Read This & Listen to This: JACQUELINE KENNEDY: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy Interviews with Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., 1964 Foreword by Caroline Kennedy Introduction and Annotations by Michael Beschloss Our Coverage Sponsored By Gabriel's Bar & Restaurant
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***
"My parents shared a love of history. To them, the past was not an academic concern, but a gathering of the most fascinating people you could ever hope to meet...In addition to their passion for history, my parents shared a conviction that American civilization had come of age."
-Caroline Kennedy
Jacqueline Kennedy was arguably the most coveted interview in modern American history, and now that her daughter Caroline has released the official interviews with Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. conducted in 1964, every minute of the eight cds and every page of the 349 in the accompanying book over their seven conversations is a National Treasure, let alone something you should read and listen to. In all of our book reviews there are few that we have wanted to do as much as this one and we are honored to be included among those privileged to review this great work. We pride ourselves on getting the inside story and telling you about a subject from their perspective and you can't get any closer to the presidency than this! After reading and listening to this, you'll be asking yourself if you really felt your textbooks have been accurate, if the Vietnam War would have ever happened if Jack Kennedy hadn't been shot, and a myriad of other questions that will come to the forefront of your mind after you read this great work. Bravo Caroline for opening this up to the world and bravo as well for keeping it just the way it was without any alternation.
"As her child, it has sometimes been hard for me to reconcile that most people can identify my mother instantly, but they really don't know her at all. They may have a sense of her style and her dignified persona, but they don't always appreciate her intellectual curiosity, her sense of the ridiculous, her sense of adventure, or her unerring sense of what was right."
-Caroline Kennedy
We completely appreciate her intellectual curiosity and value it above all else, along with her sense of what was right. Caroline tells us there are three significant interviews that her mother gave after her father's death. The first was to Theodore H. White in Hyannis Port on 11/29/63, the second set was with William Manchester, and Caroline says the third, which are these that we write on today, are by far the most important, "in which my mother willingly recalled the span of her married life, and shared her insights into my father's private and public political personality."
It is important to note how intensely personal all of this work is, from hearing Jackie's voice to looking at the outstanding photography, all of which will provide fascinating insights into what life was really like for them, and how the country was led. What we found most valuable was not what she said but how she said it which makes the eight cd's our favorite part of this review. Her tone, cadence and overall delivery added meaning to each and every part of what she said.
Though Peachy Deegan has a B.A. in American History from Boston College, the most Irish Catholic school in America, and she took a class on the History of the Boston Irish with Thomas O'Connor, there was still quite a lot for her to learn about the Kennedy's in this book. For anyone born after 1963, you have no idea what Camelot really was like-how could you- but listening to these cd's and reading this book will give you the best sense possible of time travel and when you learn what daily life was like, the Kennedy's will become more human to you rather than just the Camelot myth and it is important to know who they really were.
If you thought being youthful looking was an asset, just find out how Truman ripped into Kennedy when he was running for office in 1960: [On 7/2/60] "President Truman asked JFK, the front-runner for the Democratic nomination, to step aside on grounds that he was too young and inexperienced, and that the convention had been 'rigged' in advance. Two days later, at the Hotel Roosevelt in New York, the candidate replied by saying that if 'fourteen years in office is insufficient experience' (referring to his tenure in Congress but not his wartime naval years, which he elsewhere included in what he called his eighteen years of 'service to the United States') that would rule out every twentieth-century president, including Truman himself." (p. 57) It is not easy when you look too young for your level of capability!
"In politics you don't have friends or enemies, you have colleagues."
-Jackie saying what Jack used to say...Jack treated it so objectively.
The delivery alone in a question and answer format over the seven conversations is both eloquent and banter-filled, giving the reader insight into what it was really like in the White House, right down to toys in the tub.
"In June 1962, Jacqueline wrote her friend William Walton, 'My life here which I dreaded & which at first overwhelmed me - is now under control and the happiest time I have ever known - not for the position - but for the closeness of one's family. The last thing I expected to find in the White House.'"
-Jacqueline Kennedy
Questions you'll find answers to in this book:
*Jackie asked Jack the month before they were married what his best and worst qualities were....what did he say and did she agree? Read This!
*Every Sunday, Jack would rip three pages out of the Times book section...find out what he was interested in and how much he read.
*Was Kennedy more of an Irishman or a Brit? Hear what Jackie thought.
*Did you know Jackie thought Jack was the only President after Jefferson to care about gardens? Find out why...he also loved architecture.
*How did the children of Joseph P. Kennedy acquire such fire and extraordinary discipline while those of Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt did not, though they were bright and talented? Read This.
