Once Upon a Secret

My Affair with President John F. Kennedy and Its Aftermath

By: Mimi Alford

Narrated by: Susan Denaker

Length: 6 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

In the summer of 1962, 19-year-old Mimi Beardsley arrived by train in Washington, D.C., to begin an internship in the White House press office. The Kennedy Administration had reinvigorated the capital and the country - and Mimi was eager to contribute. For a young woman from a privileged but sheltered upbringing, the job was the chance of a lifetime. Although she started as a lowly intern, Mimi made an impression on Kennedy's inner circle and, after just three days at the White House, she was presented to the President himself.

Almost immediately, the two began an affair that would continue for the next 18 months.

In an era when women in the workplace were still considered "girls", Mimi was literally a girl herself - naive, innocent, emotionally unprepared for the thrill that came when the President's charisma and power were turned on her full-force. She was also unprepared for the feelings of isolation that would follow as she fell into the double life of a college student who was also the secret lover of the most powerful man in the world.

Then, after the President's tragic death in Dallas, she grieved in private, locked her secret away, and tried to start her life anew, only to find that her past would cast a long shadow and ultimately destroy her relationship with the man she married.

In 2003, a Kennedy biographer mentioned "a tall, slender, beautiful 19-year-old college sophomore and White House intern, who worked in the press office" in reference to one of the President's affairs. The disclosure set off a tabloid frenzy and soon exposed Mimi and the secret that she had kept for 41 years. Because her past had been revealed in such a shocking, public way, she was forced, for the first time, to examine the choices she'd made. She came to understand that shutting down one part of her life so completely had closed her off from so much more.

No longer defined by silence or shame, Mimi Alford has finally unburdened herself with this searingly honest account of her life and her extremely private moments with a very public man. Once Upon a Secret offers a new and personal depiction of one of our most iconic leaders and a powerful, moving story of a woman coming to terms with her past and moving out of the shadows to reclaim the truth.

©2012 Mimi Alford (P)2012 Random House

Critic reviews

“With the benefit of hindsight and good old-fashioned maturity, [Mimi Alford] writes not just about the secret, but the corrosive effect of keeping that secret.... You can’t help liking her, or her elegant and thoroughly good-natured book.” (The Spectator)

“Compelling...a polished voice telling a credible story you can take to the bank.” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

“Explosive...searingly candid.” (New York Post)

Far Better Than Expected

YouTube referred to book, I found it on Audible and immediately started listening.
Very interesting perspective.
Reader was excellent.
The only comment I thought to make was that whether or not "affair" began, the initial tryst would've had major psychological impact anyhow.
Then came the ending... I was thoroughly enthralled. It was very emotionally compelling. That made it an amazing read!
Thank you for sharing your story.

Mr. President: This was terribly wrong

What made the experience of listening to Once Upon a Secret the most enjoyable?

Wow, Mimi Alford is, on many levels, one brave woman. She was basically raped by Kennedy in their first encounter. He recognized that she was inexperienced and asked if she had ever done "this" before -- AND SHE TOLD HIM NO. He didn't step back and examine the moral dilemma created by taking advantage of this confused, inexperienced, star struck girl. He proceeded to had sex with her anyway -- the thrill of having a virgin perhaps sweetening the prize. Certainly a president has stress beyond the comprehension of most of us, and he deserved relief from it in the manner he was accustomed to. But Mimi, she should have been off limits, even to him. He clearly took advantage of his awe-inspiring stature. To be wanted by him must have been intoxicating. The real shame comes in the repercussions that followed her throughout her life. The secret created collateral damage one could hardly imagine. I feel sorrow for her -- it seems nothing could eclipse this series of events. Apparently she felt it was "safe" to reveal the story now. I don't wonder that Ms. Alford should have denounced him privately and had counseling for being raped and repeatedly assaulted by her abuser before she apologetically escaped.

Great book! Well done!

Enjoyed this story! Well written, great ending to a tumultuous mental life. So glad Mimi could tell her story and be encouraged by family and friends.

Very intriguing, hard to put down.

If you could sum up Once Upon a Secret in three words, what would they be?

