REMEMBRANCE FROM THE KENNEDYS

 

 

Scenes from Dallas related to the assassination of John F. Kennedy are seared into the memories of people around the world — Dealey Plaza, the Texas Book Depository, the ‘grassy knoll,’ the corridor of the city police headquarters where Lee Harvey Oswald met his bloody end.   Several of those locations look very similar today, despite the passage of time. Others have changed markedly over the last half a century. Cody Duty, of the Houston Chronicle, has created ‘then-and-now’ photographs that juxtapose archival photos from Kennedy’s fateful 1963 Dallas visit and subsequent assassination — with contemporary  images. ‘I wanted to take the viewer on a history lesson,’ Duty said, as well as a visual tour of the slaying and its aftermath. +12 Final flight: On Nov. 21, 1963, of President John F. Kennedy is seen shaking hands with 22 prominent Houstonians after he and the first arrived at Houston International Airport, juxtaposed against the current William P. Hobby Airport +12 Backward glance: This image taken Nov. 21, 1963, of University of Houston Phi Kappa Theta fraternity members lining outside the Rice Hotel to greet their fraternal alumni brother President Kennedy, juxtaposed against the current scene in Houston +12 Procession: People lining Travis Street near Texas Avenue to see President Kennedy's motorcade a day before his assassination - and the same location depicted 50 years later +12 Curious: Throngs of people pictured November 21, 1963, waiting to catch a glimpse of the leader of the free world and his wife on Travis Street near Rusk Street In creating the compilation in honor of the 50th anniversary of Kennedy’s assassination, Mr Duty revisited key locations around Dallas and Houston, beginning with Houston International Airport, where Air Force One touched down on November 21, 1963, carrying the commander-in-chief and the first lady. The historic photo from the airfield showing the president greeting 22 Houston dignitaries has been juxtaposed with a present-day shot of the airport, which was renamed William P. Hobby Airport in 1967.  Among some of the more striking images in Duty's series is a famous picture of Jacqueline Kennedy and Secret Service agent Clint Hill climbing on the back of the limousine, melded with a present-day image of Dealey Plaza. +12 Witnesses to history: Houston Chronicle employees leaning out the window waiting on President John. F. Kennedy's motorcade, juxtaposed against the current scene +12 Chilling snapshot: Jackie Kennedy and Secret Service agent Clint Hill are seen climbing on the back of the limousine after President Kennedy was gunned down +12 Tense moments: Spectators are seen lying on the ground in Dealey Plaza as a motorcycle police officer drives by after Kennedy's killing, juxtaposed outside of the current day Elm Street +12 Crime scene: Police and detectives guarding the front entrance to the Texas School Book Depository building less than an hour after the assassination +12 Second victim: The scene where Lee Harvey Oswald shot Dallas Police Officer J.D. Tippit, an 11-year veteran Duty also stopped by Texas Theatre, which looks today much like it did November 22, 1963, when police officers arrested Lee Harvey Oswald as he was watching a movie after murdering the president and a veteran Dallas police officer. The final chilling collage is that of the moment when a battered-looking Oswald was shot dead from a point-blank range by Dallas night club owner Jack Ruby inside the Dallas Police Headquarters. +12 In the hot seat: A Dallas police officer pointing to the seat at the Texas Theatre where Lee Harvey Oswald was sitting when police entered to arrest him +12 Chaos: Lee Harvey Oswald's arrest scene is melded with a modern-day photo of Texas Theatre, in Dallas +12 Violent end: On Nov. 24, 1963, Lee Harvey Oswald, assassin of President Kennedy, was gunned down by Dallas night club owner Jack Ruby, foreground, in a corridor of Dallas Police Headquarters. Almost 50 years after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, rare and unpublished photographs of his funeral have come to light. On the 45th anniversary of the late president’s 1967 reinterment in Arlington Cemetery, LIFE magazine has shared previously unseen pictures, which were taken days after the assassination that shook the world. The 35th president of the United States was shot dead in Dallas, Texas, while on a political trip. The man accused of his murder, Lee Harvey Oswald, was himself shot dead by nightclub owner Jack Ruby, on the day before the 46-year-old president's funeral. +7 Distinguished mourners: German President Heinrich Luebke, French President General Charles de Gaulle, Germany's Chancellor Ludwig Erhard and French Premier Maurice Couve de Murville (from left to right) pay respect to the flag-draped coffin of the late US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy in front of the Capitole in Washington On November 25 1963, an estimated 800,000 Americans lined the streets to watch the coffin's procession towards St