*JFK had quite the heart and you'll see how Jackie recounts his reaction to those in labor on page 66.
*What did Jackie think she and Jack would have done after leaving The White House? Read This.
*"The Poison of the Presidency" - who would have written that book? How do people really treat you when you are President and how do you know who your friends really are? "Mr. Kennedy always said you can always - if you can count your friends on five fingers of one hand, you're lucky. And I have the friends I always knew I'd have..." -Jackie (p. 176)
*And for all of the galas we cover at Whom You Know, don't you readers of the balls want to know what it was like for Jackie to do the flowers with Bunny Mellon for State Visits? Read This!
*And, did you know Jack Kennedy preferred hats to scarves? And find out what he said to the letters about Jackie's skirts being too short...or were they?
What did Jack think of his position as President and his challenges?
"Schlesinger: [Did he worry?]
Jackie: No, what he was doing then is solving everything that was coming up, he was dealing with it. And that was always when he was the happiest. He never was worried because he always said, 'Someone has to do this job' -what is it?- 'and it's always been done with humans.'" (p. 147)
It is the true humanity that this work brings to the Kennedy White House that will truly wow you.
Whom You Know gives
***
"My parents shared a love of history. To them, the past was not an academic concern, but a gathering of the most fascinating people you could ever hope to meet...In addition to their passion for history, my parents shared a conviction that American civilization had come of age."
-Caroline Kennedy
Jacqueline Kennedy was arguably the most coveted interview in modern American history, and now that her daughter Caroline has released the official interviews with Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. conducted in 1964, every minute of the eight cds and every page of the 349 in the accompanying book over their seven conversations is a National Treasure, let alone something you should read and listen to. In all of our book reviews there are few that we have wanted to do as much as this one and we are honored to be included among those privileged to review this great work. We pride ourselves on getting the inside story and telling you about a subject from their perspective and you can't get any closer to the presidency than this! After reading and listening to this, you'll be asking yourself if you really felt your textbooks have been accurate, if the Vietnam War would have ever happened if Jack Kennedy hadn't been shot, and a myriad of other questions that will come to the forefront of your mind after you read this great work. Bravo Caroline for opening this up to the world and bravo as well for keeping it just the way it was without any alternation.
"As her child, it has sometimes been hard for me to reconcile that most people can identify my mother instantly, but they really don't know her at all. They may have a sense of her style and her dignified persona, but they don't always appreciate her intellectual curiosity, her sense of the ridiculous, her sense of adventure, or her unerring sense of what was right."
-Caroline Kennedy
We completely appreciate her intellectual curiosity and value it above all else, along with her sense of what was right. Caroline tells us there are three significant interviews that her mother gave after her father's death. The first was to Theodore H. White in Hyannis Port on 11/29/63, the second set was with William Manchester, and Caroline says the third, which are these that we write on today, are by far the most important, "in which my mother willingly recalled the span of her married life, and shared her insights into my father's private and public political personality."
It is important to note how intensely personal all of this work is, from hearing Jackie's voice to looking at the outstanding photography, all of which will provide fascinating insights into what life was really like for them, and how the country was led. What we found most valuable was not what she said but how she said it which makes the eight cd's our favorite part of this review. Her tone, cadence and overall delivery added meaning to each and every part of what she said.
Though Peachy Deegan has a B.A. in American History from Boston College, the most Irish Catholic school in America, and she took a class on the History of the Boston Irish with Thomas O'Connor, there was still quite a lot for her to learn about the Kennedy's in this book. For anyone born after 1963, you have no idea what Camelot really was like-how could you- but listening to these cd's and reading this book will give you the best sense possible of time travel and when you learn what daily life was like, the Kennedy's will become more human to you rather than just the Camelot myth and it is important to know who they really were.
If you thought being youthful looking was an asset, just find out how Truman ripped into Kennedy when he was running for office in 1960: [On 7/2/60] "President Truman asked JFK, the front-runner for the Democratic nomination, to step aside on grounds that he was too young and inexperienced, and that the convention had been 'rigged' in advance. Two days later, at the Hotel Roosevelt in New York, the candidate replied by saying that if 'fourteen years in office is insufficient experience' (referring to his tenure in Congress but not his wartime naval years, which he elsewhere included in what he called his eighteen years of 'service to the United States') that would rule out every twentieth-century president, including Truman himself." (p. 57) It is not easy when you look too young for your level of capability!
"In politics you don't have friends or enemies, you have colleagues."
-Jackie saying what Jack used to say...Jack treated it so objectively.
The delivery alone in a question and answer format over the seven conversations is both eloquent and banter-filled, giving the reader insight into what it was really like in the White House, right down to toys in the tub.