I hesitated listening to this book because of my respect and amiration for Jackie Kennedy but I was intrigued and pludged forward. I did enjoy the book and it made me spend a lot of time doing google searches to learn more about JFK's affairs. For instance, I watched the Barbara Walters interview and I felt sorry for Mimi on how she was treated by Barbara. I respect Mimi for how well she handled the interview. While listening to the story, I felt a compassion for Mimi and thought many times "what would I have done". I did have a hard time believing some of the verbiage towards the end of the book, such as when said she disposed of the personal items given to her by JFK. Not something I think I would do but needless to say I never received any gifts from JFK so who am I to judge.In conclusion, I recommend this book and hats off to Mimi Alford.

My affair with President Kennedy

Narration: clear, engaging, poised telling of one young woman's affair with President Kennedy.

Content: refreshing to listen to a woman avoiding trope of blaming powerful, older man for seducing her. In the hands of cookie cutter feminist this story could have been written as yet one more indictment of men as sexual preditors. Instead, the author describes her experience in nonjudgmental, informative manner. A "me tooer" she is not.

Kudos for avoiding shallow, salacious, accusatory indictment. The contrast with Lewinsky could not be more conspicuous.

Difficult to hear, but easy to listen

I'm a liberal, so of course I love President Kennedy. Some elements of the story were hard to hear...but the story felt very authentic, open & raw - so, it was enthralling. Another key element to this being a very good book is that the story was more about Mimi than JFK - so, there was a non-partisan feel ...you definitely don't need to know much about politics to enjoy the story. But, if you're a political wonk like me, you'll be wrapped up from the very beginning.

Excellent Story - Excellent Narrator

Where does Once Upon a Secret rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Mimi Alford's account of her affair with JFK was very interesting and told with heart-felt honesty. No stone was left unturned as she unveiled her story. Being the same age as Mimi in 1962, I can relate to a 19 yr. old girl's excitement caused by her experiences in Washington, DC. Young and innocent, Mimi, gave no excuses for her actions, other than she was star-struck and overwhelmed by the affection shown her by the President of the United States. The narrator, Susan Denaker, did a superb job of telling the story, and I felt as though Mimi, herself, was speaking.

Which scene was your favorite?

No one particular part. All chapters were thoroughly interesting.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There were no funny parts. I almost felt just like I was there, as the descriptions were so vivid.

Any additional comments?

Recommend the audiobook above other versions due to the excellent narration. Enjoyed this book and appreciated Mimi's honesty. Also, I have a much lower opinion of JFK than before I read the book.

I was on her side all the way

I can’t believe the moral indignation of the other reviewers. Once again, I am reminded that our world regressed in the last century, not progressed.

I have to admit that after hearing the first chapter, when she tells how the story of her adolescent affair with JFK forty years earlier hit the news, I felt ashamed to be interested in it. But she quickly set me at ease, and make me part of the story – as any good writer can do – and she is a excellent writer. I assumed at first it was ghost-written, but became convinced she wrote it herself – at least most of it.

This is history, and should be regarded as such – history written by an insider with a special background. That is probably also why I could identify with her, because I had a similar, sexually repressed childhood. Something nearly impossible to get over.

Back in the early Sixties, when this history was happening, my life was also centered on New York City. Beth and I got married when we were living living in Manhattan. We later moved to California, but our New York years stand out as some of the best in our hectic, short life together.

In the Sixties America had its last chance to redeem itself – and failed. Mimi’s history is a vital part of that story.

Disappointing

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

This is kind of a sad story by a woman who tries to justify all her errors and wrongdoings and fails woefully. Ms. Alford grew up in a privileged family and apparently had no expectations of any real relationship (other than sexual) and yet had no guilt as to how she was being used and how her actions affected Mrs. Kennedy and others. The self-justification becomes really tedious and wears very thin.

Has Once Upon a Secret turned you off from other books in this genre?

Possibly

What three words best describe Susan Denaker’s performance?

Pretentious, really bad male voices, and aristocratic sounding which gets to be pretty off-putting

What else would you have wanted to know about Mimi Alford’s life?

Not a single solitary thing. I regret that I now know so much about her.

Wow

Amazing story. Amazingly written. Amazing narration as well. Every time I think of JFK I will think of this story. Not in a bad way , although there were a couple bad moments but I highly doubt he had no feelings for her. Sucks it ended abruptly.