Matthew's Cathedral in central Washington. The crowd stood in silence as the coffin, draped with the Stars and Stripes, lay on a gun carriage drawn by six grey horses, while a single riderless horse lingered behind. Mr Kennedy's widow, Jacqueline Kennedy, and her two children, three-year-old John Kennedy junior, and five-year-old Caroline, rode behind in a black car, accompanied by his brothers, Robert and Edward. Distinguished guests joined the procession - German President Heinrich Luebke, French President General Charles de Gaulle, Germany's Chancellor Ludwig Erhard and French Premier Maurice Couve de Murville flocked to pay their respects. +7 Family and chiefs of state pay their last respects in front of the coffin of late US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, who was assassinated in Dallas on 22 November 1963 +7 Family: US Attorney General Robert Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy and US Senator Edward Kennedy, respectively brothers of US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy and the widow of the president, walk down steps from St. Matthews Cathedral in Washington +7 Assassinated: The casket containing the body of President John F. Kennedy sits in the East Room of the White House on November 24 1963 British mourners included the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prime Minister, Sir Alec Douglas-Home, and the Leader of the Opposition, Harold Wilson. 'A woman knelt and gently kissed the flag,' LIFE magazine reported of the scene as JFK’s casket lay in state for two days after his assassination. 'A little girl’s hand tenderly fumbled under the flag to reach closer. Thus, in a privacy open to all the world, John F. Kennedy’s wife and daughter touched at a barrier that no mortal ever can pass again.' Between 1964 and 1966, an estimated 16 million people had visited his grave. The circumstances around the president's death remain controversial to this day. Although The FBI, the Warren Commission, and the House Select Committee on Assassinations officially concluded that Oswald was the lone assassin, many people have disputed the results of the investigation. +7 +7 Write caption here +7 President Lyndon Baines Johnson, who took over when President Kennedy was show, is seen standing alone at his predecessor's funeral.

Caroline Kennedy and her family have returned to one of their favorite getaway spots: St. Bart's. The famous family was pictured enjoying the sun and surf in the French West Indies for the third year in a row. Caroline, her husband Edwin Schlossberg, their children Rose, Tatiana and Jack were pictured relaxing with another couple on the white sandy beach along with some less inhibited revelers who opted to go nude. +41 View from the beach: Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg and her children (left to right) Jack, Tatiana and Rose line up during their day by the sea in St Bart's on Friday +41 Family time: Caroline Kennedy is seen posing for a photo with her son Jack, daughters Tatiana and Rose (blocked on the right) as an unidentified friend takes a picture in St Bart's +41 +41 He'll always be her baby: Though he no longer looks it, her now-21-year-old son Jack Kennedy Schlossberg is the youngest in Mrs Kennedy's family +41 All smiles: This was the third year in a row that the famous political family headed to the French island for spring break +41 Trying her hand: The American ambassador to Japan cut out the middle man and took a picture of her children herself before getting read to go for a swim +41 Going for a dip: Caroline's husband Edwin Schlossberg was seen with the group and he joined his wife for a swim +41 Taking a breather: Kennedy, 56, traveled to the island during a break from her diplomatic post in Japan +41 +41 Coordination: Though they live apart since her job is in Tokyo and his is in New York, Caroline and Edwin are making the long distance work and insured that their vacation time was spent together with their children They were seen on the beach on Friday, which coincides with spring break for Jack, who is a junior at Yale University. Though she's opted for a bikini in the past, the 56-year-old ambassador chose a full piece bathing suit for this year's trip. In 2012 and 2013, they visited the island in March and in years prior they switched up their visit, going over Christmas in 2009. Her new job title as the American ambassador to Japan clearly didn't stop them from enjoying the family tradition, and they all were able to pencil in the break in spite of their varied schedules. +41 Overly exposed: The Kennedy clan chose to keep their clothes on- unlike their nude neighbors +41 Protected: Caroline, seen with two unidentified friends, covered herself with a long sleeved top at one point- a step that her naked neighbors purposefully avoided +41 Lounging: The Kennedy-Schlossberg children, (Tatiana, hidden by her brother Jack, and Rose at right) tend to keep a low profile but Tatiana and Jack attended a few memorial services in honor of the 50th anniversary of their grandfather's