Only months after the assassination of her husband, Jacqueline Kennedy decided to make an historic audio record of her life with John Kennedy. These tapes were locked away with the intent of being released to the public in the future. Now, with the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy Administration, her daughter Caroline Kennedy carefully weighed the decision and decided this is the time to release this historic information. The seven interviews Jacqueline Kennedy had with Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. in 1964 have been transcribed and transferred to CDs. This box set contains the conversations without edits. Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy is indeed an historic document.
Caroline Kennedy and Michael Beschloss
In the forward to the book, Caroline Kennedy talks about her decision to ultimately release the contents of her mother’s interviews without editing them. She says she decided not to alter them so the public would have a complete idea of her mother’s memories and thoughts. While she could have cleaned up the grammar and edited out some information, Ms. Kennedy said it was not her place to change anything. This is, in fact, the only time her mother spoke candidly about her life with John Kennedy.
Presidential historian Michael Beschloss provides the introduction to the book as well as the very helpful annotations throughout the pages. While those of us who know about the people and events that are mentioned, many people do not so Beschloss’ annotations fill in the gaps about these people and events. These annotations together with the transcriptions provide an historic look at the people and times of John Kennedy. I had the opportunity to work a little with Mr. Beschloss in 1979/1980 and can attest he is one of the most prolific people I have ever met when it comes to American presidents and history.
The Interviews with Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.
Readers must take into account that these interviews were conducted only months after the assassination of the president. There are seven interviews that, for the most part, are chronological and provide an intimate look at the relationship between the famous first couple.
Beginning with their early years, Jacqueline Kennedy relates how her husband suffered with terrible pain. He constantly read books even though his pain was great, but this enabled him to take his mind off of his physical pain for a short time.
The conversations, aka interviews, include many comments that shine a light on the former first lady and really give readers an idea of her thinking. For instance, she was very upset that the Supreme Court ruled that people could write whatever they wanted. She thought this was partly responsible for the assassination of the president because of the negative newspaper ads and pamphlets that were all around Dallas in 1963.
Another insightful element is that Mrs. Kennedy was concerned about what her husband would do with the rest of his life when his presidency was over. She told Bobby Kennedy that perhaps JFK should run for his old senate seat, which was being held by Ted Kennedy. Bobby discussed this with his younger brother who in turn told him that should the president want the seat back, he would vacate in deference to JFK. But when JFK found out about this he told his wife to tell Bobby that he had no intention of seeking the Senate seat. She then told Bobby who informed Ted. Not only is this an interesting story in itself, but it also provides a look at how the family interacted.
Jacqueline Kennedy’s personal feelings about people are front and center in the interviews. She doesn’t hold back about anyone. She said she didn’t like comedian Alan King who performed at the Inaugural Gala. She also did not like Martin Luther King because of his dalliances with women. She said he conducted “orgies.”
Cuban Missile Crisis
Mrs. Kennedy discussed the Cuban missile crisis and how she knew there was something wrong when the president called her back to the White House from their home in Virginia. She also stated that she intended to stay at the White House and not go away. If the bombs were going to come, she wanted to be killed with her family. She said she and her children would rather be killed with the president than live without him.
The Kennedy Cabinet
Jacqueline Kennedy talked about the president’s advisors as well as foreign dignitaries, telling which one she liked and which ones she didn’t like. She disclosed that President Kennedy intended on removing J. Edgar Hoover from the FBI after the 1964 election. She also said that Bobby Kennedy never wanted to be Attorney General and that Eunice Shriver lobbied for her husband Sargent Shriver to head the Depart of HEW.
Campaigning
Mrs. Kennedy discussed campaigning and how tiring it was. She was looking forward to the 1964 campaign because she thought it would be easier this time around. But about the 1960 campaign, she mentioned, “I never met one person in West Virginia I didn’t like… And I never met one person in Wisconsin I did like, except for the people who were working for Jack.” (p. 68) This is one example of exactly how candid she was in the interviews.
Mrs. Kennedy said her husband thought Richard Nixon was sick. And about Lyndon Johnson, she said her husband asked her, “Oh, God, can you ever imagine what would happen to the country if Lyndon was president?” (p 278) She discussed how LBJ was indecisive couldn’t make a decision.
About JFK
Jacqueline Kennedy was devoted to her husband. In truth, she was a typical 1950s wife who deferred to him. She explained that she wanted to be the wife he wanted. Today women are themselves and couples select each other on who they are, but back then she said that women conformed to what their husbands wanted in a wife.
About her husband she said, “Jack was the most unself-conscious person I’ve ever seen.” (p 330)
The Book/CDs
The public gets a different perspective of the former first lady by reading and listening to her. When I first listened to some of her conversations, it was interesting to hear her discuss the events. I got a different understanding of her when I actually read the book. Granted, this was during the time when she was still in grief. It had only been a couple months since the assassination and she was a very young widow.
I think this is a great historical document. The public has never had a chance to get to know this woman and this is the only way they will get to know how she thought and about the relationship between the iconic couple. The disclosures might burst some people’s bubbles about the woman, but it shows her humanity. Her uncertainty about timing and whether she should say something or not makes her more relatable to the public. She was, after all, a human being and not some mythical figure. She was a young woman who was thrust into the public’s eye due to her husband, and then again due to the assassination. She dealt with a lot during her years with President Kennedy. These unedited interviews are definitely historic.
What is perhaps the most touching is when her son John Kennedy, Jr. comes into the room for brief moments.
For people interested in history and/or Jacqueline and John Kennedy, this is a “must have.”
- Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy
- Interviews with Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. 1964
- Forward by Caroline Kennedy
- Introduction and Annotations by Michael Beschloss
- Publisher: Hyperion
- Hardcover and 8-CD set
- Publication date: September 14, 2011
