Take a photo of a barcode or cover
hmcgivney's review against another edition
5.0
This is such a valuable recording! It was several informal conversations that Jackie Kennedy had with historian Arthur Schlesinger about JFK. They took place in her living room, about four months after the assassination, and one can hear them smoking and the ice clinking in their glasses. The planes roaring overhead were a bit distracting though.
Most of the conversations were about JFK's political career, and some parts were more interesting than others (I don't really care about diplomatic relations with France, but I loved hearing about the Cuban Missile Crisis and how Jackie refused to leave, saying that if they were all going to die, she wanted to do it as a family).
Jackie obviously loved her husband and seemed incapable of thinking that he could do anything wrong or make a mistake. She also seemed a bit naive about some things (from what I know, Joe Kennedy (the father) was *not* a well intentioned papa-bear). She obviously loved Jack so much that it made me sad to think that JFK was unfaithful (not that she ever mentioned anything like THAT, of course).
The most interesting things were Jackie's ideas about what a wife should be, her restoration of the White House, and the personal details about Jack (ex. he was an Anglophile who could read a book a day and who loved historical objects).
I wish there were more, and that I knew more about her as a person. Unfortunately, she was notoriously private about her personal life and her feelings, so I don't think I'll ever get another chance to hear her thoughts and opinions like this.
Most of the conversations were about JFK's political career, and some parts were more interesting than others (I don't really care about diplomatic relations with France, but I loved hearing about the Cuban Missile Crisis and how Jackie refused to leave, saying that if they were all going to die, she wanted to do it as a family).
Jackie obviously loved her husband and seemed incapable of thinking that he could do anything wrong or make a mistake. She also seemed a bit naive about some things (from what I know, Joe Kennedy (the father) was *not* a well intentioned papa-bear). She obviously loved Jack so much that it made me sad to think that JFK was unfaithful (not that she ever mentioned anything like THAT, of course).
The most interesting things were Jackie's ideas about what a wife should be, her restoration of the White House, and the personal details about Jack (ex. he was an Anglophile who could read a book a day and who loved historical objects).
I wish there were more, and that I knew more about her as a person. Unfortunately, she was notoriously private about her personal life and her feelings, so I don't think I'll ever get another chance to hear her thoughts and opinions like this.
wanda12's review against another edition
4.0
In 1964, Jacqueline Kennedy recorded seven historic interviews about her life with John F. Kennedy. This were made as part of a planned oral-history project to capture first-hand accounts of the late President. The conversations were held with historian Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. Afterwards, the tapes of those conversations were sealed and stored in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, at the request of Mrs. Kennedy. Caroline Kennedy and the Kennedy family released the recordings on CDs on the fiftieth anniversary of President Kennedy’s Inauguration.
The interviews with Schlesinger are a candid account of Mrs. Kennedy's life as the wife and confidante of John F. Kennedy. I was amazed that she could speak so candidly so soon after the tragedy of her husband's death. You get the sense she was willing to do the interviews and was relaxed in doing so. The words recorded are revealing and intimate. I learned so much about John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy, the people around them, and world events during this time. And was quite surprised by her comments regarding Martin Luther King Jr, Lyndon Johnson, Khrushchev and other world leaders.
My fascination in the Kennedy's was piqued with "Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy."
The interviews with Schlesinger are a candid account of Mrs. Kennedy's life as the wife and confidante of John F. Kennedy. I was amazed that she could speak so candidly so soon after the tragedy of her husband's death. You get the sense she was willing to do the interviews and was relaxed in doing so. The words recorded are revealing and intimate. I learned so much about John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy, the people around them, and world events during this time. And was quite surprised by her comments regarding Martin Luther King Jr, Lyndon Johnson, Khrushchev and other world leaders.
My fascination in the Kennedy's was piqued with "Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy."
maryjohanna's review against another edition
4.0
Dated as her opinions were in re: women, marriage and even the role of many of the key players of the time... it's a treat to hear Jacqueline Kennedy speak her own words.
thatokiebird's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy is the recorded interviews Jacqueline gave just four months after her husband's assassination. And it once again showcases what an incredible human she is. She speaks openly and honestly, sharing her memories and details as best she can to the questions she is asked. I listened to the audiobook, and always delight in hearing her elegant and light and airy voice as she shares. This is an amazing historical record of the time they spent in the White House, and filled with plenty of hot gossip if you kept up closely on politics at that time in history. She didn't shy away from sharing how she actually felt.
