How Did JFK Really Propose to Jackie Kennedy?

Former president John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, changed American politics—and culture, for that matter—forever. Though their years in the White House were tragically short-lived, they brought youth, art, and glamour to the Oval Office, which is why the country’s “Camelot” era is still considered one of the most iconic periods in American history. Before JFK became the nation’s 35th president, however, he and Jackie were building a legacy of their own. So how did this beloved duo get together in the first place—and how did the future president ultimately propose to his soon-to-be first lady? The answer depends on who you ask: As you’re about to discover, there are several theories surrounding how JFK popped the question.

The pair’s origin story, on the other hand, is clearer. Like many couples, JFK and Jackie met through friends and were introduced at a party in 1951; Jackie, who was working as a reporter at the time, later interviewed her future husband, then a young senator, as part of her “Inquiring Camera Girl” beat. The two began dating shortly thereafter and got engaged in 1953. Ahead, we explain how that proposal might have unfolded.

JFK and Jackie Kennedy’s Proposal Story: Two Main Theories

Believe it or not, there are two relatively credible stories about JFK and Jackie’s engagement—but the most frequently cited one alleges that the then-future president proposed to his soon-to-be wife at a tavern in Washington, D.C., called Martin’s on June 24, 1953. The establishment now considers Booth #3 to be the site of JFK’s proposal, and describes it as such: Dubbed the “Proposal Booth,” the table is even marked with a plaque commemorating the special occasion. This theory, however, isn’t just here say—an eyewitness claims to have watched the romantic moment unfold. According to Axios D.C., former Nixon staffer Marion Smoak confirmed that he was there when JFK popped the question—and members of the Kennedy family continue to frequent the tavern today.

As for the other theory? Some claim the JFK and Jackie got engaged at Parker’s, a restaurant in Boston’s Omni Hotel; the hotel even has an entire page on their website dedicated to the moment, complete with a play-by-play. Per the Omni, JFK pulled out a velvet box (with his bride’s iconic engagement ring inside) and got down on one knee at table 40 to ask Jackie to marry him. The table has been a favorite date night spot for in-love duos ever since.

While the jury is still out as to where and how the couple actually got engaged, JFK frequented both establishments—so it’s entirely possible he did pop the question at one of them. What we do know for certain, however, is that he gave his future wife a diamond and emerald toi et moi engagement ring from Van Cleef & Arpels, though the timing of when he slipped it onto her finger is also unclear. Some say he had the ring on hand when he got down on one knee; others claim that the pair picked it out together; and others still say JFK’s father, Joseph Kennedy, played a hand in choosing the piece, which was reportedly purchased at the jewelry house’s flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City, per Edward Klein’s All Too Human: The Love Story of Jack and Jackie Kennedy.

The Aftermath of JFK and Jackie Kennedy’s Engagement

According to History.com, the pair shared the happy news with the world on June 25, 1953, and were married just under three months later, on September 12, 1953, at St. Mary’s Church in Newport, Rhode Island. Jackie wore an ivory silk wedding dress by Ann Lowe, paired with a rose-point lace veil and pearls, for the occasion. The duo’s guest list was downright massive: “As John F. Kennedy took Jacqueline Bouvier as his bride, 600 diplomats, senators, and social figures crowded into St. Mary’s Church to hear the Archbishop of Boston perform the rites and read a special blessing from the pope,” Life magazine photographer Lisa Larsen said of the massive event. “Outside, 2,000 society fans, some come to Newport by chartered bus, cheered the guests and the newlyweds as they left the church. There were 900 guests at the reception and it took Senator and Mrs. Kennedy two hours to shake their hands. The whole affair, said one enthusiastic guest, was ‘just like a coronation.’”

The pair went on to raise two children, Caroline and John F. Kennedy, Jr., both born before the family moved into the White House. JFK took office in 1961 and was tragically assassinated in November 1963. In 1968, Jackie remarried, tying the knot with Greek shipping heir Aristotle Onassis. Jackie’s original toi et moi ring is currently held at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, where it is occasionally put on display.