute truncated version of the White House Tour program is
well worth seeing. It provides a very unique glimpse into the Kennedy
White House, with the most charming host imaginable -- the First Lady
herself.
Jackie always spoke with such a soft elegance; her voice seemed like a
verbal "pillow". I loved listening to her speak. And she speaks a lot
during this 1962 White House Tour.
President Kennedy joins Jackie at the end of the "Tour", and offers up
some comments of his own, regarding the history of the White House
itself, and what it's like to actually be a resident of 1600
Pennsylvania Avenue.
Part 3 of the video features a September 29, 1960, CBS-TV "Person To
Person" interview with Senator John Kennedy and wife Jackie (plus
2-year-old daughter Caroline), which originally aired just 40 days
prior to the Presidential election, which had JFK defeating Richard M.
Nixon in one of the closest elections in U.S. history.
This third segment, lasting 22 minutes, affords the viewer a rare
chance to take a look at the more "personal" side of the Kennedys. It's
another worthwhile keepsake of the 1960s. Some of the interview does,
indeed, seem rehearsed to an extent. But, even so, much of the "real"
JFK and Jackie shine through via this interview segment, especially as
they interact with daughter Caroline. We can be certain of one thing
for sure -- 2-year-old Caroline didn't rehearse any material before
going on TV here. :)
Video quality is pretty good throughout the duration of this 81-minute
VHS cassette. Audio is in Hi-Fi Mono.
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (born in Southampton, New York, on July 28,
1929) was one of the most admired women in American history (and
remains so to this day). She was pressed into a whirlwind life of
politics at a very early age, and was very nearly as popular as her
President husband when the Kennedys occupied the White House from 1961
to 1963. One word possibly best describes Jackie -- CLASS! Jackie was a
class act all the way.
And this VHS tape from "CBS/FOX Video" is a perfect way to re-visit,
time and again, the life and times of a true American original -- a
woman named "Jackie".
David Von Pein
October 2004