Historian Arthur Schlesinger asked all sorts of questions, plenty of duds, but some that are of interest too. And Jacqueline always answered in as interesting a way as she was able to, even when they were duds. There was a lot of - what did Jack think of this person, and what do you remember about this event, and did you have any problems with this person? Questions about very specific staff members and ambassadors that I think haven't aged well. Yet when she shares personal moments about their family and highlights and events like the missile crisis or MLK, it is so fascinating, and you can really get a feel for what it was like for them during their time in the White House.
The audio quality isn't fantastic, I could hear it best in headphones. But it was interesting to hear the clink of ice in glasses, or when Jacqueline would (somehow elegantly) blow out her cigarette smoke before answering a question, or planes flying overhead or interruptions from an extremely young and active John-John. (I still can't believe Arthur Schlesinger's first words on the audio to John were "What happened to your father?" and John's answer of "He's in heaven." Like seriously? This kid who is 3 walks in and his first instinct is to remind him his dad is dead?)
The conversations definitely wander and is sometimes boring and sometimes have no idea what they're talking about, but Jacqueline makes up for it with her openness and honesty. She probably would be mortified that they're unedited, but it makes sense why they are. This is definitely not a book in the traditional sense, it is an important historic interview in all its messiness.
Historian Arthur Schlesinger asked all sorts of questions, plenty of duds, but some that are of interest too. And Jacqueline always answered in as interesting a way as she was able to, even when they were duds. There was a lot of - what did Jack think of this person, and what do you remember about this event, and did you have any problems with this person? Questions about very specific staff members and ambassadors that I think haven't aged well. Yet when she shares personal moments about their family and highlights and events like the missile crisis or MLK, it is so fascinating, and you can really get a feel for what it was like for them during their time in the White House.
The audio quality isn't fantastic, I could hear it best in headphones. But it was interesting to hear the clink of ice in glasses, or when Jacqueline would (somehow elegantly) blow out her cigarette smoke before answering a question, or planes flying overhead or interruptions from an extremely young and active John-John. (I still can't believe Arthur Schlesinger's first words on the audio to John were "What happened to your father?" and John's answer of "He's in heaven." Like seriously? This kid who is 3 walks in and his first instinct is to remind him his dad is dead?)
The conversations definitely wander and is sometimes boring and sometimes have no idea what they're talking about, but Jacqueline makes up for it with her openness and honesty. She probably would be mortified that they're unedited, but it makes sense why they are. This is definitely not a book in the traditional sense, it is an important historic interview in all its messiness.
purplerose78's review against another edition
1.0
Abandoned, more accurately, in the 5th conversation. I'd heard good things about this. But, maybe I just don't know enough about the Kennedys and that time in history to find it interesting? The footnotes drove me crazy too.
This is only the 2nd book in my memory (so the last 10 years?) that I have abandoned, so it was definitely not w/o effort on my part to finish it.
This is only the 2nd book in my memory (so the last 10 years?) that I have abandoned, so it was definitely not w/o effort on my part to finish it.
gottsnoclue's review against another edition
3.0
I listened to this in the car. There were a lot of interesting things and there some boring things. One thing that I took from this is that every First Lady witnesses A LOT of conversations, meetings and historical events. Of course I have always known that the First Lady is there and a part of the President's life. But I never put much thought into the First Lady being an asset to negotiations or that she intimately knew so many statesmen. It was insightful and well worth the time.
ladyash8878's review against another edition
4.0
It was very interesting to learn more about President Kennedy. I always find it interesting to learn more, but this is form the point of view of his wife Jacqueline Kennedy. To listen to the interviews was very nice. The audio quality wasn't the best, but its from the 60s so I'm not sure if could have been any better. Her view on the different parts of her husbands political career gave us some insights into what life in the white house was like, and what the country was like at that time. I am still highly facinated with this family!
cag91's review against another edition
4.0
I found this book to be fascinating, if a bit slow going. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing all the 'dirt' and behind the scenes views on everyone from Johnson to de Gaulle and cabinet members. Views on inauguration and campaigning were so interesting -- it's a view that is rarely seen. I wish more audio histories were available to get candid views on the issues rather than the editing and rehearsed politically correct views seen in most memoirs or autobiographies released by first families. Regardless, I learned a lot, and found it enjoyable to read/listen to.
drjax_reads924's review against another edition
3.0
Jackie O was definitely ahead of her time. Where she knew that she should stand "behind" her husband, they were very ahead for their times and had an encouraging mutual respect for one another. It's upsetting to see all the people that disrespected them. After all at the end of the day, they are people and this is their job. Jackie is a lovely lady with a great name!!!