A Tour Of The White House By Jackie Kennedy (VIDEO)

Michelle Obama has been compared extensively to Jackie Kennedy, and today's visit by the Obamas to the White House summons memories of Jackie Kennedy's one-hour television special on Valentine's Day 1962, "A Tour Of The White House By Mrs. John F. Kennedy." The program, for which three out of four viewers tuned in, showed the iconic First Lady walking CBS' Charles Collingwood--and the world--through the rooms of the newly restored White House.

***Scroll down for the video.***

On the Green Room:
"This used to be the dining room, and this is where Jefferson gave his famous dinners and introduced such exotic foods as macaroni, waffles and ice cream to the United States."

On the inscription under the mantle of one fireplace:
"Yes, that's from the very first letter that was ever written from the White House. It was written by John Adams, the first president to live here, to his wife Abigail when he'd only been here two days on November 2, 1800. In it he says 'I pray heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this house, and on all that should hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men rule under this roof.'"

President Kennedy on his wife's renovations (51:03 into the second video) :
"I think the great effort that she's made has been to bring us much more intimately in contact with all the men who lived here.... I have always felt that American history is sometimes a dull subject...but I think if [young boys and girls] can come here and see alive this building and in a sense touch the people who lived here, then they'll go home more interested and I think they'll become better Americans. Some of them may want to someday live here themselves," then adds with a chuckle, "Even the girls."

Watch the first 15 minutes here :

Or see the tour in its entirety here:

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**Watch 10-year-old Malia Obamatalk about White House decorating.**

Comments

[BeccaThePromoMami]

This clip appeared briefly on an episode of Mad Men and I'm going to have to echo Sal's sentiments about how women felt about Jackie Kennedy and now feel about Michelle Obama:

"It's like their better-looking sister married a handsome Senator and now she's going to live in the White House? I'm practically jealous."

lol

[BeccaThePromoMami]

i love a good transatlantic accent.

[PeaceOnEarth62]

I love this footage. What a lovely lady! Can't we all be that ladylike.

I will I will!!

[lieslgee]

It's hard to believe that Jackie was only in her early 30's when she was in the White House.

[Agentlady007]

I think I am going to start talking like her.

[johnnygoodwud]

met her once at a fundraiser at teddy's in va. very classy lady.

[eXcommunicate]

I think Michelle could do something like this, but only after the economy recovers and after Barack's reelection.

[smkyle1]

The Obamas have some of the same characteristics of the Kennedys which was confirmed by Caroline Kennedy.

What a lovely pair!

http://www.laprogressive.com/2008/11/10/from-kennedy-to-obama-recapturing-america%e2%80%99s-greatness/

[LAThinker]

It is off topic, but as a tribute to color of this page and comments here it is

The Purple http://www.ucubd.com/Index.aspx?id=611&cid=3181

[hrhkat]

"Indians" LMAO

[MissingAmerica]

The Theodore Barrett thing is hilarious!

[MissingAmerica]

Oh, how I miss the days of Camelot. To once again see a youthful president and children in the house is wonderful, especially considering the wisdom of our president-elect. As for the first lady, there are many differences between Michelle and Jackie, but all good. The greatest thing they share in common is dignity and class. It's truly a new day!

[Philmo]

Michelle in 2016 (after eight years of Barack). I can only imagine the glorious televised debates between the two female presidential candidates: Michelle and Sarah. It would be a massacre, Pee-Wee.

[rbryanh]

Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis was born to be a Princess, and indeed she made a fine one - gracious, soft spoken, compassionate yet passionless, stylish, lovely, kind, and remote. Her role was not to influence events, but to _be_ an event. And so she was.

Given her history, it seems unlikely Michelle Obama will be content as an exhibit, nor should she be. For her to settle for being an icon of graciousness would be a terrible waste of her intelligence, knowledge, skills, and drive. To reduce her to being the beautifully-dressed docent a furniture museum, however august, would be obscene.

Sure, it's a pleasure to see a self-possessed, poised, beautiful woman in the public sphere. But it's a joy to see a capable, actualized human use her talents for the public good.

Let's stop cooing, "Isn't she lovely?" and start cheering, "You go, girl!"

[MomWithTwoHeads]

Gosh. How did we get so lucky in this country to have a First Lady as grand as that. Michelle is our next stroke of luck. Yeah, we're pretty lucky, we Americans.