Tag: News

• Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis lived all over, from New York apartments to East Coast mansions.
• She said her family's "happiest years" were those spent with President John F. Kennedy in the White House.
• Here are all of the impressive places she lived in and owned in her lifetime.

Throughout her life, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis has lived in grand estates and luxury apartments, including the White House when her husband, President John F. Kennedy, served as president.

She grew up in spacious New York apartments and several-acre estates, and after her marriage, she spent her summers at the famed Kennedy Compound and winters on the family's estate in Palm Beach. Though out of all the impressive properties she has resided in, she said her family's "happiest years" were those spent with her husband in the White House.

Here are all of the impressive places she lived in and owned in her lifetime.

Before she was a Kennedy or an Onassis, Jacqueline Lee Bouvier spent her early years in New York City.

In 1932, the Bouviers moved into an apartment on the sixth and seventh floors of 740 Park Avenue.

The apartment building was developed by her grandfather, James T. Lee. At least for a period, her father couldn't afford to furnish it so Jackie and her sister could roller skate from room to room.

The apartment building later became a home for billionaires and was once considered one of the most iconic apartment buildings in the city.

In 2017, her old apartment sold for $25.25 million.

In the 1940s, Bouvier's mother remarried, and they left New York.

They moved into a Georgian-style mansion called "Merrywood" in McLean, Virginia, in Washington, DC.

The mansion, which was built in 1919, sits on the edge of the Potomac River and covers 23,000 square feet.

Bouvier's mother had married an oil magnate named Hugh D. Auchincloss, who owned the mansion.

At the time, it had nine bedrooms and 13 bathrooms, as well as an extensive garden. 

Bouvier wrote fondly about the house in her diary, saying, "I always love it so at Merrywood — so peaceful … with the river and those great steep hills."

Bouvier spent her summers at her paternal grandfather's East Hampton estate called "Lasata," which means "place of peace," in the native Algonquian language.

The house, which was 8,500 square feet, was built in 1917 and sat on about seven acres.

Earlier this year, the fashion designer, Tom Ford, bought it for $52 million.

She also spent some of her summers at her maternal grandfather's house in East Hampton called "Wildmoor."

The 18th-century home, covering about 5,700 square feet, was a shingle-and-clapboard wooden house with a view of fields, a swamp, and the sea, The Wall Street Journal reported.

In 2021, the house was sold for $6.8 million.

Her next notable property was the Kennedy family's summer home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.

Joseph Kennedy Sr., John F. Kennedy's father, bought a white-shingled cottage in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, for $25,000 — about $450,000 today. The coastal Massachusetts cottage became the Kennedy family's home base for years to come.

Before they were married, Bouvier and John F. Kennedy spent some time together there, which later became known as the "Kennedy Compound."

The Kennedys bought the house in 1928, Town and Country reported.

In 1953, Bouvier became a Kennedy when the couple married in Newport, Rhode Island.

They had the wedding reception at her mother's husband's sprawling estate, known as "Hammersmith Farm," anchored by a grand, 28-room Victorian-era mansion.

The property was last sold in 1999 for just over $8 million.

The estate became a part-time summer home for the Kennedys, along with the Kennedy Compound.

Jackie Kennedy spent summers on the estate during her childhood, and the Kennedys later vacationed there in the summer of 1961.

In 1953, not long after the Kennedys were married, they rented a four-story, four-bedroom house in Georgetown at 3321 Dent Place.

The Kennedys lived there for almost two years.

They enjoyed throwing dinner parties and spending time in its back gardens.

The house is about 3,000 square feet.

Two years later, in 1955, the Kennedys moved to "Hickory Hill," another Georgian-style house.

This one was built in 1815 and had a tennis court, a pool, and 12 fireplaces on a 5.6-acre plot in McLean, Virginia.

They bought it from Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson.

Two years later, the Kennedys sold it for $250,000 to John's brother, Robert, who would end up raising his own family there.