death last fall +41 Missed a spot: Tatiana, who works as a reporter in New Jersey, gets something off her brother Jack's chin +41 +41 Leading the pack: Rose, 25, works as a videographer in New York and is the eldest of Jackie Kennedy and former President John F. Kennedy's grandchildren +41 Solid pick: She opted for an aubergine one-piece bathing suit Mrs Kennedy lives in Tokyo as a result of the diplomatic post, but her husband decided to stay in their New York apartment because his architecture firm is based out of Manhattan. Rose, the couple's eldest daughter, is believed to be working as a videographer and artist in New York. Tatiana, 23, graduated from Yale in 2012 and has been working as a reporter in New Jersey ever since and younger brother Jack, 21, is still attending the New Haven, Connecticut school. +41 Bracing for it: The family has made at least three other trips to St Barts in the past five years +41 +41 Warmer waters: The sunny climes of the Caribbean island were presumably a welcome bonus for the New York and Tokyo-based crew +41 Getting some laps in: Mrs Kennedy made sure she had protective goggles before going for her swim +41 +41 Carefree: Her 68-year-old husband Edwin wasn't as cautious +41 Spring break: Edwin chose to stay in New York when his wife was named as the American ambassador to Japan because his architecture business is based out of Manhattan +41 Making the most of the break: It is unclear how long the family stayed in St Barts but Jack (pictured) had a full two weeks off from college +41 In the genes: When Jack emerged on the scene last year around the anniversary of his grandfather's death, many commented on how he looked like the younger version of his now-deceased uncle John F Kennedy Jr +41 Family vacation: He is currently a junior at Yale University and he has expressed an interest in politics +41 Facing the fans: Jack, 21, previously told reporters that he is straight +41 Low cut: Mrs Kennedy, seen with an unidentified friend, chose to wear a one-piece bathing suit even though she's previously opted for more body-baring bikinis +41 +41 Ready to explore: The sole surviving member of President Kennedy's immediate family has returned to the family's political roots by taking on the role as American ambassador to Japan +41 Quality time: Caroline and her friend were joined by Jack and Tatiana for the beach stroll +41 Looking the other way: Kennedy opted to focus her attention on her family as opposed to the nude beachgoers +41 Eying up the adventure: The Kennedy-Schlossberg family is familiar with St Barts and clearly enjoys the area as they keep returning year in, year out +41 +41 Proud mama: Though she is typically very camera shy, the same rule did not apply to her kids when she was the one with the smartphone +41 Strike a pose: Jack clearly got into the spirit of the impromptu photo shoot +41 Mom forgot her shades: Jack sported some round tortoiseshell sunglasses but Caroline was stuck squinting +41 +41 Who made the cut? The woman (pictured in a white shirt) and man (not pictured) who accompanied the group have not yet been identified but Caroline appears to be enjoying her company +41 Different look: Kennedy's casual attire on the beach comes in stark contrast to the formal wear she sports during her diplomatic duties as the American ambassador, pictured on her first day on the job in November

Jackie Kennedy Onassis' style, elegance and courage helped to define an era, and during the 1960 campaign and election of the future president, her legend was born. Her many titles; First Lady, fashion icon and wife of 35th President, John F. Kennedy; created the legend that has transcended generations for over 50 years. Now, on what would have been her 83rd birthday, a collection of rare photographs have been released, capturing her intriguing and timeless beauty from a time when she was simply known as, Jackie. +10 Mommy's girl: Jackie Kennedy, at the time wife of Senator John Kennedy, talks on the telephone as her young daughter Caroline mimics her at their home in Hyannis Port on on September 30, 1960 These images from Life magazine showcase the year of 1960 when John F. Kennedy and his beautiful wife were quickly becoming national, and international, celebrities. Set beside the other prominent women in the capital, she was young, - born on July 28, 1929, making her barely 30 - chic and indefinably 'exotic' to the American people, with her Irish and French heritage. She set a new standard for glamour in the White House, and for women worldwide, across oceans and generations, the former First Lady has continued to intrigue and inspire. +10 Kennedy Campaign: Jackie and the future U.S. President JFK in a car during his campaign through the mid-Atlantic states on September 15, 1960 +10 Portrait of a lady: The future First Lady photographed sitting at a table during a campaign dinner in New York on October 1, 1960 +10 Campaign crusade: Jackie Kennedy votes for the presidential elections with her Democratic candidate husband JFK in Boston on November 8, 1960 