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)

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.

very interesting

Would you consider the audio edition of Once Upon a Secret to be better than the print version?

yes... i love sitting outside listening to the book

What was one of the most memorable moments of Once Upon a Secret?

the ending

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

she made me cry when the president died and she told her boyfriend about what had been going on.

Disturbing

What did you love best about Once Upon a Secret?

I found the book to be a little disturbing due to I was 7 at the time President Kennedy was killed. I looked up to him then and did until I read the book. I think everyone knew he had affairs but for him to do this to Jacklyn and with a 19 year old girl, I find it shocking.
It has changed my view of him completely.....I feel very sad for his family.

Have you listened to any of Susan Denaker’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but I really liked listening to her. She draws you in.

Yikes!

I am old enough to remember the Kennedy "Camelot" story and where I was when I heard that Kennedy had been shot. I have heard rumors and stories about what a womanizer he was alleged to be but this book makes it all so much more real.
I guess we all need to draw our own conclusions about Jack Kennedy. I enjoyed listening to the story but it almost seemed like a fairy tale - so bold!!
Good to hear that Ms. Alford has come through intact and she can now tell her story. Fortunately, I think she is a good and thoughtful writer.

Heartbreakingly Triumphant

Wonderfully narrated. I felt myself feeling like Alice in wonderland, hopeful and seemingly happy then suddenly tumbling down a rabbit hole of intoxicating quandary, bewildering sadness, and eventual peace redemption and contentment. Mimi's real life reads like a real life Forrest Gump - complete with monumental moments, rough terrain, serendipitous epiphanies and life lessons learned. I've such respect for her journey and I'm so happy for her happily ever after... even though my heart swelled and my eyes welled with tears at the end of her true life story - the gift for me personally was hope.

Half good

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Less personal information after the death of the President and more information about their relationship.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

How easy it was to cover up. Her life after the death of the president

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Kind of blase.

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

No

Any additional comments?

No

Very well written; very well told

A well told & read story of sin, loss, consequences & Earthly redemption. Worth the read or listen

Happy endinngs

At first I thought this was a tell all book. After listening to the entire book it seems more of a book about overcoming something that's tarnished a life and seeing how to deal with it. It's almost fictional.

Good book.

I enjoyed this book very much. It definitely held my attention and I would recommend it. I’m always a bit skeptic if someone else does not give a good review. I liked it!