# Maurice Tempelsman: Jackie Kennedy’s Final Love Story
After the tragedy and turmoil that marked Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’s earlier years, her relationship with Maurice Tempelsman brought her the peace and companionship she had long sought. This is the story of Jackie’s last love – a partnership that lasted over two decades and provided the former First Lady with the stability and genuine affection that had eluded her for so long.
## Understanding the Basics
Maurice Tempelsman entered Jackie Kennedy’s life not as a sudden romantic interest, but as a longtime friend who gradually became something more. Born in Belgium in 1929 to an Orthodox Jewish family, Tempelsman fled Europe with his family in 1940 to escape Nazi persecution. He built his fortune in the diamond trade, becoming one of the most influential figures in the international diamond market through his company, Lazare Kaplan International.
Their friendship began in the 1970s when Tempelsman, a savvy businessman and art collector, moved in the same New York social circles as Jackie. Unlike the high-profile relationships of her past, their connection developed quietly over shared interests in art, literature, and culture. Tempelsman was married when they first met, though he had been separated from his wife Lily for years. This complicated beginning meant their relationship evolved slowly and discreetly.
What made their partnership unique was its foundation in intellectual compatibility and mutual respect. Tempelsman, fluent in multiple languages and deeply cultured, could match Jackie’s intellectual curiosity and appreciation for the arts. He understood her need for privacy after decades in the public eye, and he protected that privacy fiercely. Their relationship represented a mature love built on companionship, shared values, and genuine care for one another’s wellbeing.
## Key Methods
### Step 1: Building Trust Through Friendship
The foundation of Jackie and Maurice’s relationship was built on years of friendship before romance. Tempelsman initially served as Jackie’s financial advisor, helping her manage and grow the inheritance from both President Kennedy and Aristotle Onassis. His expertise in international finance and investments helped secure her financial independence, something Jackie valued immensely after experiencing financial uncertainty in her childhood.
This professional relationship allowed them to develop trust and understanding without the pressure of romantic expectations. They discovered shared passions for opera, ballet, and literature. Tempelsman would accompany Jackie to cultural events, and they would spend hours discussing books and art. This intellectual partnership formed the bedrock of their later romantic relationship, proving that the strongest bonds often grow from friendship rather than immediate passion.
### Step 2: Maintaining Privacy and Discretion
One of the most remarkable aspects of their relationship was how successfully they maintained privacy in an era of increasing media intrusion. Tempelsman understood Jackie’s deep need for a private life after years of public scrutiny. He never sought the spotlight and actively worked to shield their relationship from public attention.
They developed strategies to maintain their privacy: avoiding high-profile venues, limiting public appearances together, and never discussing their relationship with the media. When they did appear together at events, Tempelsman would often enter and exit separately from Jackie. This discretion wasn’t about hiding their relationship but about protecting the peaceful life Jackie had worked so hard to build. Their ability to maintain this privacy for over two decades stands as a testament to their mutual commitment to preserving their sanctuary from the outside world.
### Step 3: Creating a Shared Life
By the early 1980s, Tempelsman had become Jackie’s constant companion, though he maintained his own apartment to respect the complications of his marital status. They created a life together that balanced independence with partnership. Tempelsman would spend most evenings at Jackie’s Fifth Avenue apartment, where they established comfortable routines – quiet dinners, reading together, entertaining close friends.
They traveled extensively together, visiting India, visiting ancient temples, and exploring archaeological sites. These trips combined their shared love of history and culture while allowing them to spend time away from New York’s watchful eyes. Tempelsman supported Jackie’s work as a book editor at Doubleday, often reading manuscripts with her and offering insights. This integration of their daily lives, interests, and work created a partnership that was both romantic and deeply practical.
## Practical Tips
**Respecting Previous Relationships**: Both Jackie and Maurice brought complicated histories to their relationship. Jackie had been widowed twice and had children from her marriage to President Kennedy. Maurice was technically still married, though long separated. They navigated these complexities with grace, never demanding that the other erase their past. Maurice developed warm relationships with Caroline and John Jr., supporting them without trying to replace their fathers.
**Intellectual Partnership Matters**: Their relationship demonstrated the importance of intellectual compatibility in lasting partnerships. They challenged each other mentally, sharing books, discussing politics, and exploring cultural interests together. This intellectual stimulation kept their relationship vibrant and engaging throughout the years, proving that shared interests and curiosity can be as important as romantic chemistry.
**Age-Appropriate Love**: Both were in their fifties when their romance began, bringing maturity and life experience to the relationship. They understood that love at their age looked different from youthful passion – it was about companionship, shared values, and mutual support through life’s challenges.
**Protecting Sacred Spaces**: They carefully protected their private life, understanding that constant public scrutiny could erode even the strongest relationship. By maintaining boundaries with the media and limiting public appearances together, they preserved the intimacy and authenticity of their connection.
## Important Considerations
While Jackie and Maurice’s relationship was largely successful, it wasn’t without its challenges. The fact that Maurice remained legally married throughout their relationship created social complications. Some criticized Jackie for being with a married man, though those close to them understood that Maurice’s marriage had been over in all but legal terms for decades. This situation required them to navigate social events carefully and accept that some doors would remain closed to them as a couple.
The religious and cultural differences between them – Jackie’s Catholic background and Maurice’s Jewish heritage – might have been more significant in an earlier era, but by the 1980s, their sophisticated New York circle was more accepting. Still, they had to balance different traditions and expectations, particularly during holidays and family gatherings. Their success in managing these differences came from mutual respect and a refusal to ask the other to abandon their heritage.
## Conclusion
Maurice Tempelsman’s presence in Jackie Kennedy’s final years gave her something that had been rare in her life: uncomplicated happiness. After the public tragedy of losing President Kennedy and the tumultuous marriage to Aristotle Onassis, Maurice offered her stability, intellectual partnership, and genuine devotion without drama or public spectacle.
When Jackie was diagnosed with cancer in 1994, Maurice never left her side. He managed her medical care, coordinated with doctors, and ensured she was surrounded by love in her final days. His devotion during her illness demonstrated the depth of their bond – this was not merely a late-life companion but a true partner who stood by her through the ultimate challenge.
Their love story reminds us that the most meaningful relationships often come without fanfare or public validation. Jackie and Maurice proved that love could flourish in the autumn of life, built on friendship, respect, and shared values rather than youthful passion. In Maurice Tempelsman, Jackie Kennedy finally found what she had always sought: a partner who loved her for herself, not her fame, who protected her privacy while enriching her daily life, and who remained devoted to her until her very last breath. Their twenty-year partnership stands as a testament to the power of mature love and the possibility of finding happiness after heartbreak.