First published 2006
Sally Bedell Smith examines the Kennedy presidency through the lens of personal relationships and private moments. The author interviewed numerous Kennedy associates, many speaking publicly for the first time, and accessed previously unavailable letters and personal documents. Smith explores how the forty-three-year-old president and thirty-one-year-old first lady became the youngest couple to lead from the White House. She details their circle of intellectuals, journalists, diplomats, and artists who created a sharp divide between Washington insiders and outsiders. The book covers JFK's public achievements in creating the New Frontier and confronting the Soviets, alongside his devotion to family and his multiple extramarital relationships. Smith examines Jackie's role as first lady, her impact on foreign leaders and American culture, and her transformation of the White House into a center of beauty and sophistication. The author reveals new details about Kennedy's affairs, the competitive dynamics among his advisers, and the events surrounding his assassination. Smith constructs a detailed portrait of two remarkable figures and the era they shaped.
Genres: biography, history, 20th-century, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: intimate-portrait, power-dynamics
Setting: United States, Washington D.C.
Period: 1960s
605 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Ballantine Books