Third Thursday: A Widow’s Work—Jacqueline Kennedy and the JFK Legacy

Third Thursday: A Widow’s Work – Jacqueline Kennedy and the JFK Legacy

🗓️ Thursday, November 20, 2025

🕡 6:30 PM ET |

📍 In-Person at the National First Ladies Library & Museum

🎟️ $25.00 (includes wine and cheese reception)

About the Program: In the aftermath of an unthinkable national tragedy, Jacqueline Kennedy guided a grieving nation through mourning – while shaping one of the most powerful presidential legacies in American history.

Join us for this poignant Third Thursday evening as Dr. Karen Dunak, author of Our Jackie: Public Claims on a Private Life, presents an intimate exploration of Jackie Kennedy’s efforts to memorialize President John F. Kennedy. From funeral arrangements and his burial at Arlington Cemetery to her iconic Life magazine interview, Mrs. Kennedy’s intentional use of ceremony, symbolism, and media redefined how Americans remember the man – and the moment.

🌟 Topics Include:

• White House mourning and national ritual
• Jackie Kennedy’s influence on JFK’s burial and symbolism
• The creation of “Camelot” through the press
• Public grief, private strength, and legacy building

About the Speaker: Dr. Karen Dunak is a Professor of American History at Muskingum University and a nationally recognized scholar of gender, culture, and memory. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, Salon, Gender & History, and more.

Don’t miss this moving and meaningful evening of history, memory, and legacy.

🎟️ Limited seating available—register now.

NOTE: Doors open at 6:00 pm; program begins at 6:30 pm. Free parking is available – learn more at . 

Third Thursdays is Generously Sponsored by Employers Health

Host or Publisher First Ladies National Historic Site | National First Ladies' Library