Jackie & Ayub: Sifarish for Sardar (1962)

First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy was certainly adept at diplomacy on the domestic and foreign fronts. In 1962 she made a successful visit to Pakistan, and on March 22 at the ninth annual horse and cattle show at Fortress stadium, Lahore, President Ayub Khan presented her a horse called Sardar. In her memoirs, the first lady referred to Sardar as her “favorite treasure.” She nicknamed the jet gelding “Black Jack,” reports the History Channel. (Ironically, President John F. Kennedy was severely allergic to animal hair of any kind).



The first lady wrote to her husband, pleading for Sardar to skip quarantine when he arrived in the US from Pakistan. She wrote:

Dear Jack,

It seems so rude to Pakistanis to suggest that their beautiful horse has hoof and mouth disease when obviously he hasn’t a germ in the world.

He is so beautiful and high strung it would be cruel to quarantine him in New York for thirty days. Cannot bear to be parted from him that long as could show him this spring and start schooling him immediately.

Could you not have veterinarian examine him in New York and say he was free from all disease and (have him go straight) to Glenora.

It would be like leaving Lee in quarantine to part with him - especially as he has been so frightened past few days by photographers - and plane trip will upset him.

You can leave tiger cubs in quarantine as they are too ferocious to play with - so warn Caroline. Please get Orville Freeman to let him in quickly - they have Prince Philip’s polo ponies. Phillip took them right home - so really think there would be no criticism and it would be (unfairly) cruel to animals if you let him (be locked up in) New York for thirty days. He will get sick there. All press will say you will lose ASPCA vote forever if he can’t come straight to Glenora.

Love Jackie

Jackie chose “Black Jack” to serve as the ceremonial rider-less horse during JFK’s funeral.

Image: John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, Inc.

Additional sources: Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President’s Office