"In June 1962, Jacqueline wrote her friend William Walton, 'My life here which I dreaded & which at first overwhelmed me - is now under control and the happiest time I have ever known - not for the position - but for the closeness of one's family. The last thing I expected to find in the White House.'"
-Jacqueline Kennedy
Questions you'll find answers to in this book:
*Jackie asked Jack the month before they were married what his best and worst qualities were....what did he say and did she agree? Read This!
*Every Sunday, Jack would rip three pages out of the Times book section...find out what he was interested in and how much he read.
*Was Kennedy more of an Irishman or a Brit? Hear what Jackie thought.
*Did you know Jackie thought Jack was the only President after Jefferson to care about gardens? Find out why...he also loved architecture.
*How did the children of Joseph P. Kennedy acquire such fire and extraordinary discipline while those of Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt did not, though they were bright and talented? Read This.
*JFK had quite the heart and you'll see how Jackie recounts his reaction to those in labor on page 66.
*What did Jackie think she and Jack would have done after leaving The White House? Read This.
*"The Poison of the Presidency" - who would have written that book? How do people really treat you when you are President and how do you know who your friends really are? "Mr. Kennedy always said you can always - if you can count your friends on five fingers of one hand, you're lucky. And I have the friends I always knew I'd have..." -Jackie (p. 176)
*And for all of the galas we cover at Whom You Know, don't you readers of the balls want to know what it was like for Jackie to do the flowers with Bunny Mellon for State Visits? Read This!
*And, did you know Jack Kennedy preferred hats to scarves? And find out what he said to the letters about Jackie's skirts being too short...or were they?
What did Jack think of his position as President and his challenges?
"Schlesinger: [Did he worry?]
Jackie: No, what he was doing then is solving everything that was coming up, he was dealing with it. And that was always when he was the happiest. He never was worried because he always said, 'Someone has to do this job' -what is it?- 'and it's always been done with humans.'" (p. 147)
It is the true humanity that this work brings to the Kennedy White House that will truly wow you.
Finally, if you are female and American, chances are somewhere along the way you may have wanted to be Jacqueline Kennedy, and you'll want to explore this work to see what her life was really like. We'd venture to say that if she was born today she'd wind up being President herself because she would have been ideal for the position. Her intelligence, both intellectually and socially, are unsurpassed in the entire world of females married to United States Presidents (she was not a fan of the term First Lady as it sounded like a horse to her!) and would also set the standard for Presidents themselves. You will realize the level and value of her intelligence through your experience with this book and cd collection, and you'll realize that perhaps the smartest decision John F. Kennedy ever made was to marry Jackie.
Whom You Know gives
JACQUELINE KENNEDY: HISTORIC CONVERSATONS ON LIFE WITH JOHN F. KENNEDY our highest recommendation and it is one of the most readable, collectible and admirable works we have ever reviewed. Beyond that, it is an American treasure. Everyone loved Jacqueline Kennedy and this is the last piece we have left of her.
***
In early March of 1964, still deeply grieving the loss of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy sat down with historian Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., to record the first of seven interviews taped over three months and totaling eight and a half hours. Intended for deposit at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum—not yet in existence at the time—Mrs. Kennedy's conversations were part of a wide-ranging oral-history project that captured the recollections and reflections of those closest to President Kennedy. These conversations have remained strictly sealed since then in accordance with Mrs. Kennedy's wishes.
On September 14, 2011, Hyperion, in association with the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, will release JACQUELINE KENNEDY: HISTORIC CONVERSATONS ON LIFE WITH JOHN F. KENNEDY (Hyperion; Hardcover and 8-CD boxed set; $60), the transcribed content of the never-before-heard interviews, punctuated with black and white photographs and eight CDs of the recordings housed in a deluxe slipcased edition. The cover photograph was carefully chosen and is one that has never been published before.
Caroline Kennedy and her family took seriously the decision to release these tapes now in connection with the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy administration, and chose to leave the audio recordings untouched to honor her mother's intent when she sat down to record them. Caroline Kennedy has written a poignant Foreword and edited the transcripts for readability. Renowned presidential historian Michael Beschloss provides the Introduction and annotations with contextual explanations.
Jacqueline Kennedy's voice has been absent from the numerous books written about her, John F. Kennedy's presidency, and their life together, but in these conversations, both in the recordings and on the page, we finally witness that era through her eyes. She candidly shares astute observations on people and situations, reveals her private thoughts, and relays conversations she had with her husband. From the early campaign trips through the White House years, Jacqueline Kennedy and Arthur Schlesinger discuss many of those figures who were critical players during that era on both sides of the political aisle, from Richard Nixon and the Eisenhowers through the selection of Lyndon Johnson as vice president as well as the various Cabinet members and other key advisors. She provides behind-the-scenes stories of milestone events such as John F. Kennedy's life as a senator, the presidential campaign of 1960, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Civil Rights movement, and plans for a second term. It was an exciting era of change and her conversations are rich with details of the people and issues that made this administration such a vital one.
