Childhood and Education Journey of Caroline Kennedy in Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Caroline Kennedy, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Caroline Kennedy is an American author, attorney, and diplomat. She served as the United States Ambassador to Japan from 2013 to 2017 and as the Ambassador to Australia from 2022 to 2024. As a member of the Kennedy family and the only surviving child of President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, she has largely dedicated her professional life to literature, law, politics, education reform, and charitable work.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1943: Father's Navy Incident

In 1943, Caroline Kennedy's father was in the navy when his ship was rammed and sunk by a Japanese destroyer.

1945: Atomic bombing of Nagasaki

In 1945, the city of Nagasaki was atomically bombed.

1945: Impact from the 1945 atomic bombing

In April 2015, Caroline Kennedy visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which displayed the impact from the 1945 atomic bombing.

November 27, 1957: Caroline Kennedy Born

On November 27, 1957, Caroline Bouvier Kennedy was born in the United States. She is the only living child of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

Others born on this day/year

1960: Her father was nominated by the Democratic Party for the presidency

In 1960, Caroline Kennedy's father was nominated by the Democratic Party for the presidency at the Democratic National Convention.

1960: Father Wins Presidential Election

In 1960, Caroline Kennedy's father won the presidential election and she spent her early childhood in the White House.

1960: Birth of Younger Brother

In 1960, Caroline Kennedy's younger brother, John Jr., was born two days before her third birthday.

November 22, 1963: Father's Assassination

On November 22, 1963, Caroline Kennedy's father, President John F. Kennedy, was assassinated.

1963: Death of Brother Patrick

In 1963, Caroline Kennedy's brother, Patrick, died two days after his premature birth.

1963: Father's Assassination and Move from White House

In 1963, following her father's assassination, Caroline Kennedy and her brother moved out of the White House with their mother.

1964: Namesake of Radio Caroline

In 1964, Caroline Kennedy was the namesake of the British pirate radio station Radio Caroline.

1967: Christening of USS John F. Kennedy

In 1967, Caroline Kennedy christened the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy in Newport News, Virginia.

1968: Robert F. Kennedy's Assassination

In 1968, following Robert F. Kennedy's assassination, Jacqueline Kennedy moved Caroline and her brother to Skorpios, a Greek island.

1970: Ted Kennedy as Godfather

In 1970, Ted Kennedy became Caroline Kennedy's godfather after the death of Robert Kennedy.

1971: Return to the White House

In 1971, Caroline Kennedy returned to the White House for the first time since her father's assassination, invited by President Richard Nixon.

March 1975: Death of Aristotle Onassis and Honor for Eunice Kennedy Shriver

In March 1975, Caroline Kennedy attended the funeral of Aristotle Onassis. Later that year, she and her family attended the presentation of the Legion of Honor award to her aunt, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, by French president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing.

1975: Graduation from Concord Academy

In 1975, Caroline Kennedy graduated from Concord Academy in Massachusetts.

1976: Photographer's Assistant at Winter Olympics

In 1976, Caroline Kennedy worked as a photographer's assistant at the Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria.

1977: Intern at New York Daily News

In 1977, Caroline Kennedy worked as a summer intern at the New York Daily News.

1978: Visited Hiroshima with Senator Ted Kennedy

In 1978, Caroline Kennedy visited Hiroshima with her uncle, Senator Ted Kennedy.

1980: Graduation from Radcliffe College

In 1980, Caroline Kennedy earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Radcliffe College in fine arts.

December 4, 1984: Bomb Threat at Metropolitan Museum of Art

On December 4, 1984, Caroline Kennedy was threatened when a man telephoned the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she worked, and reported that a bomb had been planted there.

1986: Marriage to Edwin Schlossberg

In 1986, Caroline Kennedy married designer Edwin Schlossberg at Manhattan's Metropolitan Museum of Art.

1988: Juris Doctor Degree

In 1988, Caroline Kennedy earned a Juris Doctor degree from Columbia Law School.

1988: Graduation from Columbia Law School

In 1988, Caroline Kennedy earned a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School, graduating in the top 10 percent of her class.

1988: Registered to vote in New York City

In 1988, Caroline Kennedy registered to vote in New York City. She was later criticized for not voting in a number of Democratic primaries and general elections since registering.

1988: Birth of Rose Kennedy Schlossberg

In 1988, Caroline Kennedy's first child, Rose Kennedy Schlossberg, was born.

1990: Birth of Tatiana Celia Kennedy Schlossberg

In 1990, Caroline Kennedy's second child, Tatiana Celia Kennedy Schlossberg, was born.

1993: Birth of John Bouvier Kennedy Schlossberg

In 1993, Caroline Kennedy's third child, John Bouvier Kennedy Schlossberg, known as Jack, was born.

1994: Death of Mother

In 1994, Caroline Kennedy's mother died.

1997: Represented Family at George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Dedication

In 1997, Caroline Kennedy represented her family at the dedication of the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library.

