Nancy Tuckerman

Nancy Ludlow Tuckerman (October 24, 1928 – August 1, 2018) was the White House Social Secretary during the Kennedy administration. After the Kennedy assassination, she remained the personal secretary to Jackie Kennedy until the latter's death in 1994.

Nancy Tuckerman
White House Official Portrait, 1963
12th White House Social Secretary
In office 1963–1963
Appointed by	Jacqueline Kennedy
Preceded by	Letitia Baldrige
Succeeded by	Bess Abell
Personal details
Born	Nancy Ludlow Tuckerman October 24, 1928 Manhattan, New York, U.S.
Died	August 1, 2018 (aged 89) Salisbury, Connecticut, U.S.

Early life

Tuckerman (nicknamed "Tucky") was the daughter of Betty (née Thompson; 1901-1977)[1] and Roger Tuckerman (1898-1967). She grew up in Southampton, New York and Farmington, Connecticut. Her father was a successful Manhattan stockbroker. Her aunt (her father's sister) was the decorator Dorothy Draper.[2]

She had a sister, Cynthia Tuckerman Gay (died 2014) and a brother, Roger Tuckerman. Her nephew John Gay Jr., married Deborah Hearst, of the Hearst family. Her brother Roger was married to Caryn Ryan, daughter of businessman Clendenin J. Ryan. She was also related to Walter Tuckerman.[3] Her great-great-great grandfather was Oliver Wolcott, the 19th Governor of Connecticut.[4]

Jackie Bouvier and Tuckerman met as 8 or 9 year olds at the Chapin School in New York City. Their families spent summers together on Long Island.[5] They later were roommates at Miss Porter's Boarding School in Connecticut before becoming debutantes. Tuckerman was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Bouvier and John F. Kennedy in 1953.

Career

Tuckerman started her own travel business before being asked by Jackie Kennedy to work for her in the White House after her husband was elected president. In 1963, Jackie Kennedy threw a surprise 35th birthday party for Tuckerman at the White House.[6][7]

When John F. Kennedy was assassinated, Tuckerman was responsible for responding to the thousands of letters that poured into the White House as condolences for Jackie Kennedy.[8] These letters are now collectors items and are signed by Tuckerman. After leaving the White House, she remained the personal secretary to Jackie Kennedy until the latter's death in 1994. Tuckerman's personal papers reflecting her time in the White House were released in 2015 and are known as the Nancy Tuckerman Files within the Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis Personal Papers .[9][10][11] In 1994, Tuckerman was left 250,000 U.S. dollars in Jackie Kennedy's last will and testament.[12][13]

In the 1970s, Tuckerman worked in public relations for Olympic Airways, which was owned by Aristotle Onassis; in that role, she helped develop the first New York City Marathon. She also co-authored a revised edition of Amy Vanderbilt’s Complete Book of Etiquette in 1995. A private person, she apparently never gave an interview or wrote a book about her relationship with Jackie Kennedy Onassis.[14] She lived her retirement in Salisbury, Connecticut.[15][16]

In the 2016 biographical film Jackie, Tuckerman is portrayed by actress Greta Gerwig.

Death

Tuckerman died on August 1, 2018, of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, at an assisted-living center in Salisbury, Connecticut. She was 89.[17]

References

1. Betty Tuckerman New York Times Obituary accessed 10/26/2016
2. Southampton History accessed 10/26/2016
3. Ms. Hearst, New York Times 1989 accessed 10/26/2016
4. Elizabeth Wolcott Tuckerman obituary accessed 10/26/2016
6. Nancy Tuckerman Files Released accessed 10/26/2016
7. Dear Miss Kennedy accessed 10/26/2016
8. Nancy Tuckerman 1964 interview transcript accessed 10/26/2016
9. First Lady No More accessed 10/26/2016
10. Video Message from Nancy Tuckerman accessed 10/26/2016
11. Nancy Tuckerman press release accessed 10/26/2016
12. Friend of a Lifetime accessed 10/26/2016
13. Nancy Tuckerman Photo Archive accessed 10/26/2016
15. Polite Answers to Rude Questions accessed 10/26/2016
16. Jackie Kennedy Will Archived 2019-04-30 at the Wayback Machine accessed 10/26/2016
17. Genzlinger, Neil (August 5, 2018). "Nancy Tuckerman, 89, Trusted Aide of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved August 6, 2018.