Jackie didn't want to go back after her daughter was stillborn.

Robert Kennedy was at the house when he heard John had been assassinated, the Baltimore Sun reported. He spent an hour alone, walking around the estate.

In 1956, the Kennedys bought a summer home at 111 Irving Avenue in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, right beside the original Kennedy summer home.

The 4,484-square-foot clapboarded home sat on less than an acre of land and soon became part of the "Kennedy Compound."

They spent $45,948 on the house.

In 1957, the Kennedys bought 3307 N Street, an 18th-century brick row house in Georgetown, for $82,000.

Jackie spent about $18,000 on remodeling it, and she decorated the house with armchairs and good porcelain.

Her husband campaigned and was elected president during their years here, Architectural Digest reported.

Though not officially a property she owned, Jackie lived in the White House with her family during her husband's presidency from 1961 to the end of 1963.

She later described this period as her family's "happiest years," The Daily Beast reported.

During the winters, while they were living in the White House, they vacationed at her father-in-law Joseph Kennedy's Palm Beach estate.

The Palm Beach estate became known as the Kennedys' "winter White House." In 2020, the house sold for $70 million and underwent extensive renovations by the new owner.

In 1963, after her husband was assassinated, Jackie and her children left the White House and moved into an 18th-century home at 3017 N Street in Georgetown.

She paid around $175,000 for the five-bedroom house but only lived there for about a year. It was too public, and she reportedly became overwhelmed with all of the tourists.

In 2017, it was purchased for $5.25 million.

In 1964, Jackie and her children moved back to New York after she discreetly bought a 5,300-square-foot apartment on the 15th floor of 1040 Fifth Avenue for $200,000.

The apartment had five bathrooms, three fireplaces, two terraces, and a library.

It also had a view of Central Park.

Jackie Kennedy owned the apartment until she died in 1994.

It was bought from her estate in 1995 for $9.2 million. 

The buyer said she hadn't done much upkeep and they ended up gutting the whole apartment.

While she was alive, she began dividing her time between France, Greece, Martha's Vineyard, and New Jersey.

She kept New York as a home base.

She also got married again in 1968 to a Greek shipping magnate named Aristotle Onassis and became Jackie Onassis, or "Jackie O."

In 1974, Onassis purchased a country home — a converted barn on almost 10 acres — for $200,000 in Peapack, New Jersey.

She liked the area for its natural beauty and space for horse riding.

She knew the area well because she had previously rented a farmhouse described by The Times as a "badly made-over barn" in Bernardsville since 1965.

After she bought the property, she painted it yellow with white trim.

After Onassis died, her neighbor and friend, Marjorie McDonnell Walsh, bought the Peapack property for $1.47 million in 1997.

Walsh told The Wall Street Journal they tore the house down.

"It doesn't matter," she said when declining to share details about the new house. "The much more important thing is we both love the property. It's a private valley. It's beautiful."

In 1979, after her second husband died, Jackie decided to build a new house called "Red Gate Farm," on 340 acres of land in Martha's Vineyard.

She only spent a little more than $1 million on the land, and then another $3.1 million on building the house, which was finished in 1981. The main building covers 6,456 square feet.

There's also a four-bedroom guest house, a pool, and a tennis court. The property stretches across a mile of beach.

In 2020, it was put up for sale for $65 million.

Editor's note: This story was first published in September 2023 and has been updated with additional information.

• Princey — "Totally Plastic" Pha'Nesse — is a wrestler who did drag under Priyanka's tutelage on "We're Here."
• Princey said that doing the show, and drag, helped him feel more confident. 
• This is Princey's story, as told to Business Insider reporter Palmer Haasch. 

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Princey, a wrestler who performs under the name "Totally Plastic" Pha'Nesse and did drag under drag mother and "Canada's Drag Race" winner Priyanka on the HBO series "We're Here," which is currently streaming on Max. The conversation was edited for length and clarity.

