Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy

By: Caroline Kennedy - foreword, Michael Beschloss - introduction

Narrated by: Jacqueline Kennedy, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. (interviewer), Caroline Kennedy (foreword), Michael Beschloss (introduction)

Length: 9 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1964, Jacqueline Kennedy recorded seven historic interviews about her life with John F. Kennedy. Now, decades later, these conversations can be heard in this digitally remastered eight-and-a-half-hour audio program. This audiobook includes the foreword written and read by Caroline Kennedy; introduction written and read by historian Michael Beschloss and the photos from the hardcover book, as well as complete annotations from Michael Beschloss, both in downloadable PDF format.

Shortly after President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, with a nation deep in mourning and the world looking on in stunned disbelief, Jacqueline Kennedy found the strength to set aside her own personal grief for the sake of posterity and begin the task of documenting and preserving her husband’s legacy. In January of 1964, she and Robert F. Kennedy approved a planned oral-history project that would capture their first-hand accounts of the late president as well as the recollections of those closest to him throughout his extraordinary political career. For the rest of her life, the famously private Jacqueline Kennedy steadfastly refused to discuss her memories of those years, but beginning that March, she fulfilled her obligation to future generations of Americans by sitting down with historian Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., and recording an astonishingly detailed and unvarnished account of her experiences and impressions as the wife and confidante of John F. Kennedy. The tapes of those sessions were then sealed and later deposited in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum upon completion, in accordance with Mrs. Kennedy’s wishes.

The resulting eight-and-a-half hours of material comprise a unique and compelling record of a tumultuous era, providing fresh insights on the many significant people and events that shaped JFK’s presidency, but also shedding new light on the man behind the momentous decisions.

As told by Mrs. Kennedy, here are JFK’s unscripted opinions on a host of revealing subjects, including his thoughts and feelings about his brothers, Robert and Ted, and his take on world leaders past and present, giving us perhaps the most informed, genuine, and immediate portrait of John Fitzgerald Kennedy we shall ever have. Mrs. Kennedy’s urbane perspective, her candor, and her flashes of wit also give us our clearest glimpse into the active mind of a remarkable First Lady.

In conjunction with the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy’s inauguration, Caroline Kennedy and the Kennedy family are now releasing these beautifully restored recordings with accompanying annotations and photos from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library as well as other sources. Introduced and annotated by renowned presidential historian Michael Beschloss, these interviews will add an exciting new dimension to our understanding and appreciation of President Kennedy and his time and make the past come alive through the words and voice of an eloquent eyewitness to history.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2011 Caroline Kennedy, John Schlossberg, Rose Schlossberg, and Tatiana Schlossberg (P)2011 Hyperion (packaging elements only)

In Her Lovely Voice- Jackie Oh!!!! A Real Treat

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this to anyone familiar with the Kennedys who was as caught up in all the glamour of the Kennedy White House years as I was.( a young, impressionable girl).

I was simply obsessed with Jackie,( along with a lot of the others in that family) until she died.There was something very special about this woman. I've done lots of reading about her but this collection of tapes was very different and something I didn't think existed, given how little she ever interviewed.

I'm also very tired of all the trash that's been written about the Kennedys. This was so different and very refreshing.While the quality of the tapes is primitive compared to the technology of today I don't feel it detracted from 9 solid hours of the lovely Jackie and Arthur Schlesinger.I was very interested in her perspective of her place in the Kennedy administration and in JFK's life.

Some of her feelings, especially on women's roles are outdated, but very quaint and adorable.Those were very different times. I do wonder though, if she ever changed a diaper, as most mothers back then did!!!

She was very protective of her husband, and while he may not have been as we all thought back then, she shows a warm and sweet side to him I was unaware of.I was quite young during the Kennedy years so I learned some things I didn't know about JFK's presidency and the climate of our country and around the world.

I am so grateful to Caroline for releasing these tapes to the public for the historical significance and the joy of hearing Jackie.

Wonderful experience that I will revisit again and again!

A Time Remembered

So sad that his death changed the history of our nation...he is missed so much.

Jacqueline Kennedy Interview

A Fascinating interview from Arthur Schlesinger with Jackie Kennedy four months after the assassination of John Kennedy . A superb insight into the cabinet and life surrounding a president of the United States. A journey back in time, excellent!

To hear her voice again! Wish there was more...

Loved hearing her voice, interesting the questions that was asked. Wish they would have asked more about her but I enjoyed this definitely will take you back in time. Makes you feel like your in the room with them at times.

Fascinating Listen

This audio book is fascinating. It's a bit chilling to hear the First Lady being so candid about the President and their private lives. To able to hear her voice and conversations with Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., is a historical dream. You can always read these events, like the Cuban Missile Crisis, but hearing her express her feelings that she wanted to be with JFK and their kids, if something would happen, is something that you can't get from text or even from film. Listening from the actual recordings is awesome because besides the actual conversation, you can hear Jackie Kennedy light her cigarette and inhaling, ice cubes rattling in her drinks, and planes flying in the background. These forgotten detail makes their conversations comes alive. There is one point in the audio book where Schlesinger ask John-John if he miss his father. John-John, which an innocent of a child, responded to him that his father is in heaven. The only way to read this title, is through audio. Wonderful conversations.

The voices of an era

The audio recording of these interviews gave such a glimpse into Mrs. Kennedy's life at the time. The tape recorder stops and starts, kids come into the room, planes fly over, Mrs. Kennedy sips her drink. It makes it so much richer to hear little pieces of the world around her as she recounts her life with the President and her time in the White House.

Her quiet voice recounts such a different side of the important people we read about in history books. In this recording we get snippets of people's personalities, gossips about state dinners and ex-first ladies, and views on marriage, family and women from such a classy lady. It was interesting to hear her daughter in the intro talk about how her views changed over time, but I enjoyed hearing the candid and contemporary 60s views Mrs. Kennedy had at the time.

Inside a very Private Life.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes, during the time that this was happening so much was secret. She kept quiet for good reason but it was hard to understand the emotions or lack thereof. The story showed what women still hadn't attained during the 60"s. Making sure your man was taken care of and not asking any questions was standard then.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The woman herself.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

I liked hearing her speak but sometimes it was hard to hear her. The kids in the background playing was such a natural event.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Sure

Not a history buff, but I couldn't stop listening!

Would you listen to Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy again? Why?

I do plan to listen to this again. There were so many interesting topics that I would like to refresh on!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy?

I loved listening to her opinions of the other "First Ladies", politicians, and events of her time! I am sure she wanted to wait 50 years for this to be released for good reason!

Any additional comments?

This book was a little hard to hear because it was recorded long ago, however once I grabbed my good set of ear buds it was so interesting to hear the clanking of the ice cubes in her glass and her inhaling as she smoked.It was such a different world 50 years ago, she speaks on what was expected of "The First Lady" and of wives and mothers.I will be recommending this and listening again!

A wonderful history

This was so great to hear these tapes in Jackie's voice. I am so great full to Caroline for releasing the tapes in my life time. If there are more I wish she would release them as well. I have always thought Jack, Jackie And Bobby were good people despite their enormous wealth and these tapes brought to light even more reasons to support my feelings. A must listen for people who were alive during this time.

Good book.

Its a very interesting book. Got to know what exactly was happening during that era.