Whether she was campaigning in Democratic presidential primaries or sitting on the couch at home, images of the future First Lady, a title she held during JFK's presidency from 1961 until his assassination in 1963, will forever be an object of fascination for generations of Americans. In her Oleg Cassini outfits, and favourite three-strand faux pearl necklace, she became the face of a new era and of a new type of American woman; using her elegance, youth, aspirational sophistication, wit and self-depreciation to capture the world. She once said: 'The one thing I do not want to be called is "first lady". It sounds like a saddle horse.' +10 Caught in a moment: Jackie Kennedy captured watching a Presidential debate between her husband and Republican nominee Richard Nixon from the wings, during October 1960 +10 Family of the White House: Three days after the election, JFK and Jackie disembark from a plane with their daughter Caroline in Washington DC on November 11, 1960 +10 Future First Ladies: Lady Bird Johnson stands behind a radiating Jacqueline Kennedy in Hyannisport, Massachusetts during July, 1960 The President took his wife’s popularity in stride, and humbly acknowledged that much of the time, he played second fiddle. Fluent in French, she was so well received during a 1961 trip to Paris, that JFK famously joked: 'I do not think it altogether inappropriate to introduce myself - I am the man who accompanied Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris, and I have enjoyed it.' Embodied forever in that bloodstained pink suit, she bore the grief of a nation with impressing dignity, and then guarded her privacy until she died in 1994 at age 64 from complications from cancer. +10 Close-up: Jacqueline Kennedy wearing her favorite three-strand faux pearl necklace in Goergetown, Virginia on September 2, 1960 +10 Presidential partners: Jackie campaigning in Democratic presidential primaries with the then Senator John F. Kennedy in March, 1960 +10 Daily duties: Jackie Kennedy seen going through some of the 225 letters she answered each day while sitting on couch in her study at home on September 21, 1960 Her son, John Jr., said: 'My mother died surrounded by her friends and her family and her books, and the people and the things that she loved. 'She did it in her own way, and on her own terms, and we all feel lucky for that.' The records of John F Kennedy’s time in office have been put onto the Internet, making up the largest online presidential archive the United States has ever seen. More than 200,000 pages of documents, audio recordings of all of Mr Kennedy's speeches, 72 reels of film and 1,500 photos are now freely available at the click of a mouse. But even though the four-year project marks a milestone in access to presidential records, it is actually the fulfilment of a promise Kennedy himself made 50 years ago at his inauguration. +9 Private moments: This August 1962 photo shows then First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy with John F. Kennedy Jr in the west bedroom of the White House, Washington. It is one of more than 1,500 images released online +9 Work and play: The president watches his children John Jnr and Caroline in the Oval Office of the White House, Washington. Caroline was on hand today to unveil the online digital archive of Kennedy's records At a press conference in 1962 he said: ‘I think that we can - and this will certainly be increased as time goes on - we will find it possible to so reproduce the key documents that they will be commonly available. ‘There are many other things of interest which I think are rather advantageous to have spread around the country, particularly as it stimulates the study of the Presidency.’ Today Caroline Kennedy, JFK's daughter and president of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, unveiled the foundation's massive digital library - which can be found at www.jfklibrary.org The records, which cost $10million to pull together, include fascinating historical documents - like telegrams from civil rights leader Medgar Evers imploring Kennedy to get tougher on racial discrimination. +9 Personal passion: Mr Kennedy is seen taking an intense interest in 'Friendship 7', the first U.S. manned craft to orbit the earth. Astronaut John Glenn, who piloted the ship, is standing behind him +9 Looking ahead: It was Mr Kennedy's rousing speech about landing a man on the moon in the 1960s that led to Nasa doing just that in 1969. Online images show the president's keen interest in space exploration There are also compelling recordings of conversations with former president Dwight Eisenhower about the Cuban missile crisis, and a possible invasion of Cuba. In one Mr Kennedy can be heard asking: 'General, what about if the Soviet Union, Khrushchev, announces tomorrow - which I think he will - that if we attack Cuba that it's going to be nuclear war. What's your judgement as to the chances that they'll fire these things off if we invade Cuba?' Mr Eisenhower responds: 'Oh, ah, I don't believe they will.' +9 Rest and