Analysis
The quoted statement closely matches Onassis’s words in a **December 6, 1963** *Life* magazine interview, where she said: *“The one thing I can do now is to try to live as quietly as possible and bring up my children in the way Jack would have wanted.”* The phrasing aligns with her documented grief and public remarks during that period. Minor variations (e.g., “the only thing” vs. “the one thing”) are stylistic but do not alter the core meaning. Historical accounts and biographies (e.g., *Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations*) confirm her focus on privacy and her children post-assassination.
Background
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis gave limited public statements after President John F. Kennedy’s assassination on **November 22, 1963**. Her *Life* interview, conducted just days later, was one of her first substantive comments and reflected her intent to shield her children (Caroline and John Jr.) from media scrutiny. This period marked her withdrawal from public life, later reinforced by her move to New York City in 1964.
Verdict summary
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis made a nearly identical statement in *Life* magazine shortly after JFK’s assassination, corroborated by multiple reputable sources.