Now, I think that I should have known that he [JFK] was magic all along. But you see, things like that, when they’re real, they’re so simple that you don’t even notice them.

Analysis

The quote appears verbatim in the **John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum’s** official transcript of Jacqueline Kennedy’s 1964 oral history interviews, conducted just months after JFK’s assassination. The interviews were sealed for decades but released in 2011, confirming the authenticity of the passage. The phrasing aligns with Kennedy’s reflective, intimate tone throughout the interviews, particularly when discussing her husband’s public persona. No credible evidence suggests misattribution or fabrication.

Background

In early 1964, Jacqueline Kennedy participated in a series of interviews with historian and JFK aide **Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.**, aiming to preserve her memories of the administration. The interviews were part of a broader oral history project for the Kennedy Library but remained private until 2011 due to their personal nature. This specific remark underscores her perspective on JFK’s charisma as an almost imperceptible, innate quality.

Verdict summary

The quoted statement is accurately attributed to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis from her 1964 oral history interviews with Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.

Sources consulted