I first got into wrestling when I was in diapers.

I grew up the youngest of two older brothers. Wrestling has always been around in my life, ever since I was a baby. I remember having the action figures, the video games, and everything — I was just obsessed.

I kind of lost interest a little bit growing up, and then I got back into it when I was 18 or so. My mom passed away when I was 23 and I was just kind of depressed, sad, and I was flipping through the channels and saw that "Monday Night RAW" was on. I was with some friends watching it and something just clicked in my head: "Why aren't I doing this?"

Growing up in Murfreesboro, being this out, proud gay Black man was kind of just frowned upon. To protect myself from getting insulted or attacked, I kind of just covered it up. And Princey was just kind of this quiet individual who never really went around too much, and just did my own little thing.

When I first started out in wrestling, I was so quiet and timid. And they were like, "You can't do that here. You're supposed to be yourself times a hundred." And so I was like, "Okay. I just got to shake off everything that I held in."

I finally found my wrestling identity as 'Totally Plastic' Pha'Nesse

I came across the Crux Wrestling training center with my coach Brian Maxwell and Kerry Awful, and came to a class in Maxwell's backyard. I was just rolling around and doing stuff and they were like, "You're a natural." And I was like, "I am? What?"

I just kept coming back and learning things every weekend. That was the main thing taking my mind off everything going on in the past with my mom. I had this safe place where I could just be myself.

I went to a show at the TWE arena and met everybody, and just felt an instant connection. I was looking at their social media, and the first thing — which is so rare in the South — was them being on the mic saying that TWE does not condone homophobia or racism. I was like, "I have to be here. I'll work my butt off to be here."

When I was growing up and wrestling, I was so captivated by the women wrestlers. I just felt like they were amazing, and they could tell these amazing stories in probably less than five minutes. I just saw so much pageantry there, and so much charisma, and I was like, "This is kind of drag."

I thought my wrestling name was going to be "Princey," but my coaches were like, "Nah, not really." Then, my name was going to be "The Pha'Nesse," and I was like, "I like Pha'Nesse, I don't want to get rid of that. I'll drop the 'the.'"

"Totally Plastic" was supposed to be this mean, bitchy gimmick. My coaches thought I was going to be a bad guy. But my first match I had in Alabama, the moment I hit the stage, the crowd was just like "Woooo!" And so I was like, "I can't be a bad guy. I love the crowd too much. This is awesome."

So Totally Plastic stayed, but it's more just this really flamboyant character that just loves everybody.

I found new confidence through drag and sharing my story on HBO's 'We're Here'

I was so nervous to do "We're Here."

I didn't know what the show was at first. The casting director was just like, "This is just a docuseries that's documenting people from different walks of life." I had no idea it would be on HBO, or this type of platform!

When I found out that this was a popular show, I was like, "Should I do this?" I didn't tell most of my family. I think I told my aunt, and I told my friends, and they were like, "Do it. I feel like you're one of the people who do have a story to tell about just everything you've been through in life. Maybe you can inspire somebody who sees you, who grew up in your situation."

I felt like I wanted to do that, because it brought me back to watching the divas and wrestling. They inspired me growing up, so I wanted to be that person for somebody.

I learned the choreography for the performance in three days, and when I saw my outfit and my wig, I was like, "This is going to be awesome. I am in the House of Priyanka, I can't look bad." She's an awesome dancer, and so I was like, "Okay, I got to really get into the gig."

And so I treated it kind of just like a wrestling match: I know my spots, I know what I'm supposed to here. Priyanka was a huge help. It was kind of like having a wrestling coach, but it was just my drag mom.

Now, I feel like Princey is Pha'Nesse.

I'm able to speak up about situations I don't like, and I feel like that's Pha'Nesse, that's just me coming into my true form. I'm so glad I did it, because I feel like I never would have gained this sort of confidence — being around these awesome people who were like, "You're this awesome person."

