South Africa and US connection dates back to JFK – Part 1

“The Last Love of Jackie Kennedy Onassis” at https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a27243432/jackie-kennedy-onassis-maurice-tempelsman-relationship/ state;

Jackie was frequently and often unfairly defined, at least in public perception, by her relationships to the men that surrounded her. Compared to the Irish-Catholic Prince Charming image of her first husband, President John F. Kennedy, or the flamboyant grandiosity of her second, Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, Tempelsman seemed a mild and unassuming choice for the last great love story of an American icon.

Short and balding, Tempelsman was born into an Orthodox Jewish family in Belgium before his parents emigrated to New York to escape the rising Nazi party. At 16 he followed his father into the diamond industry, forging contacts that would make him a pillar of the diamond import industry.

By 21, he'd become a millionaire by brokering a deal with the U.S. government to stockpile diamonds for industrial uses like the bits on oil drills. He crafted connections with African diamond interests and was close with the Oppenheimer family, becoming one of a select group of buyers allowed to purchase diamonds directly from De Beers. He was also active in promoting relations between America and Africa, serving as chairman for the nonprofit African-American Institute and even helping to underwrite Nelson Mandela's first trip to the U.S. [Keep in mind, the African-American Institute supported Marxist groups like the ANC, SWAPO, etc. - https://www.heritage.org/report/the-african-american-institute]

It was because of his connections that Tempelsman first met Jackie in the 1950s, when he arranged a meeting between then-Senator Kennedy and South African diamond interests. Though it would be many more years before their relationship blossomed into anything more than friendship, this early connection with Tempelsman meant that by the end of her life, Jackie had known the diamond dealer for far longer than she had either of her husbands.

Though JFK and Onassis were easily Jackie's most recognizable relationships—and Tempelsman was her last—they weren't the only men to play leading roles in her life. Before JFK, Jacqueline Bouvier was briefly engaged to John Husted Jr., but broke things off (reportedly after discovering that he only made $17,000 a year).

Unlike Jackie's other public paramours, Tempelsman was never one to steal the spotlight, or even to seek it—he once reportedly secured a retraction by a gossip columnist who'd claimed that he and Jackie planned to marry.

Marriage, after all, was never an option. Though Tempelsman had been separated from his wife, the mother of his three children, for many years, her devout Jewish faith prevented them from divorcing. Instead, Tempelsman and Jackie lived together in her 15-room Fifth Avenue apartment from the mid '80s until Jackie's death in 1994. (Tempelsman's wife did, reportedly, eventually grant him a "get," a form of Orthodox divorce; their relationship was described by friends as “extremely friendly and harmonious.”)

He supported her work as an editor and they shared a love of art collecting—African art for him, Greek for her. They vacationed together in Martha's Vineyard and even hosted then-President Bill and Hillary Clinton aboard Tempelsman's 70-foot yacht, the Relemar, the year before Jackie's death.

[A coincidence that JFK and Dr. HF Verwoerd (South Africa Prime Minister) both died in 1960s?]

https://www.radiofreesouthafrica.com/dr-hf-verwoerds-murder-haunting-naspers/ states, “Dr Verwoerd had been preparing to meet the challenge from these quarters and for this reason he unofficially instituted an investigation into the Anglo-American Corp. under the leadership of Prof Piet Hoek. The Hoek report was a very thorough job, and was privately circulated late in 1965, early 1966, and evidently Oppenheimer, Rupert and others had been aware of the investigation. When Dr Verwoerd, on the 25th January 1966 said in Parliament: "We shall oppose the power concentrations and monopolies which occur in our country, and which constitute a real danger", it was an oblique but unmistakable reference to the Hoek Report. Those who were involved in 'the power concentrations and monopolies" knew what this would mean to their interests. And consequently they would have thought of ways to stop it.” [I would like to get a copy of this Hoek report]

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South Africa and US connection dates back to JFK – Part 2

“THE MAN AT JACKIE'S SIDE” – Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Maurice Tempelsman - https://cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q=https%3a%2f%2fwww.washingtonpost.com%2farchive%2flifestyle%2f1994%2f05%2f26%2fthe-man-at-jackies-side%2f780357ef-4599-493a-9011-b8700dc0a44f%2f&d=4659399745410734&mkt=de-CH&setlang=en-US&w=sVfaTS5VhaxG2ba0jSTufO355zs1UyY- states;

They were the same age, 64, though her enduring loveliness and his stocky plainness made him appear older. They shared many things: summers on Martha's Vineyard, interests in art and antiquities (Tempelsman is a collector), fluency in French, an aversion to publicity. In the public mind, Tempelsman must possess special qualities to have attracted such a regal and celebrated woman. But his admirers, who are many, can see the relationship the other way around: Onassis must have been far more than a famous beauty to have intrigued such a cultured and scholarly man. "It shows her seriousness and the depth of her intellect," says Phil Baum, acting head of the American Jewish Congress, where Tempelsman has been an active trustee.