relaxation: This photo, taken on August 12, 1962, shows Mr Kennedy as he sails aboard the Manitou off the coast of Maine. It clearly shows the president's charisma and seemingly effortless cool +9 High-profile tourists: This lovely family shot, from March 15, 1962, shows Jackie posing - as countless tourists have done before and since - in front of the Tag Mahal during a trip to India Mr Kennedy says: 'In other words, you would take that risk if the situation seemed desirable?' Mr Eisenhower replies: 'Well, as a matter of fact, what can you do? If this thing is such a serious thing, here on our flanks, that were going to be uneasy... we've got to use something.' He then adds: 'Something may make these people shoot them off, I just don't believe this will.' Despite the clear tension of the situation, Mr Kennedy begins to laugh. Mr Eisenhower then adds: 'I any event, of course, I'll say this: I'd want to keep my own people very alert.' +9 Official business: Mr Kennedy in the Oval Office with, from left, Martin Luther King, John Lewis, Rabbi Joachim Prinz, Eugene Carson Blake, Vice President Johnson and Walter Ruether +9 Brink of oblivion: Mr Kennedy during the 1963 Cuban missile crisis with his younger brother and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. The tense photo was taken on the West Wing Colonnade at the White House Both men begin laughing and Kennedy signs off with: 'Hang on tight, thanks a lot general.' Not all the archives relate to politics, however, and there are years worth of family photos from behind the doors of Camelot. One image from 1934 shows a young Ted Kennedy dressed up in a pirate’s outfit, while elsewhere in the archive is a letter from the president to his wife Jackie about a summer vacation in Rhode Island. +9 News conference: JFK's surviving daughter Caroline Kennedy unveils the online archive today There is also the bar tab from Mr Kennedy's bachelor party and doodles he did on paper while he was supposed to be carrying out official business. The archive was unveiled by Mr Kennedy’s only surviving daughter Caroline at the National Archives in Washington DC. She said: ‘President Kennedy is becoming part of history, not living memory, and we need to reach across the generations in new ways. ‘In our increasingly fragmented society young people are often disconnected and disillusioned with politics. 'President Kennedy's example, his words, his spirit, are more relevant than ever.' Thomas Putnam, director of the library added: 'Until now, if people wanted to see the documents they had to come to Boston, go to our research room and we’d pull out boxes. 'Now anyone with access to a computer with an Internet connection could replicate that experience.' He added that the library held some 48million pages of documents relating to Mr Kennedy's presidency and he hoped to put about eight million pages online.   A collection of fascinating private and public photos of the Kennedys have been revealed in a book and exhibition exploring the legacy of one of the most famous couples of all time. The images - half of which have never been seen before - were captured by Life magazine's Mark Shaw, who was both the unofficial photographer for John F. Kennedy and wife Jackie, as well as a close friend and confidant. Shaw's beautiful shots encapsulate the vibrant life of the pair, who are seen in a variety of situations, dazzling on the campaign trail or sharing a warm family moment with their daughter on holiday. +13 Love story: John F. Kennedy campaigning to become president, with stylish and cultured wife Jackie by his side +13 Special access: More than half of Shaw's photos have never been seen before and his work was treasured by the Kennedy family +13 Rich and famous: The fashionable couple pose in formal outfits for this charming official portrait Shaw met the charismatic Massachusetts senator and his elegant wife in 1959, six years after their marriage, when he photographed them for Life magazine. He developed a close friendship with the glamorous, all-American couple, allowing him extraordinary and informal access to the family. Over the following four years, Shaw captured the couple and their children Caroline and John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr at their most relaxed. They are pictured in Nantucket, Hyannis Port, Mass., Mrs Kennedy's family home in Merrywood, Virginia and on the Amalfi Coast of Italy. +13 American dream: The couple relax in Massachusetts fishing village Hyannis Port with first child Caroline He also photographed the couple as they shone in public, with stylish Jackie supporting her husband on the campaign trail and at his star-studded inauguration gala. On November 8, 1960, JFK beat Republican Richard M. Nixon in a very close race to become the 35th president of the United States, with his graceful wife standing by his side She made the White House into a home, creating a kindergarten and working to restore and preserve the historical building while Shaw photographed the family's unique daily life By now a fashion icon, she