To be honest, I never really believed I was this special person. But if you're the only one doubting yourself, and all these people say you're wrong, maybe you need to look in the mirror.

• Thursday's presidential debate will feature commercials for the very first time
• Struggling with ratings, CNN is banking on the event to draw in viewers and millions in revenue
• Rival networks can air the live broadcast and run their own ads, setting them up to outperform CNN

Faced with lagging viewership, CNN is anticipating that Thursday's presidential debate will rake in huge sums. Yet other networks are allowed to air the live broadcast of the showdown, setting them up to outperform CNN at its own game.

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump's uncharacteristically early face-off is notable for various reasons, namely the two commercial breaks that will splice up the 90-minute debate. Presidential debates have historically been ad-free, but CNN is offering two tiers of advertising this year, with the most robust package costing a minimum of $1.5 million, sources told Semafor.

Though CNN is hosting and moderating the debate from its studios in Atlanta, other networks can sell their own advertisements during their simulcasts. Given that some of those networks, like Fox News and MSNBC, typically have a larger primetime audience than CNN, they may be able to sell advertising slots for more money, Variety reports.

Per CNN's rules, networks cannot plug commercial breaks with commentary from their own on-air personalities and must keep the CNN logo visible.

A CNN spokesperson told Business Insider that the network is making the debate available across a variety of platforms in an effort to reach as many people as possible, and a representative for Fox News pointed to the network's press release about its coverage. Other networks did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

With cable news channels like CNN facing questions about their futures, the presidential election serves as a potential opportunity to boost viewership. As Semafor notes, the election so far hasn't generated the same level of attention as recent races, but debates — especially the early ones — historically generate high ratings.

Clea Conner, the CEO of Open to Debate, a nonpartisan organization, told Politico that the decision to air advertisements is "shameful" and likened the event to reality television.

"Even though there will be only two commercial breaks this time, once we deem them acceptable it's a classic slippery slope," she told Politico. "How many will there be next time, and the time after that?

• I'm an interior designer, and I chose furniture and decor I'd buy from the furniture retailer CB2.
• The Enyo travertine coffee table and Derrico acacia-wood coffee table are statement pieces.
• I'd upgrade a space with light-brown velvet Bettie throw pillows and CB2's Weaver Bird bust.

As the US housing market continues to stretch wallets and put homeownership out of reach, many furniture retailers are seeing a dip in sales. After all, the fewer houses that sell, the fewer there are to furnish.

But I'm an interior designer who's spent years working with all sorts of spaces and a range of budgets. I believe it's worth investing in timeless, well-crafted pieces even if you're decorating a rental.

One retailer I enjoy shopping at is CB2, a high-end treasure trove of modern furnishings and accents that never fail to impress me.

Here are nine pieces I'd buy there right now.

Use the Derrico acacia-wood coffee table to add visual interest to a living room.

The sculpted organic shape of this Derrico acacia-wood table brings fluidity and movement to a room. Each table is unique, showcasing grain patterns, knots, and textures that add warmth and character to a space.

With its natural finish and minimalist design, it serves as a versatile centerpiece, ideal for any living room (especially one going for an organic modern look).

The Enyo travertine coffee table is a timeless and dramatic statement piece.

The only thing I love more than an oversized coffee table is an oversized travertine coffee table.

There's something inherently timeless about natural materials and stone, so this piece won't be out of style anytime soon. Plus, travertine can be an exceptionally durable material that works well on a coffee table.

This black wall mirror has a horn frame that makes it a focal point.

Add a touch of drama to your walls with this striking organic-shaped mirror with a hand-inlaid horn frame.

The mirror's fluid contours and dynamic silhouette can add depth to your space while also creating a captivating focal point.

I adore CB2's Weaver Bird black-fiber clay bust.

The Weaver Bird black-fiber clay bust depicts Muthoni wa Kirim, a high-ranking freedom fighter in 1950s Kenya.

