Overview
Kick Kennedy refers to the infant burial of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy’s stillborn daughter, Arabella, born premature in 1963. This status clarification explains the grave’s location, interment details, and how her name and memory are honored alongside the Kennedy family. Understanding the verified facts helps distinguish historical record from speculation.
Identity and Background
Who Was Kick Kennedy?
Kick Kennedy — named Arabella after her grandmother — was the daughter of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. Born via emergency caesarean on August 23, 1963, at Georgetown University Hospital, she lived only a few hours. Though sometimes called ‘Kick’ as a private nickname, her legal and burial name is Arabella Kennedy. Because she was born before the Kennedy assassination and died shortly after, she was originally buried beside her son, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, at Holyhood Cemetery in Brookline, Massachusetts, before later reinterred.
Burial Location and Grave Details
Initial and Later Interment
After her brief life, Arabella (Kick) was buried at Holyhood Cemetery next to her brother Patrick. Following the establishment of the Kennedy gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery for President Kennedy, plans were made to reinter family members to align with his memorial. In 1964 and later alongside other fetal and infant remains, Arabella’s remains were moved and reinterred at Arlington. Her final resting place is at the Kennedy gravesite, beside her father and brothers, marked with her christened name.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Name at birth | Arabella Kennedy (informally called Kick) | Family records |
| Date of birth and death | August 23, 1963 (born and died same day) | Hospital and birth records |
| Original burial | Holyhood Cemetery, Brookline, Massachusetts | Cemetery records |
| Reinterment | Arlington National Cemetery, Section R, Grave 4889 | Arlington National Cemetery office |
| Commemorative marker | Included within the Kennedy gravesite memorial grounds | Arlington National Cemetery signage |
Common Questions and Status
Is She Still at the Original Grave?
No. Kick (Arabella) was moved from Holyhood Cemetery to Arlington National Cemetery during the Kennedy family interments organized after President Kennedy’s burial. The original burial was temporary until the family墓地 plan at Arlington was formalized.
How Is She Remembered?
Although she did not live outside the womb, Arabella is listed on family memorials and the Kennedy records as a member of the family. Her inclusion at Arlington reflects the family’s acknowledgment of all lost children. Public markers at the gravesite reference the Kennedy children collectively.
Arlington Context and Layout
Kennedy Grave Site Structure
At Arlington, the Kennedy graves are arranged in a semicircle around the eternal flame. Arabella’s reinterment location is within this designated section, confirming her recognized place in the family. Inscriptions and site maps identify burial sections for family members, including infants.
- Section and Grave: R, 4889
- Proximity: Adjacent to John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Patrick Bouvier Kennedy
- Memorial treatment: Included in the official Kennedy site count of those interred
Historical Record and Public Sources
Verification and Availability
Information about Arabella Kennedy is consistent across reputable biographies, JFK Library archives, and Arlington National Cemetery records. While the topic can attract speculation, verified details come from primary sources including family statements, hospital logs, and cemetery documentation. These sources confirm dates, names, and interment sequence.
Key Takeaways
- Kick Kennedy is the informal name for Arabella Kennedy, the stillborn daughter of John F. and Jacqueline Kennedy.
- She was born and died on August 23, 1963, and was originally buried at Holyhood Cemetery before reinterment at Arlington.
- Her final resting place is at the Kennedy gravesite in Arlington National Cemetery, Section R, Grave 4889.
- She is recognized as part of the Kennedy family memorial layout, with her inclusion reflected in site documentation.
- Primary sources such as cemetery records, family biographies, and the JFK Library provide confirmed details.