WASHINGTON Lyndon Johnson wanted to name Jacqueline Kennedy as U.S. ambassador to France or Mexico after the 1963 assassination of John Kennedy, a top aide to both late U.S. presidents said Wednesday. He liked her a lot and he wanted to give her something that would make her feel good in life after the assassination, Pierre Salinger, White House press secretary in the Kennedy administration, told AFP. Jacqueline Kennedy made clear however in the wake of the assassination her intention to devote all of her time and attention to raising her children and the ambassador proposals were never formally advanced.

CNN aired tape-recorded phone conversations between Johnson and Salinger in which the late president insisted Jacqueline Kennedy was a good choice for Mexico and asked for Salinger's views of the idea. Salinger said he thought it was a good idea in principle but asked to sleep on it before advising Johnson on whether to extend the offer formally. Just before that I'd had a meeting directly where he (Johnson) asked me about making Jackie ambassador to France, Salinger said.

If I had reservations about Mexico it's because I'd just done this before over France, he added. During the same period, Jacqueline Kennedy made clear she wanted no involvement in government or politics. I have only one thing to do in life: I have to take care of these kids, Salinger recalled Jacqueline Kennedy telling him. (AFP)