Janet Norton Lee Bouvier Auchincloss Morris
Encyclopedia
Janet Morris (December 3, 1907 – July 22, 1989) was an American socialite
. She was the mother of former United States
First Lady
Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis and Lee Radziwill
. She often stood in for her daughter Jacqueline as hostess for official White House
functions.
She was born as Janet Norton Lee, the daughter of James Thomas Lee (October 2, 1877 – January 3, 1968) and Margaret A. Merritt (1878 – February 26, 1943). Lee studied at Sweet Briar College
and later at Vassar College
, but did not graduate from either institution. Her paternal grandfather, Dr. James Lee, was a superintendent of the New York City
public school system, although Janet Bouvier preferred to tell people that he was a Maryland
-born veteran of the United States Civil War. She had two sisters: Winifred Norton Lee (Mrs. Franklin d'Olier) and Marion Norton Lee (Mrs. John J. Ryan Jr.).
She married three times. Her first husband was John Vernou Bouvier III
, also known as "Black Jack", allegedly for his swarthy coloring. They were married on July 7, 1928, and had two daughters: Jacqueline Lee (1929–1994) and Caroline Lee
(b. March 3, 1933). "Black Jack" Bouvier's womanizing and drinking led to a separation in 1936, a brief reconciliation for a few months in 1937, and then a divorce in 1940.
Janet's second husband was Hugh D. Auchincloss, Jr.
, an attorney and Standard Oil
heir; she was his third wife. They were married on June 21, 1942, and had two children: Janet Jennings Auchincloss Rutherfurd
(1945–1985), who briefly dated John Kerry
, the 2004 Democratic Presidential candidate, while she was a student at Miss Porter's; and James Lee Auchincloss, born in 1947.
Her third marriage, after Auchincloss' death, was to Bingham "Booch" Morris on October 25, 1979. Though they separated in 1981, the marriage lasted until her death eight years later, aged 81, from complications arising from Alzheimer's disease
, in Newport, Rhode Island
. Coincidentally, she died on Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy
's 99th birthday.
Socialite
A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
. She was the mother of former United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
First Lady
First Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States is the title of the hostess of the White House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a sitting president. The current first lady is Michelle Obama.-Current:The...
Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis and Lee Radziwill
Lee Radziwill
Caroline Lee Bouvier Canfield Radziwill Ross best known as Lee Radziwill, is an American socialite, public relations executive, and former actress and interior decorator. She is the younger sister of the late First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis...
. She often stood in for her daughter Jacqueline as hostess for official White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
functions.
She was born as Janet Norton Lee, the daughter of James Thomas Lee (October 2, 1877 – January 3, 1968) and Margaret A. Merritt (1878 – February 26, 1943). Lee studied at Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar College is a liberal arts women's college in Sweet Briar, Virginia, about north of Lynchburg, Virginia. The school's Latin motto translates as: "She who has earned the rose may bear it."...
and later at Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
, but did not graduate from either institution. Her paternal grandfather, Dr. James Lee, was a superintendent of the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
public school system, although Janet Bouvier preferred to tell people that he was a Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
-born veteran of the United States Civil War. She had two sisters: Winifred Norton Lee (Mrs. Franklin d'Olier) and Marion Norton Lee (Mrs. John J. Ryan Jr.).
She married three times. Her first husband was John Vernou Bouvier III
John Vernou Bouvier III
John Vernou "Black Jack" Bouvier III was an American socialite and Wall Street stockbroker. He was the father of former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Princess Lee Radziwill...
, also known as "Black Jack", allegedly for his swarthy coloring. They were married on July 7, 1928, and had two daughters: Jacqueline Lee (1929–1994) and Caroline Lee
Lee Radziwill
Caroline Lee Bouvier Canfield Radziwill Ross best known as Lee Radziwill, is an American socialite, public relations executive, and former actress and interior decorator. She is the younger sister of the late First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis...
(b. March 3, 1933). "Black Jack" Bouvier's womanizing and drinking led to a separation in 1936, a brief reconciliation for a few months in 1937, and then a divorce in 1940.
Janet's second husband was Hugh D. Auchincloss, Jr.
Hugh D. Auchincloss
Hugh Dudley Auchincloss, Jr. was an American stockbroker and lawyer who became the second husband of Janet Lee Bouvier, the mother of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.-Biography:...
, an attorney and Standard Oil
Standard Oil
Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870 as a corporation in Ohio, it was the largest oil refiner in the world and operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational...
heir; she was his third wife. They were married on June 21, 1942, and had two children: Janet Jennings Auchincloss Rutherfurd
Janet Jennings Auchincloss Rutherfurd
Janet Auchincloss Rutherfurd was an American socialite and half-sister to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Lee Radziwill....
(1945–1985), who briefly dated John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
, the 2004 Democratic Presidential candidate, while she was a student at Miss Porter's; and James Lee Auchincloss, born in 1947.
Her third marriage, after Auchincloss' death, was to Bingham "Booch" Morris on October 25, 1979. Though they separated in 1981, the marriage lasted until her death eight years later, aged 81, from complications arising from Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
, in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
. Coincidentally, she died on Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy
Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy
Rose Elizabeth Kennedy was the wife of Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. and the mother of nine children, among them United States President John F. Kennedy, United States Senator Robert F...
's 99th birthday.
Further reading
- Janet and Jackie: The Story of a Mother and Her Daughter, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, by Jan Pottke.
- "Obituary of James Thomas Lee", New York Times, January 4, 1968.