# Ethel Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy's Special Bond

> Ethel Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy shared a deep friendship through their shared history and support during tough times.
- Title: Ethel Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy's Special Bond · Vanity Fair
- Summary: Ethel Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy shared a deep friendship through their shared history and support during tough times. Ethel Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy…
- Keywords: ethel kennedy, jackie kennedy, kennedy family, catholic faith, horse hobby, interior design, lymphoma treatment, hospice care, Ethel, Kennedy, Jackie, Kennedy's
- Source: Vanity Fair — https://vanityfair.com/story/ethel-jackie-kennedy-friendship
- Author: Kerry Kennedy
- Published: 2026-10-13T19:22:24.786+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ethel kennedy, jackie kennedy, kennedy family, catholic faith, horse hobby, interior design, lymphoma treatment, hospice care
## Ethel Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy's Early Friendship
Ethel Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy met when Uncle Jack brought Jackie to their Georgetown home in 1953.

> S Street was the smallest house you’ve ever seen in your whole life, teeny tiny
## Their Shared Interests and Bond
They shared a deep Catholic faith, loved horses, interior design, and both were close to Kennedy brothers.

> I liked Jackie a lot. She was fun, and really funny, a wonderful wit.
## Engagement and Wedding Celebrations
They engaged in 1953 after a scavenger hunt where Ethel and Pat won with a borrowed bus.

> It isn’t a party unless the police are called.
## Marriage and Early Life Together
Ethel Kennedy was bridesmaid when Uncle Jack and Jackie married in Newport, Rhode Island on September 12, 1953.
## Support During Hard Times
They supported each other through the deaths of their husbands and Jackie’s cancer treatment in 1994.

> A baby present for you, not Douglas. It is absolutely useless, but it comes with much, much love, Jackie.
## Final Moments of Connection
Ethel visited Jackie in her Fifth Avenue apartment as she died from lymphoma in 1994.

> She was receiving hospice care by then and was barely conscious when we came into her bedroom.
## Lasting Legacy of Their Friendship
Their bond endured through decades of shared history and mutual support despite different personalities.
## Key takeaway

Ethel Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy maintained a strong bond despite their different personalities, supporting each other through personal tragedies.