Letitia Baldrige facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Letitia Baldrige
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|---|---|
 |
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| 11th White House Social Secretary | |
| In office 1961–1963 |
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| Appointed by | Jacqueline Kennedy |
| Preceded by | Mary Jane McCaffree |
| Succeeded by | Nancy Tuckerman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 9, 1926 Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | October 29, 2012 (aged 86) Bethesda, Maryland, U.S. |
| Spouse |
Robert Hollensteiner
(m. 1964) |
| Children | 2 |
| Occupation | Public relations executive Etiquette expert |
Letitia "Tish" Baldrige (born February 9, 1926 – died October 29, 2012) was an American expert in good manners, also known as etiquette. She was also a public relations executive and an author. She became very famous for working as Jacqueline Kennedy's White House Social Secretary. This means she helped organize all the important events at the White House.
People called her the "Doyenne of Decorum," which means she was a leading expert on proper behavior. Letitia wrote a newspaper column and ran her own public relations company. She also updated a famous book on etiquette and wrote 20 other books. She even appeared on TV shows and was on the cover of Time magazine!
Contents
Early Life and Education
Letitia Baldrige was born on February 9, 1926, in Miami, Florida. She grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. She was the youngest child of Howard Malcolm Baldrige, who was a Congressman. Her brother, Howard Malcolm Baldrige, Jr., later became the first U.S. Secretary of Commerce under President Ronald Reagan. The Secretary of Commerce is a very important government job that helps with business and trade.
Letitia went to Miss Porter's School in Connecticut. There, she met Jacqueline Bouvier, who would later become the First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy. They also went to Vassar College together. Letitia graduated from Vassar in 1946 with a degree in psychology.
Her Amazing Career
Starting Out in Diplomacy
After college, Letitia wanted to work for the State Department. At first, she was told she needed to improve her secretarial skills. But she tried again and got a job as a social secretary for the U.S. ambassador to France. A social secretary helps organize events and manage social duties for important people.
After three years, she moved to Rome, Italy, to work for the American ambassador there. Later, she became the director of public relations for the famous jewelry company, Tiffany & Co.
Working for the First Lady
Even though she was a Republican, Letitia was asked to work for John F. Kennedy's presidential campaign in 1960. After he won, she officially joined the First Lady's team. Letitia Baldrige became the White House Social Secretary for Jacqueline Kennedy. In this role, she helped plan many important events. This included the President's Inauguration, special receptions, and fancy state dinners for leaders from other countries.
Letitia worked very long hours and traveled a lot. She decided to resign in early 1963. However, she returned briefly later that year to help Jacqueline Kennedy after President Kennedy's assassination in November.
Life After the White House
After leaving the White House, Letitia Baldrige continued her busy career. In 1964, she married Robert Hollensteiner. The same year, she started her own public relations company called Letitia Baldrige Enterprises in Chicago.
She earned the nickname "Doyenne of Decorum" because of her newspaper column and many successful books about etiquette. In 1978, she was featured on the cover of Time magazine. Letitia also did important charity work. She helped Jane Goodall raise money to protect wild chimpanzees and their homes.
Letitia kept working and writing books throughout her life. Her last book, Taste: Acquiring What Money Can't Buy, was published in 2007.
Later Years and Passing
Letitia Baldrige passed away on October 29, 2012. She died from heart problems at a nursing facility in Bethesda, Maryland. She was survived by her husband, Robert Hollensteiner, and their two children, Clare and Malcolm.
