Mary Barelli Gallagher, personal secretary to Jacqueline Kennedy during her years in the White House, recalls the summer of 1953 to be suddenly the season for weddings in the Kennedy family. The first wedding was Eunice Kennedy, sister of John F. Kennedy, in May to Sergeant Shriver. Everyone in Senator John F. Kennedy’s office received an invitation. The ceremony was just beautiful and held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York with a reception to follow at the Waldorf-Astoria. Mary recalls the most dominant song during the wedding to be “April in Portugal.” It became a song Mrs. Gallagher would always remember Eunice when she heard it. At this time, Mrs. Gallagher was single and it was the first time she ever drank pink champagne that flowed beautifully from several magnificent fountains.

Mary remembers Eunice as the Kennedy sister the office secretaries at Senator’s Kennedy’s office saw the most of. She came into the office often always with some message or other for the Senator, asking the girls to get so-and-so on the line for her and then right back out the door as fast as she flashed in. Her personality was a lot like Senator Kennedy’s in that she was quick and fast-talking and had a solution to every problem. It is well known that the Kennedy family was noted for their wealth; however, it always surprised Mary Gallagher to see Eunice with her hair flying and like her brother, John, totally unconcerned about clothes. Mary noted Eunice sometimes even had runs in her stockings or run-down heels. Nonetheless her quick visits to the Senator’s office always seemed to have an exhilarating effect on the entire office staff. I feel a bit like Mary; one would think with all their money, the secretaries would have the pleasure of seeing Eunice flash in with some really nice outfits on, shoes and stockings to match, and a nice little purse as well.

In September, The Senator’s own spectacular wedding to Jacqueline Bouvier took place at Newport, Rhode Island. Of course, Mary Barelli Gallagher was there and the Senator extended invitations to everyone in the office to attend his wedding to Jackie on the 12th of September. Nobody in the Senator’s office would have dreamed of missing it, and as Mary put it, “even if we had to travel by donkey cart.”

Driving to the wedding was no easy task. Mary and a couple of girls from the office managed a ride to the church that morning with Larry O’Brien and his wife. Larry O’Brien had been one of the Senator’s campaign managers. Mary described mobs of people inside and outside of the church when she arrived. She wondered if she was going to a County Fair or to a wedding. Mary had one of the best seats right on the aisle for a close view of Jackie and her bridal party as they passed by. All eyes were upon Jackie as she walked down the aisle on the arm of her stepfather, Hugh D. Auchincloss. It was such a shame that Jackie’s father, Jack Bouvier, was unable to participate in the wedding ceremony with his daughter. He had come to Newport and was at a hotel waiting for the big moment, but had become too ill to participate.

Mrs. Gallagher watched Jackie as she walked with head held high and heard the admiring gasps, even in this sophisticated assembly of people. Her gown was spectacular, the color was eggshell silk taffeta, with an off-the shoulder neckline and little cap sleeves. The wide skirt on the wedding gown fell from a tightly fitted waist. There were circles of ruffles, row on row, on the huge bouffant skirt.

There was a moment of drama when Senator John Kennedy’s brother, Bobby, seemed to not be able to find the ring. He searched frantically, then found it, and all continued to go well.

Continued in Part 2

Source: “My Life with Jacqueline Kennedy” written by her personal secretary, Mary Barelli Gallagher

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