December 7, 1999: Attended Robin Hood Foundation annual breakfast

On December 7, 1999, Caroline Kennedy attended the Robin Hood Foundation annual breakfast. She spoke at the event about her brother, John Jr.'s, commitment to the organization.

1999: Death of John F. Kennedy Jr.

In 1999, Caroline Kennedy's brother, John F. Kennedy Jr., died in a plane crash, making her the only remaining survivor of President Kennedy's immediate family. She decided that his remains would be cremated and his ashes scattered into the Atlantic Ocean.

2000: Supported Al Gore for President and Spoke at Democratic National Convention

In 2000, Caroline Kennedy supported Al Gore for the presidency, mentioning a kinship due to their fathers' shared time in the Senate. She also spoke at the 2000 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, California.

2000: Dick Cheney headed George W. Bush's vice presidential vetting committee

In 2000, Dick Cheney headed George W. Bush's vice presidential vetting committee, before being chosen for the role himself.

November 2004: Represented Family at Bill Clinton Presidential Center Dedication

In November 2004, Caroline Kennedy represented her family at the dedication of the Bill Clinton Presidential Center and Park in Little Rock, Arkansas.

2006: Contributed to Hillary Clinton's Senatorial Campaign

In 2006, Caroline Kennedy contributed a total of $5,000 to Hillary Clinton's senatorial campaign.

June 29, 2007: Contributed to Hillary Clinton's Presidential Campaign

On June 29, 2007, Caroline Kennedy contributed $2,300 to the Hillary Rodham Clinton presidential campaign committee.

September 18, 2007: Contributed to Barack Obama's Presidential Campaign

On September 18, 2007, Caroline Kennedy contributed $2,300 to Barack Obama's presidential campaign committee.

January 27, 2008: Endorsed Barack Obama for President

On January 27, 2008, Caroline Kennedy announced in a New York Times op-ed piece that she would endorse Barack Obama in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, expressing that he inspired her in a way similar to her father.

2008: Estimated Net Worth

In 2008, the New York Daily News estimated Caroline Kennedy's net worth at over $100 million.

2010: Re-election of Okinawa's governor, Hirokazu Nakaima

In 2010, Okinawa's governor, Hirokazu Nakaima, was re-elected in opposition to the American military base.

June 27, 2012: Campaigned for Obama's Re-election in New Hampshire

On June 27, 2012, Caroline Kennedy campaigned in Nashua and Manchester, New Hampshire, for the re-election of President Obama.

August 28, 2013: Attended 50th Anniversary Ceremony of the March on Washington

On August 28, 2013, Caroline Kennedy attended the 50th-anniversary ceremony of the March on Washington.

December 2013: Visited Nagasaki and met with atomic bombing survivors

In December 2013, Caroline Kennedy visited Nagasaki to meet with survivors of the 1945 atomic bombing of that city.

2013: Financial Disclosure Reports

During her 2013 nomination to serve as ambassador to Japan, financial disclosure reports showed Caroline Kennedy's net worth to be between $278 million and $500 million.

February 2014: Visited Okinawa and faced protests against American military presence

In February 2014, Caroline Kennedy visited Okinawa, Japan, and faced protests against the American military presence. She later met with Okinawa's governor and pledged to reduce the burden of the American military presence.

August 5, 2014: Attended memorial ceremony for Hiroshima atomic bombing victims

On August 5, 2014, Caroline Kennedy attended a memorial ceremony for victims of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. She was the second U.S. ambassador to attend the annual memorial.

April 2015: Visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and planted dogwood trees

In April 2015, Caroline Kennedy visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and called her visit a "solemn honor". Kennedy also planted dogwood trees on a road, participating in a U.S. project to spread 3,000 dogwood trees across Japan.

August 6, 2015: Attended Memorial for Hiroshima Atomic Bombing

On August 6, 2015, Caroline Kennedy accompanied US Under Secretary of State Rose Gottemoeller to the memorial for the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan. It marked the 70th anniversary of the bombing.

December 7, 2019: Christened CVN-79

On December 7, 2019, Caroline Kennedy christened CVN-79, the 78th anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor.

2020: Possible candidate for the 2020 Presidential primaries

In 2020, there was media speculation that Caroline Kennedy might become a possible candidate for the Presidential primaries and election, but this did not come to pass.

July 2022: Calling out a Male Journalist

In July 2022, at her arrival press conference, Caroline Kennedy called out a male journalist for speaking over a female reporter.

August 2023: Suggestion Regarding Julian Assange Extradition

In August 2023, Caroline Kennedy suggested the potential for "resolution" and a plea bargain deal to resolve the extradition proceedings of journalist Julian Assange from the United Kingdom to the United States.

January 2025: Public Opposition to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

In January 2025, Caroline Kennedy publicly spoke out against her cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, labeling him a "predator" in a letter and video to US senators.