In 1950, Jackie had met a writer working for the Paris Review named Tom Guinzburg. Twenty-five years later, he was president of Viking Press. Guinzburg offered Jackie a job as an editor, in part because of her love and knowledge of literature, and partly because of her wealth of contacts.

Jackie accepted and started work in September 1975, earning $10,000 a year and working four days a week. Her coworkers found her to be down-to-earth and accessible. Jackie immersed herself into the work, finding it intellectually stimulating and creatively fulfilling.

Viking Press editors Bryan Holme and Jackie Onassis look over their book, In the Russian Style, 1977

Photo Credit: Alfred Eisenstaedt/ Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images