I love that this piece departs from traditionally European-centric bust sculptures. It's the first bust I've encountered depicting a Black person, and its significance resonates deeply.

The sleek matte-black finish and sculpted curves evoke a sense of modern elegance and powerfully celebrate diversity.

The Faible wheat-performance-velvet sectional sofa is sleek.

I love a deep-seat sofa, but it's hard to find ones that still feel sleek. With clean lines and a buttery-soft texture, this Faible sofa strikes the ideal balance between sophistication and coziness.

The fabric is undeniably beautiful and comes in several different swatches, too.

Use the Kota round marble dining table to eat at or to decorate a foyer.

I'm obsessed with this sleek round marble dining table from CB2. Its silhouette is accentuated by a tiered effect in the marble, creating a sculptural masterpiece that combines form and function.

Although it's probably most often used as a dining table, it also works well as a stunning entry table in a grand foyer or lobby.

The Copernicus tarnished-silver wall sconce is a showstopper.

The tarnished-silver finish of the Copernicus wall sconce is highly reflective and creates a stunning play of light and shadow that adds depth and dimension to a space.

Because it uses tapered candles, it's perfect for illuminating walls without hardwiring or unsightly cords. Really, it's a sophisticated solution to ambient lighting.

I would recommend flanking a piece of art with these sconces in a dining room.

You can use light-brown velvet Bettie throw pillows in just about any space.

CB2's Bettie throw pillow in light-brown velvet is perfectly neutral, meaning it effortlessly complements any decor scheme.

The plush velvet makes the pillow luxurious, and the subtle fringe detail gives it extra visual interest as a stylish accent piece.

A smoked wall mirror is a unique way to add personality to your home.

Even with its smoky finish, this 48-inch ultra-modern mirror can brighten dark corners by reflecting light from different angles.

Plus, its curved surface adds a playful distortion to reflections, making it an instant conversation starter.

• I'm an American who moved to Paris 15 years ago, and I've enjoyed living here.
• A few French-inspired lifestyle changes have made the biggest difference in my day to day.
• I disconnect from work, take real midday lunch breaks, and cook more meals with fresh produce. 

Fifteen years ago, I met with love on New York's Prince Street. The stuff of fairy tales? Mais oui! He was a handsome Italian living in Paris.

Five months and many visits after our first encounter, I bid farewell to my family, friends, and customs and moved to France, welcoming all the curiosities and clichés composing my new life.

Thanks to my Polish mother, I had an EU passport and an open mind that I credit to my bicultural upbringing. And, looking back after well over a decade of la vie Parisienne, I can say I've adapted well.

There have been difficulties along the way. After all, Paris is still one of the most expensive cities to live in.

But these five lifestyle changes have allowed me to embrace French culture in the best way — you may want to give them a try wherever you are.

Since moving to Paris, taking time for a midday meal has become a welcome practice

Lunch was more of an afterthought during my chaotic life in New York City, where I'd often stare into my computer screen while gulping down a Cobb salad.

These days, lunch is an event. Whether I'm attending a fancy work lunch or grabbing a bite with friends, I take time to consider not only the menu but also my company. Sometimes, even a glass of wine is part of the ceremony.

On days when I'm pressed for time, I'll dine at home or pick up a fresh baguette and savor every crispy bite from a bench in my neighborhood park.

Eating on the run (or in the metro) is a thing of the past. I also allow for a coffee break in the afternoon in which I perch at a café and watch the world go by, even for just a moment.

Farm-to-table dining is a way of life in France, both in restaurants and at home

Cooking has become a regular ritual, and one that I even enjoy, particularly when my Italian chef takes over.

Most of my meals used to be eaten outside of my home, if not ordered in. Now, rather than amassing takeaway menus, I collect cookbooks.

With two farmers markets weekly per neighborhood in Paris, I also now think in terms of seasons when it comes to food. Every spring, I look forward to the strawberry harvest. Before moving, I'd never even been aware of all the varieties and flavors of the fruit.

