Patrick Bouvier Kennedy’s Birth and Tragic Death

On August 7, 1963, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis gave birth to her youngest child via emergency Caesarean section at a Massachusetts Air Force base hospital.

Born 5 1/2 weeks early, Patrick faced immediate concerns as doctors observed he was struggling to breathe.

“The infant had a translucent, grape-like color, warning that there was insufficient flow of oxygen to nourish the body,” writes Stephen Levingston in *Twilight of Camelot: The Short Life and Long Legacy of Patrick Bouvier Kennedy*.

Shortly after his birth, Patrick was rushed to Boston Children’s Hospital, where he battled symptoms of vitreous membrane disease, also known as Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome (IRDS). While he did manage to survive for a period, his subsequent death has spurred efforts to improve treatment options in the medical field.

“His case motivated neonatology researchers to push the boundaries of innovation,” Levingston noted.

President Kennedy was aboard Air Force One when his son was born. He rushed to the hospital where Patrick was baptized and quickly moved to a hyperbaric chamber for oxygen therapy.

Jackie was still recovering from surgery and unable to see her son, leaving the president to spend hours at the hospital.

Tragically, early on August 9, doctors called the president back to the hospital. Just after 4 a.m., Patrick’s condition worsened; his lungs overloaded, and his heart stopped.

“He died in a huge steel contraption while his father peered at him through the porthole,” Levingston described, capturing a heart-wrenching moment. “He fought well,” Jack said softly. “He was a beautiful baby.”

Press Secretary Pierre Salinger recalled that Jack left the room for a moment to grieve privately, saying, “He cried for 10 minutes.”

Later, Jackie recounted to historian Arthur Schlesinger that when she next met Jack after Patrick’s death, he collapsed from sorrow—an emotional display she had never witnessed from him before.

Prior to Patrick’s birth, the couple had endured several losses. Jackie had multiple miscarriages before having Caroline in 1957 and John Jr. in 1960. In 1956, she gave birth to a stillborn daughter during a cruise, which had been a troubling experience for the family.

When Jack learned about the stillborn daughter they intended to name Arabella, he hesitated to return home, only doing so following advice from a friend about potential political implications.

Even though some members of the Kennedy family linked Jackie’s struggles to her smoking, there were also hints that Jack’s own health issues might have affected their pregnancies. Levingston noted that during his senior year at Harvard, Jack contracted a venereal disease, which is now understood to be linked to complications in pregnancy.

In the wake of Patrick’s death, the president turned his grief into action. In October 1963, he signed two bills totaling $594 million (around $6.1 billion today) aimed at enhancing maternal and child health, prenatal care in underserved areas, and establishing research centers.

In 1963, conditions like hyaline membrane disease were a leading cause of infant mortality, claiming about 25,000 lives each year in the U.S. Babies like Patrick had a dire prognosis; survival rates were particularly low for those born prematurely with lung issues.

Thanks to advancements made from subsequent research, by the 1990s, respiratory disease became far less common as a cause of death among premature infants.

Dr. Robert Delemos, who assisted in Patrick’s delivery, was profoundly affected by the infant’s death. He dedicated his life to developing solutions, including a ventilator specifically designed for premature infants, enhancing their chances of survival significantly.

Levingston notes that Patrick’s story influenced Delemos in his teachings and research. The loss united John and Jackie in shared grief, even leading Jackie to join her husband on a campaign trip shortly after, a trip that would be overshadowed by tragedy.

On November 22, 1963, JFK was assassinated while sitting next to Jackie during a political tour. After Patrick was pronounced dead, Jackie reflected on how Jack had placed a St. Christopher medal in their son’s coffin, hoping to do something similar to honor her husband. She removed her wedding ring and, with help, placed it on Jack’s finger after he passed, sharing a final moment of connection.