Maurice Tempelsman: Jackie Kennedy’s final partner

From Camelot to Aristotle Onassis—and Beyond

Jackie acquired titles 1 aft another. As the woman of John F. Kennedy, the astir celebrated subordinate of the Camelot dynasty, she became First Lady of the United States—and the world’s astir stylish woman. After his assassination, she was remembered arsenic the nation’s grieving widow, a fig of immense dignity and fascination. A fewer years later, determined to rebuild her life—and unafraid her finances—she joined the era’s “King Midas,” shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis.

When destiny near her a widow for a 2nd time, Jackie entered a caller chapter. Having already had a president and a tycoon, she recovered successful Maurice Tempelsman a 3rd benignant of figure: a diamond mogul who became her confidant, companion, and, ultimately, her top root of stability.

A Quiet Presence

Unlike her different partners, Tempelsman avoided the spotlight. Known arsenic courteous, discreet, and calming, helium disliked ostentation but was ne'er dull. Above all, helium remained the guardian of Jackie’s secrets until the end. Their relationship and eventual romance stayed hidden for years. The nationalist archetypal caught upwind of their narration successful the precocious 1980s, but the 2 had known each different for implicit 25 years.

Tempelsman, who died successful August astatine the property of 95 pursuing complications from a fall, had archetypal entered Jackie’s ellipse during the Kennedy White House years. He served arsenic a liaison betwixt Washington and the South African diamond manufacture earlier JFK’s election. Even aft Kennedy’s assassination and Jackie’s matrimony to Onassis, the 2 remained successful contact, often appearing unneurotic astatine operas and New York foundation galas.

Only aft Onassis’ decease successful 1975 did their enslaved deepen. By then, Jackie was moving arsenic an exertion astatine Viking Press and had settled into a spacious Fifth Avenue flat with her children, Caroline and John Jr. Trusting him completely, she asked Tempelsman to negociate the $26 cardinal inheritance she received from the Onassis estate.

A Trusted Partner

Jackie recovered successful Tempelsman not a antheral anxious to exploit her wealthiness oregon fame, but a spouse she could trust on. He was already immensely wealthy. Born successful Belgium successful 1929 to a Jewish household that fled Nazi occupation, helium began moving successful his father’s diamond concern astatine 16. By 20, helium had persuaded the U.S. authorities to get ample stocks of African diamonds, rapidly becoming a millionaire.

He was soon admitted to the exclusive ellipse of merchants authorized to bargain straight from De Beers. Throughout the 2nd fractional of the 20th century, helium built adjacent ties with African leaders—including Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire—and often acted arsenic a behind-the-scenes mediator betwixt Washington and African governments. The New York Times noted his enactment for liberation movements, including his relation successful organizing Nelson Mandela’s archetypal sojourn to Washington successful 1990.

Jackie and Tempelsman shared overmuch successful common: some calved successful 1929, some fluent successful French, some supporters of the Democratic Party, some passionate astir art, literature, and poetry. Unlike Kennedy and Onassis, Tempelsman neither sought publicity nor felt threatened by Jackie’s luminous reputation. She admired, supra all, his “strength and success.”

Though officially inactive joined to his woman Lily, with whom helium had 3 children, Tempelsman moved into Jackie’s flat successful the aboriginal 1980s. “She adored him, and I deliberation helium brought her existent peace,” a adjacent person aboriginal recalled.

At Her Side to the End

In January 1994, Jackie was diagnosed with lymphoma. Tempelsman stayed by her broadside done chemotherapy, holding her manus and comforting her. “He was ever touching her manus oregon caressing her cheek,” 1 doc remembered. “The emotion and respect they shared was rare.”

Jackie died astatine location connected May 19, 1994, surrounded by Caroline, John Jr., and Maurice. Three days later, adjacent friends and household gathered astatine her Fifth Avenue flat to wage their last respects earlier the funeral. That morning, Tempelsman sat beside her coffin, which was turned toward the expansive fireplace successful the surviving room, softly speechmaking the Sunday papers—just arsenic they had done unneurotic for astir 15 years.