There are also many vegetables, like white asparagus and turnips, I once took no notice of that now play a leading role in my kitchen.

It feels like quite a contrast to life in New York, where supermarket shelves were fully stocked regardless of what was actually in season.

Wine has become my drink of choice

From Bordeaux to Burgundy, wine has become my drink of choice in a country reputed for its vineyards.

My frequent nights of cocktails followed by late-night fare have been replaced by a glass of wine paired with a healthy dinner. My body thanks me — after all, red wine is a healthier option than sugary mixed drinks.

Plus, nothing complements a well-cooked meal like a good vintage.

With so many leading bars in my neighborhood (like Little Red Door and Candelaria), I still enjoy a creative libation but much prefer the early evening art of the apéro.

I've become passionate about sustainability in fashion

One of the most significant lifestyle changes I've made since moving to Paris is connected to sustainability.

Living in the fashion capital and moonlighting as a handbag designer has led me to meet talented fellow designers who produce limited-edition collections in Paris.

I've become dedicated to supporting these local artisans by almost entirely shopping for items made here, and vintage clothing and accessories.

My new philosophy of collecting instead of consuming allows me to save both time and money by not being tempted by fast fashion and fads. Plus, I buy less but better.

To further celebrate local design, I even lead custom fashion tours to introduce visitors to unique and ethically-minded Parisian brands.

Lastly, I've learned how to disconnect from work

As much as I love what I do for work, I understand how important it is to rest and reset.

That doesn't mean a month of summer Fridays, as was the practice for many companies in New York. In France (and much of Western Europe), it means taking off all or most of August to soak beneath the Mediterranean sun or retreat to a family home in the countryside.

I still do tend to check my emails often — I am a New Yorker, after all — but I embrace the month when Paris rests, and life is lived at a slower and more mindful pace.

• A US military aircraft landed on Peleliu's WWII airstrip, reopening it after many years.
• The Peleliu airstrip, vital during the 1944 battle, was restored by Marine Corps engineers.
• The landing could enhance US military capabilities to counter China in the Indo-Pacific.

A US military cargo plane returned to a World War II airstrip on Saturday, a site in the Pacific region that Marines had to reclaim.

"The landing of the C-130 on the resurfaced runway after many years hopefully begins a new chapter for a prosperous future of Peleliu island," Peleliu Governor Emais Roberts said in a United States Indo-Pacific Command press release.

The Peleliu airstrip, also known as the Sledge runway, was the scene of the 1944 Battle of Peleliu, in which 8,000 Marines and soldiers were wounded, and about 1,800 service members were killed; the Imperial Japanese forces suffered an estimated 10,900 casualties.

Marine Corps Engineer Detachment Palau 24.1 has made efforts to restore the strip since then. The runway was named for Eugene Sledge, an enlisted Marine veteran whose memoir of the desperate Peleliu battle formed a basis for the HBO miniseries "The Pacific."

The aircraft's touchdown on the Peleliu airstrip epitomizes the US military's expanding footprint as it recognizes more bases may be needed to counter China's military build-up.

Peleliu, an island of Micronesia that belongs to the nation of Palau, is part of the jurisdictions the US military is trying to gain exclusive access to. The island in the southern Philippine Sea may hold renewed strategic value in the face of China's growing missile arsenal.

In March, President Joe Biden renewed compacts and secured $7.1 billion dollars for Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands.

This would allow the US to gain access to resources like air, land, and sea territory. Palau citizens would also be permitted to work, study, join the US military, and receive access to veteran healthcare.

The US has been scouring the region for other historic airfields that can be rebuilt. Last year, the US checked up on the island of Tinian, a piece of US territory belonging to Guam, where another airfield was heavily used during WWII.

In April of this year, it was announced that an airfield construction project would be completed in Tinian and is expected to be finished within five years.

US forces have been trying to compete with China's growing military presence, which is capable of striking American bases using long-range missiles it has developed in recent years.