hosted glittering events and travelled the world gaining admiration for her elegance and goodwill. +13 +13 New images: Mrs Kennedy with daughter Caroline at Hyannis Port in 1959 and later that year in Georgetown +13 Effortless grace: The attractive and powerful couple look at ease as they take a moment away from the strain of their heavy responsibilities +13 Long-lasting relationship: Shaw met the charismatic young Massachusetts senator and his elegant wife in 1959 when he photographed them for Life magazine +13 President's wife: Mrs Kennedy in her husband's office at the old Senate building in Washington D.C., 1959 There was a grittier side to their outwardly perfect lifestyle, however. JFK reportedly had numerous affairs with pretty young girls at the White House, and his wife responded by having several affairs of her own. In 1963, the couple's third child, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy was born, but he developed a lung problem and died two days later. While still recovering from this loss, another tragedy shocked the world. On November 22, 1963, the President and his wife were in Dallas, Texas. As their car drove slowly past cheering crowds, shots rang out. President Kennedy was killed and Mrs Kennedy became a widow at the age of 34. +13 Unforgettable: Jackie shows off her inimitable style while holidaying in Ravello, Italy +13 Height of sophistication: The couple relish a beautiful day in the garden, while Shaw captures them in their most unguarded moments JFK's state funeral was broadcast around the world and millions of people shared in his wife's grief and mourned over the premature end to the intriguing tale of this unique and powerful couple. In a grateful note, Mrs Kennedy later thanked Shaw for his natural, exuberant photographs, comparing him to a modern-day Caravaggio and vowing to treasure them always. Shaw was renowned for both his pictures of the Kennedys and for his fashion work in the 1950s and 1960s. He was the first photographer to shoot backstage and in colour at the couture shows and produced groundbreaking work during the Vanity Fair lingerie campaign. John F Kennedy was pictured with wife Jacqueline and children John, one, and four-year-old Caroline, shortly after the family took up residence in 1961. The time became known as the golden 'Camelot' era, inspired by the First family's youth, glamor and popularity in the media. Caroline Kennedy was captured in retro sunglasses holding up a picture of her famous father while the President himself was seen walking hand-in-hand with John Jr close the Oval Office. Scroll down for video +7 Daddy's girl: Caroline Kennedy, when told this was a picture of the President, said 'No, that's my daddy' +7 Golden couple: Jacqueline Kennedy told the photographer later that this picture of herself and her husband in Washington in 1961 was her favorite because it was so affectionate +7 Time out: JFK plays with his son John before boarding a flight on Marine One flanked by members of the Secret Service One picture, taken in an open-top car during a Tunisian state visit to Washington in 1961, shows JFK affectionately brushing hair from his wife Jacqueline's eyes. Only two years after theses images were taken, President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963. Capturing Camelot, by renowned biographer Kitty Kelley, uses the work of late photographer and her mentor Stanley Tretick, who left the valuable shots to her after his death in 1999. After following Kennedy throughout his presidential campaign, Tretick was given more access to the White House, allowing him to capture the family shots. The photographer's pictures of JFK playing with his children became some of best known of the Kennedy era. +7 In mourning: Jacqueline Kennedy, backed by Nantucket Sound in 1964, following her husband's assassination +7 All the president's men: JFK takes the Kennedy, Shriver, Smith and Lawford children for a ride on his golf cart at the family's compound in Hyannis Port +7 Iconic: JFK and his son John Jr stroll along the White House portico shortly after he was inaugurated as President +7 Tragedy: JFK and his brother Robert (far left), who served as Attorney-General and close adviser in the president's Cabinet, was also assassinated in 1968

A collection of never-seen-before photographs chronicling JFK's presidential campaign and time in office has come to light half a century after he was assassinated. Key moments caught on camera include his first meeting with US Army leaders after his election to president in 1961 and an informal meeting with journalists in the Oval Office. A series of candid snaps document a visit from British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan to the White House, a trip that began a close friendship between the two leaders. +15 His presidential campaign: Tragically a cache of thousands of the photographer's negatives were destroyed in the September 11 attacks in New York. These are what remain +15 The ladies' man: The Senator talking to the young woman at Mills College, in