Jackie After O

June 4, 2012
Cassidy (Birth: The Surprising History of How We Are Born) focuses her attention on a lesser known Jackie O in her newest. While "The world knew was beautiful, stoic, and rich⦠It did not know, or perhaps did not care, that she was interested in history and architecture, that she was a talented writer, a voracious reader, and a person of some ambitions of her own." The year is 1975, and though the memory of JFK's assassination over a decade ago is still relatively fresh in the nation's memory, Jackieânewly widowed for the second time after the death of Aristotle Onassisâhas begun to pursue her own goals. Still the target of paparazzi and folks looking to cash in on the Kennedy name, Jackie secures a position as editor at Viking, and later, Doubleday, where she would work till her death. In addition to her career-related duties, Jackie also took it upon herself to save Grand Central Terminal from the fate that befell the original Penn Station, a campaign that would prove successful in preserving one of New York City's most iconic landmarks. In addition to being compelling sketch of a widow seeking to rebuild her life, Cassidy's portrait of Jackie O also addresses grander, timely themes, such as the juggling of public and private lives, as well as the plight of women entering a still male-dominated workplace. Photos.