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)

Dear God! The Scandal!

Mimi Alford kept her secret affair with JFK a secret for 40 some years which in a society where women are creating and "leaking" sex tapes to get attention is unheard of. Her story is engrossing and shocking at the same time. I am a huge fan of any book that deals with JFK, Marilyn Monroe, The Rat Pack etc. This book is clearly a story that would never have come out had she not been "outed". A very good listen.

About half of this is interesting history

The book is more or less divided into three parts. The first concerns one of President Kennedy's dalliances. You learn how a woman less than half the president's age caught his eye and was steered into a situation where he could take advantage of her. The system for doing so was apparently put in place by the president and used many times. For those of us who thought well of President Kennedy this might be disappointing, but it is definitely an interesting bit of history. Ms. Alford makes it clear that she was not a victim, apart from having been cornered in the first encounter.

The second part of the book begins with the president's assassination and switches the focus to the author rather than the president. This was not really what I signed up for but I continued to listen for its references to historic events.

In a final section Ms. Alford's marriage falls apart and she finally discovers true love. I am glad her new relationship is happy, but I would not have bought a book about that.

I think anyone with an interest in American history will enjoy the part of this book about important national events. The rest of the book concerns a different topic, and history readers may not finish the book. The reader did an excellent job and I would certainly look forward to hearing her work again.

A story of forbidden love and emotional maturity

I know little about Kennedy except the major events we all learned about in school. And of course Marilyn Monroe. This story was an interesting journey into one of the unknown characters in the president’s life. Fascinating. I enjoyed Mimi’s later life insights even more once knowing about her dalliance with Kennedy while barely teetering on the edge of adulthood.

fascinating

Any additional comments?

I thought that I would dislike her but instead I really empathized with her naivete. She gives insight into relationships. Kennedy overstepped his boundaries but in a very primitive live-for-the-moment way. The death of his infant son made me empathize more.A very compelling read.

Well written a good read !

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

No politics involved just a real story about a young girl and her life experience.

What other book might you compare Once Upon a Secret to and why?

A book that would be truthful and tastful about how they tell a story.

Which scene was your favorite?

Her reflections and afterthoughts

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I liked the whole story

Interesting Insight into JFK

Well-done. Felt like I was there. Glad she told this story. Great insight into JFK’s inner world. What happened to her with first husband also telling. Highly recommended read, especially for women.

Kept my interest

Any additional comments?

This book gave insight into a very interesting time in our nation's history. It made me feel for Jackie, and all she went through.

Intriguing but loses steam after affair

Would you listen to Once Upon a Secret again? Why?

No, b/c I heard what I wanted and it is definitely not something I would listen to over and over again.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Lame, but understandable.

What aspect of Susan Denaker’s performance would you have changed?

I would have shortened the synopsis of life after the affair while still getting her message across.

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

Made me sad for her, and the fact that she even in later years thinks love can solve life's emptiness....it can but not from an earthly man.

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.