Oakland, California, October 1959 The collection also features photos from Kennedy's campaign trail including a barbecue with supporters in Omaha and a civil rights rally in Los Angeles. The revealing images were taken by Jacques Lowe, JFK's personal photographer, from his time as a senator in 1958 through his presidency to his untimely funeral in 1963. They feature in a new book My Kennedy Years, a collection of more than 250 photos capturing the personal and political life of one of history's most famous characters. Lowe was hired by JFK after impressing the Kennedy family with his photographs of elder brother Bobby in the late 1950s. He passed away in 2001 aged 71, leaving his vast archive to his daughter Thomasina. +15 The orator: JFK addressing a NAACP rally at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, July 1960 +15 The statesman: A series of candid snaps document a visit from British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan (centre) to the White House, a trip that began a close friendship between the two leaders Tragically a cache of thousands of his negatives were destroyed just months later in the September 11 attacks in New York. The book has been put together in honour of Lowe's work and released to mark 50 years since JFK's death. My Kennedy Years is published by Thames and Hudson and costs 24.95 pounds. Thomasina, 45, who lives in Kentish Town, London, said: 'Through the casual nature of my father's photos it feels like you're sat there at the table with the Kennedys. +15 +15 Famous: They are part of a collection of more than 250 photos capturing the personal and political life of one of history's most famous characters +15 Momentous day: This image captures JFK's first meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff on January 25 1961 at The White House +15 The people's president: JFK's Senate office which was frequently interrupted by visitors, such as this delegation of union officials   The revealing images were taken by Jacques Lowe (left), JFK's personal photographer, from his time as a senator in 1958 through his presidency to his untimely funeral in 1963. They feature in a new book (right), My Kennedy Years 'They were very trusting with him and put no restrictions on what he could photograph. 'Despite being welcomed into the Kennedy family my father was very modest about his relationship with them. 'When I was a child Ethel Kennedy would phone our house but dad would get very annoyed if we thought of them as celebrities. 'He would pick his moments to talk about his time with JFK. +15 Friends to the stars: Frank Sinatra, Shirley MacLaine and Dean Martin sing at a traditional Democratic Party fundraiser in California, 1960 +15 Press conference: JFK's first unofficial campaign trip, to Omaha, Nebraska in 1959. He can be seen to the bottom left of the picture sitting with his back to the camera JFK's first unofficial campaign trip, to Omaha, Nebraska in 1959   The wedding of Edward Kennedy and Joan Bennett at Bronxville, New York, in 1958 (left) and JFK talks business while wife Jackie and daughter Caroline play in the garden of their home in Georgetown in 1959 (right) 'Even years after JFK and Bobby were assasinated he found it very hard to come to terms with it. 'However he did describe it as one of the most exciting and exhiliarating times of his life. 'My father left this great body of work behind that he wanted me to make sure was out there. 'I feel very proud of this book and of my father's work.' Just over sixty years ago Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy, the future 35th president of the United States, married Jacqueline Bouvier at a beautiful wedding in Newport, Rhode Island. To mark the 60th anniversary of the nuptials LIFE.com has put together a gallery showcasing the very best of photographer Lisa Larsen's takes from Jack and Jackie's wedding album. Many of the photographs have not been published before. The nuptials, on September 12th 1953 were national news. Jack, as he was often called, and Jackie came from wealthy, influential families. It was another seven years before the glamorous couple would be moving into the White House. ‘The whole affair, said one enthusiastic guest, was 'just like a coronation,' reported LIFE magazine. Scroll down for video +5 Head table: Senator John F. Kennedy with his bride Jacqueline in her beautiful Battenburg gown at their wedding reception +5 First dance: Jacqueline Kennedy dances with her husband, John F. Kennedy, at their wedding reception Letters to Jackie: Condolences after JFK shooting   +5 Wedding day duties: Flower girl Janet Auchincloss, half sister of the bride, talks to John F Kennedy +5 Wedding photos: John and Jackie Kennedy with groomsmen and other guests on their wedding day, Newport, Rhode Island, September 12, 1953 +5 Jacqueline Kennedy on her wedding day: Some observers may find it striking how the young Jackie had yet to perfect her look. Still, the beginnings of what made her an international style icon for the next three decades are clearly evident.

