Jacqueline Kennedy created JFK's legacy shortly after his death in an interview for an issue of Life magazine, written by Theodore White. Speaking of the legacy of JFK's presidency, she said: "There will be great presidents again, but there will never be another Camelot.” This established his legacy as the greatest president ever. She mentioned Camelot repeatedly, saying that the Broadway musical Camelot was one of JFK's favorites.
White wrote a draft of his article and sent it to his editors over the phone. Initially, they disliked the Camelot metaphor and rejected to include it in the article. However, Onassis was listening to the phone call and pressed the inclusion of "Camelot", which the editors soon obliged to. White later wrote that he deeply regretted including this metaphor, because of the vast transmission of this myth to the public.
The Camelot metaphor proved to be extremely influential in memorializing JFK in history. It vastly improved most Americans' image of him as a President. Onassis' quote "There will be great presidents again, but there will never be another Camelot," insinuated that Kennedy was the best yet and the best to come, which, ultimately had both positive and negative effects on the country.
One reason that Camelot was not necessarily the best was that in inaccurately portrayed JFK. During his time in office, he was a practical liberal, who would "pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty." His policies, both foreign and domestic, were always logical and practical. His outlook on the world and politics was not that of an idealist. However, the Camelot metaphor was idyllic and painted him as a hopeful who believed that heroes made history. It far more accurately represented the ideas of Onassis than the ideas of JFK.
The Camelot was also problematic that it insinuated that JFK was the best yet to come. It made many people lose hope in the idea of progress because they believed that the best had already happened. This greatly diminished the power of the liberal agenda, who had, according to many inside and outside the party, seen its best days. This ultimately led, in part, to the election of Nixon in 1968, as many were looking for hope in face of liberal stagnancy.
Despite the present-day lukewarm analysis of Onassis' Camelot metaphor, her commitment to preserving the life and legacy of JFK is admirable. Through her work, JFK was established as one of the greatest presidents of the modern era.
Sources:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-jackie-kennedy-invented-the-camelot-legend-after-jfks-death
https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/john_f_kennedy_114918
https://nypost.com/2013/11/10/inventing-camelot-how-jackie-kennedy-shaped-her-husbands-legacy/
Great post Teag! It may be helpful to add what Camelot is and the meaning that associates with JFK. Camelot was a story around the legends of King Arthur and medieval times. Essentially, during the kingdom of Camelot: truth, goodness, and beauty reigned. However this a kingdom like this was never seen again and this is why Kennedy's administration was compared to Camelot
ReplyDeleteTeagan, this was a wonderful and interesting post! I find it so fascinating how much of an impact that one speech had on the legacy on the president. I wonder if the Camelot metaphor had been used as a farewell address for Kennedy, if he had not been assassinated, if he would have been remembered as fondly. I also find the fact that presidents who die in office are the some of the most well remembered, Abraham Lincoln and President McKinley, and that these events seem to shape the future of the United States. Thanks for such a great post!
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