Jackie's first state visit as First Lady was to Ottowa in Canada. And being the first Presidential family to have use to aeroplanes, they could travel a lot more than other presidents before. JFK didn't know what a political asset his wife was until the trip to Canada.
It was their first official trip and Jackie didn't know how she'd be welcomed. But she was in luck as Cassini was offering to help. Because he was a costume designer, he was able to visualize Jackie's movements like she was on a stage. It was intriguing as Jackie's style was often shown to America and the world through still photographs.
Cassini wanted Jackie to be the oustanding, bright figure among all of the grey suits in the one photograph. Jackie and Cassini came up with designs for public costumes that would successfully show off her style and grace.
For the Canadian trip, Cassini came up with a regal red suit that would resemble the colours of the uniforms of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Cassini said it had to be red. It was extremely successful! In a matter of minutes, Jackie was expressing her style and earning a new nation's favour. At this moment JFK released what a weapon he had.
Tish warned the Kennedys that they might not receive a boisterous welcome from their northern neighbours. Tish later recalled: "When the day of the visit arrived, and as the motorcade bearing the Kennedys started through the crowded streets, the noise of shouting, clapping, screaming, joyous people almost deafened us. One strong chant that came through above the others: 'Jac-kie, Jac-kie'.
Before her visit to Canada, Jackie was unsure if she could carry out her duties as First Lady. But after receiving the praise she did in Canada, she gained a lot of confidence about her public appearance. She would need it. As a few weeks after Canada, she and her husband traveled on one of their most important and most famous state visits: to France.
