For Immediate Release Contact: Pat Kremer/Nancy O’Shea (312) 665-7100 (For Media Use Only) America Through the Lens of Style Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years She was young, beautiful, and cultivated. She had studied European literature and art, spoke French and Spanish, and had traveled abroad. Her taste was impeccable—at once simple and sophisticated. She had, you might say, a modern outlook informed by Old World values. Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy was a new kind of first lady, and the world embraced her as role model and inspiration. By following her own standards and aspirations, she broadened our awareness of the arts and historic preservation. With her husband, the president, she opened our eyes to international culture and engagement. She transformed our idea of what a first lady could be, and in doing so, she transformed the image of America. Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years – Selections from the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum examines the influence of this extraordinary woman through the unique lens of style. On display in the exhibition are more than 70 articles of clothing and personal items, classic and rarely-seen photographs, Mrs. Kennedy’s handwritten notes, video excerpts from her White House tour, and much more. Through these intimate objects and public events, the exhibition transports visitors back to a memorable time in our nation’s history—a moment when the world opened before us, and nothing seemed impossible. Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years opens at Chicago’s Field Museum on Saturday, November 13, 2004, and will be on view through Sunday, May 8, 2005. The exhibition was organized by The John F. Kennedy Library and Museum and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and is made possible through the generous support of The Grainger Foundation and Marshall Field’s. Continue