Because the anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s assassination is on Nov. 22, I have been researching on the Kennedy family, the president and the Camelot era. I watched the film Parkland and read every book that I could. By far, Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy was the most interesting and educational book that I came across.
Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy isn’t just a book. It is a transcript of an interview that the former first lady had in 1964 (four months after her husband was assassinated) and it includes an introduction by Caroline Kennedy. Included with the book is the actual audio of the historic interviews. The interviews last about eight hours and are filled with the intimate details of her life within the White House.
This book was about more than the history of the Kennedy family and the family life of the assassinated president. It was a book filled with rich American history. And, more than that, it gives details that have never before been released. The book seems to be Mrs. Kennedy’s attempt to do the interview that her husband would never get to do.
To understand the book, you have to understand the history of the time period. There were points that I had to stop the recordings and search the internet for people or events that were read. The point of the interviews and book wasn’t to entertain, it were to educate—and they completed their goal.
The audio of the interview was stellar. The tapes were clear enough that you could hear her light a cigarette or pour a drink. The details that she gave were smart and interesting and her tone really showed how she wanted the American people to hear exactly what was happening.
Was everything gripping and interesting? No. The interviews had been saved for almost fifty years and some of it seemed like it would have been more important during the time period. However, everything was something that was previously unheard. And, there was personality. It was a great listen and read.
Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.