Mrs. Kennedy and Me

An Intimate Memoir

By: Clint Hill, Lisa McCubbin Hill

Narrated by: Jeremy Bobb

Length: 11 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

He called her Mrs. Kennedy. SHE called him Mr. Hill.

For four years, from the election of John Fitzgerald Kennedy in November 1960 until after the election of Lyndon Johnson in 1964, Clint Hill was the Secret Service agent assigned to guard the glamorous and intensely private Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. During those four years, he went from being a reluctant guardian to a fiercely loyal watchdog and, in many ways, her closest friend.

Now, looking back 50 years, Clint Hill tells his story for the first time, offering a tender, enthralling, and tragic portrayal of how a Secret Service agent who started life in a North Dakota orphanage became the most trusted man in the life of the First Lady who captivated first the nation and then the world.

When he was initially assigned to the new First Lady, Agent Hill envisioned tea parties and gray-haired matrons. But as soon as he met her, he was swept up in the whirlwind of her beauty, her grace, her intelligence, her coy humor, her magnificent composure, and her extraordinary spirit.

From the start, the job was like no other, and Clint was by her side through the early days of JFK's presidency; the birth of sons John and Patrick and Patrick's sudden death; Kennedy-family holidays in Hyannis Port and Palm Beach; Jackie's trips to Europe, Asia, and South America; Jackie's intriguing meetings with men like Aristotle Onassis, Gianni Agnelli, and André Malraux; the dark days of the year that followed the assassination; to the farewell party she threw for Clint when he left her protective detail after four years. All she wanted was the one thing he could not give her: a private life for her and her children.

Filled with unforgettable details, startling revelations, and sparkling, intimate moments, this is the once-in-a-lifetime story of a man doing the most exciting job in the world, with a woman all the world loved, and the tragedy that ended it all too soon - a tragedy that haunted him for 50 years.

©2012 Lisa McCubbin, Clint Hill (P)2012 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"With clear and honest prose free of salaciousness and gossip, Hill (ably assisted by McCubbin) evokes not only a personality both beautiful and brilliant, but also a time when the White House was filled with youth and promise. Of the many words written about Jacqueline Kennedy, these are among the best." ( Kirkus)

Great book

Absolutely amazing book. The guy that read it did an awesome job. Loved listening to it.

Good read

Easy to stay engaged. Nice story! Would love to hear more from this writer. Enjoyable.

Had me from Chapter 1!

I listened to this book every single chance I got. The stories were so intriguing and I just could not get enough of them. I was so sad when it was over. Clint Hill is a great man and I am so glad he shared some his most intimate memories with the world! Jackie was such a lucky woman to have him by her side for all those years! Thank you Mr. Hill for your many years of service and thank you for sharing your heart with us!

Emotional listen

This book was incredible. It beautifully illustrated the relationship between Mr. Hill and Mrs. Kennedy. The narration was wonderful.

A unique perspective on history

Mr. Hill relates a perspective that is sanitized but fascinating - clearly a man in love with his protectee and unable to ever say so.

Very moving audiobook

Very interesting audiobook, the last chapter is read by Mr Hill himself, his voice is beautiful and full of profound emotions he is still feeling after all these years, Mr Hill himself is now part of the history of John and Jacqueline Kennedy. Marie (France)

A very moving book

This is a beautiful book, full of joy and sorrow. Mr Hill delivers a work of true eloquence through his first hand account of events, some well known and others known to but a few. I loved this book!

Excellent Book

I always enjoyed reading about the Kennedy family. This one was funny at times but of course very sad at the end. But very interesting to see how he thought he would hate the job and how he came to care and respect Mrs. Kennedy.

Non Stop Listening

What a beautiful testament to a woman the world admired from a far. This man got up close and personal. Without any salacious details it gave me relatable insight into JBK. I was so nostalgic for the time period due to the storyline. I was looking up pictures as he was telling a story. I imagined myself there and the heady halcyon days and nights. How does one fly so high? Coming back to earth must be dull after living through this man's eyes. It put to rest many conspiracy theories I've heard over the years. You cannot make this personal detail up. Nor, how it played on him for the remainder of his life.

Profound

I lived through the time that Pres Kennedy died and to read Clint’s memories was incredibly impactful