He is chief executive officer of Lazare Kaplan Inc. (1993 gross sales: $166 million). Headquartered on Fifth Avenue, it is one of the largest U.S. companies specializing in the import, cutting and sale of diamonds; its customers include Tiffany and Cartier. Tempelsman is also the general partner of Leon Tempelsman & Son, which has investments, mining and mineral trading interests around the world, particularly in central and western Africa.

Africa has been an abiding interest; Tempelsman has friendships and business alliances of 30 years' duration there, glides easily through its political and economic circles, is a connoisseur of African art. "He's a player in that scene," says Chester Crocker, former assistant secretary of state for African affairs. Until Wilkins succeeded him several months ago, Tempelsman served as chairman of the board of the nonprofit African-American Institute, which fosters African development and cooperation between Africans and Americans.

He met Jacqueline Kennedy when she was still a young senator's wife and he was supporting JFK's presidential aspirations. Tempelsman has long been generous to Democratic Party candidates, last year contributing more than $83,000 to the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Senatorial and Congressional campaign committees, and individual campaigns.

Yet it was rare to hear or read a word of opprobrium about Tempelsman and Onassis's relationship, even from New York's cattier columnists and insatiable tabloids, which never tired of running her photograph. It was almost as though the press and public had decided she was entitled to grow old with someone. His acceptance by her family probably helped quiet criticism; "John and Caroline have come to feel quite close to him," his spokesman says.

"They were a well-matched and distinguished couple," says Vivian Lowery Derryck, president of the African-American Institute. Onassis occasionally accompanied Tempelsman to small institute dinners with African leaders. His demeanor toward her was unfailingly "comfortable, respectful and loving," Derryck says. "And she respected and admired him and held him in great affection." [Did she have any involvement in Africa?]

Perhaps inevitably, Tempelsman's long immersion in African politics and the diamond trade, along with the occasional display of domestic political muscle, have lent him an air of intrigue. In 1990, for example, The Washington Post reported that former representative Mervyn Dymally (D-Calif.), a leader in seeking economic sanctions against South Africa, had changed his position on diamond imports after a 1988 meeting with Tempelsman – and after Tempelsman's $34,200 contribution to a Dymally-supported scholarship fund for minority students. Dymally denied soliciting the contribution or being influenced by it; Tempelsman also said that the contribution and Dymally's shift were unrelated.

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>>13008095

Interestingly enough

”Lesotho II” diamond engagement ring and Desmond Tutu offered $100,000 Onassis Award

_“The Engagement Rings of Jackie Kennedy Onassis” – “Lesotho III” diamond__ - https://www.jfjco.com/engagement-rings-jackie-kennedy-onassis/

While the above engagement ring from President John F. Kennedy is absolutely stunning, Jackie Kennedy Onassis’ “Lesotho III” diamond engagement ring is truly a show-stopper. Years after President Kennedy’s assassination, Jackie eventually remarried in 1968 to Aristotle Onassis – a Greek shipping industry mogul.

At the time of their engagement, Aristotle presented Jackie with a 40.42 carat weight diamond ring that was a part of the famous South African Lesotho brown diamond. The L color, marquise cut, VS2 clarity diamond was one of 18 stones that were cut from the original 601 carat weight (yes, you read that correctly) rough stone. Unfortunately, Jackie only wore the massive ring two times before it was stored in a New York City bank vault until her passing. At the time of her estate sale, the Lenovo III engagement ring sold for a whopping 2.59 million dollars.

https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/02/nyregion/notes-on-people-prize-winning-south-african-bishop-denied-a-passport.html states;

His outspoken demands for racial equality have made Bishop Desmond Tutu, the general secretary of the South African Council of Churches, a hero to those opposed to his country's apartheid policies. At the same time, they have made him a controversial figure to the South African Government.

Now, apparently as a result of his prominent opposition to apartheid, the Bishop has been denied a passport to receive a $100,000 Onassis Award in recognition of his unflinching courage in expressing the demand for an equal and peaceful coexistence between whites and blacks in South Africa.

The annual award, begun five years ago and financed by a halfbillion dollar bequest from the late Aristotle Onassis, is designed to rival the Nobel awards, and Bishop Tutu had been scheduled to receive his at an elaborate ceremony in Athens on Friday.