Both she and the President were insatiable readers whose wide range of books brought further insight to the many state visits abroad and the development of a new idea of American diplomacy. Her social grace and deep intelligence was fascinating to those both in and outside the country. Her observations of world leaders of the time including Charles de Gaulle, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Nikita Khrushchev show not only her growing sense of how power and leadership were balanced, these remembrances also shed new light on President Kennedy's personality and his nuanced and complex thought process.
Mrs. Kennedy also touches upon more private matters such as President Kennedy's Catholicism, the love between the Kennedy brothers, and family life in the White House, and provides an intimate view of her marriage and the kinds of understandings and appreciation she and the President had for each other. We see her own evolving sense of herself as First Lady when she discusses her passion for history and how that fueled her restoration of the White House into a place that is now truly owned by the American people. We also see how her grace and cultural appreciation helped begin a new chapter for women in the field of international diplomacy.
JACQUELINE KENNEDY: HISTORIC CONVERSATIONS ON LIFE WITH JOHN F. KENNEDY reveals an exciting and heretofore unknown side of this former First Lady, known and celebrated for so many decades as a symbol of exquisite taste and fashion. The remarkable recordings show her determination to honor the work of her husband's administration just four months after going through a tremendous loss. Through her own words—her depth, her flashes of wit, and her love and belief in her husband—we are given a new image of Jacqueline Kennedy that enriches our understanding of and appreciation for her role in our country's history.
"My mother's passion for history guided and informed her work in the White House," said Caroline Kennedy. "She believed in my father, his vision for America, and in the art of politics. She felt it was important to share her knowledge and excitement with future generations. It is a privilege for me to honor the memory of my parents by making this unique history available."
###
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Caroline Kennedy is the editor of the New York Times bestselling She Walks in Beauty, The Best‐Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Profiles in Courage for Our Time, A Patriot’s Handbook, A Family of Poems, A Family Christmas, and the coauthor of The Right to Privacy and In Our Defense: The Bill of Rights in Action. She serves as the vice chair of the Fund for Public Schools in New York City and president of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. She lives in New York City.
Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., the most distinguished historian of his times, was also renowned as a public intellectual and a political activist. Author of more than twenty‐five books, he was twice awarded the Pulitzer Prize. The eloquence, insight, and power that characterized his style continue to influence the generations of historians who follow him. Arthur Schlesinger was the author of major biographies of Andrew Jackson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt as well as John and Robert Kennedy, books that significantly defined the modern presidency. He served as special assistant to the President during the Administration of John F. Kennedy.
Michael Beschloss has been called “the nation's leading presidential historian” by Newsweek. He is the author of nine books, including most recently, The Conquerors and Presidential Courage and two volumes on Lyndon Johnson's presidential tapes. He is a graduate of Williams College and the Harvard Business School and holds five honorary degrees, as well as an Emmy award. He is a regular commentator on the PBS NewsHour. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife and two sons.
ABOUT THE JOHN F. KENNEDY PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY’S
ORAL HISTORY PROGRAM:
The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library’s Oral History Program is one of the institution’s oldest continuing projects. Its goal is to collect, preserve, and make available interviews conducted with individuals who recollect events and people associated with John F. Kennedy.
The oral history program was initiated by close associates of the President in the spring of 1964 and interviews were conducted with hundreds of individuals. Among those interviewed were prominent public figures such as Robert F. Kennedy, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, R. Sargent Shriver, Theodore Sorensen, Robert McNamara, McGeorge Bundy, Gerald Ford, Lady Bird Johnson, and Jacqueline Kennedy (whose interviews with Arthur Schlesinger became the basis for the forthcoming publication). Other interviewees included private individuals who played specialized or limited roles in the history of JFK’s time. To add breadth, interviews were also conducted with contemporary members of Congress, Kennedy administration officials, national and state political leaders, business and labor leaders, journalists, civil rights leaders, foreign government officials, and even those opposed to Kennedy administration policies.
In addition, the oral history collection includes close to 265 interviews focusing on the career of Robert F. Kennedy, addressing primarily his roles as United States attorney general, senator from New York, and U.S. presidential candidate in 1968.
Today, the oral history collection comprises more than 1,500 interviews.
For further information, please visit www.jfklibrary.org