With a figure the envy of many women half her age, Caroline Kennedy hit the beach in St. yesterday to enjoy a relaxing spring break with her family. The 55-year-old author and member of the Camelot dynasty showed off her well-toned body in a black swimsuit during an idyllic afternoon on the French Caribbean island. She spent time splashing around in the ocean before relaxing on the sand with her husband American designer Edwin Schlossberg, 67, and their daughters Rose and Tatiana. Ready for action: Caroline Kennedy has been enjoying a relaxing beach holiday in St. Barts +35 Caroline Kennedy catches a wave with her husband of some 27 years Edwin Schlossberg Caroline braved the waves, goggles in hand, to swim in the French Caribbean waters Kennedy is a regular visitor to the sunny Caribbean island, but she could have particular reason to enjoy some rest and relaxation this year, amid mounting rumors that she will soon be announced as a U.S. ambassador in the coming weeks. Senior figures in the Democratic Party have been trying to get JFK's daughter into politics for years and after several false starts all the evidence points towards her becoming President Obama's next ambassador to Japan. Kennedy was one of Obama's early big-name backers when he ran for president in 2008, and she was also a co-chair of his reelection campaign in 2012. Last month Bloomberg reported that the president had signed off on the decision to appoint her Japanese ambassador and only the standard vetting process needed to be done. +35 Kennedy and husband Edwin Schlossberg take a relaxing stroll along the sea front. They married in 1986 Contemplation: Kennedy is strongly fancied to be announced as U.S. ambassador to Japan when she returns from her spring break +35 Caroline Kennedy stands at the water's edge with her eldest daughter Rose, 25 Kennedy has no diplomatic experience, but that isn't seen as a serious drawback for a position which can often be little more than an elaborate thank you present for someone who has done much to support a president's successful election bid or re-election campaign in this case. Caroline Kennedy has been close to getting involved in the world of politics on several previous occasions. Most notably in 2009 when there was a push for her to fill Hillary Clinton's then-freshly vacated senate seat. On that occasion she even called the then-governor, David Paterson, to express her interest in the job. However with persistent rumors that her 20-plus year marriage to Schlossberg was on the brink of divorce, the timing wasn't right and she opted not to run. +35 The pair, who are not often photographed together, laughed and smiled during the relaxing afternoon   +35   +35 While St. Barts has topless beaches, Caroline was careful to stay covered up and narrowly avoided a bathing suit malfunction +35 Coverup: Caroline Kennedy elects to cover her swim suit as the sun sets in St. Barts +35 No doubt the time sitting on the beach was needed after they got battered by the sea The couple are rarely seen in public together, but in these holiday photos they look happier than ever as they stroll along the shore and enjoy a frolic in the sea. With their three children all now grown (son Jack didn’t made the trip this year), the time finally appears to be right for Kennedy to follow family tradition and enter the political fray. As the only surviving child of U.S. President John F Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, she is already an accomplished attorney, writer and editor and is also well known for her philanthropic work. In January 2008, when Obama was still battling Clinton for the Democratic nomination, Kennedy endorsed Obama with a New York Time opinion article. She wrote: 'I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them.' Kennedy makes her way back up the beach after enjoying a swim +35 Mother of three Caroline Kennedy looks in great shape for her age Like mother, like daughter: Caroline is the daughter of former first lady Jackie Kennedy 'But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president.' With the wealth and pedigree to do whatever she wants, Kennedy has devoted her life to her family and public service. President of the Kennedy Library Foundation, she is also an adviser to the Harvard Institute of Politics, a living memorial to JFK. She belongs to the boards of directors of the Commission on Presidential Debates and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. +35 Caroline was careful to protect her face from the sun an afternoon stroll along the beach with one of her daughters, Rose, in St Barts, French West Indies +35 Family holiday: Caroline Kennedy and husband Edwin Schlossberg had daughters Rose and Tatiana in St Barts but there was son missed this sunbathing session +35 Daughter Tatiana is also enjoying the luxurious getaway with her famous family +35 Kennedy and her husband enjoy some quality time together +35 Careful! Schlossberg kept his hands out for balance as he walked into the French Caribbean waves She carefully adjusted her goggles around her knot of brown hair as her husband looked on before diving in for a swim She has represented her family at the funerals of former presidents and the dedication of the Bill Clinton Presidential Center and Park. In 1989 she created the Profile in Courage Award in the spirit of her father's book, 'Profiles in Courage.' The award recognizes public figures who have acted courageously. Kennedy said she has been deeply inspired by the people she has met through the award program. Earlier this month she appeared on CBS This Morning to announce that Gabrielle Giffords had been selected as the 2013 recipient of the courage award. +35 In too deep? Despite no previous diplomatic experience, Kennedy is expected to be named the next U.S. ambassador to Japan +35 Fitness conscious Caroline swam freestyle in the beautiful blue water +35 Not all hard work: Caroline also floated on her back for a time enjoying the sun She spoke of her admiration for Giffords’ ‘tremendous, incredible courage’ and ‘the fact that she went through this obviously horrendous tragedy, and has recommitted herself to the political process. I think it's something that is really inspiring.’ She also said she would be very happy for Hillary Clinton to run for president in 2016, describing her 'an incredibly inspirational figure.’ Kennedy also confirmed that she would be keen to become an ambassador and she just waiting to be asked. 'I remain an incredibly strong supporter of the president, and you know I think service is important, and I would love to serve in any way,' she told This Morning. +35 Caroline lept thru one wave as she high footed it to shore before a larger one crashed behind her   By the time she dried off the sun had started to set after a gorgeous afternoon Caroline Kennedy and Tatiana, 22, packed up their tote bags and left the beach for after a long day +35 Democratic presidential candidate Kennedy shares a laugh with Obama and former U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy at a campaign rally in New Jersey in 2008