Christopher Andersen (1) (1949–)

I've long had a sort-of joke that "what doesn't kill you makes you a Kennedy." After reading this, what doesn't kill you makes you *Caroline Kennedy*, and this book was published years before she would lose her adult daughter to cancer. I knew there was so much tragedy in her life, but she also dealt with stalkers, pushy paparazzi, societal expectations, and more, while trying to live an authentic life under the weight and microscope of her family legacy. According to this book, she seems to show more have done as well as possible, but I hope she has an excellent therapist because I can't imagine how she is able to balance all the work of curating the Kennedy legacy and have a life of her own. Peace to Caroline. show less

I am a complete sucker for any book about Jack and Jackie Kennedy, so of course I couldn't resist this, even though all Christopher Andersen really does is rehash all the old favourite anecdotes and events from every Kennedy biography ever. But he summarises their love story with such emotion that I was completely swept along - again! - and read the whole book in a day.

Jackie's myth of Camelot might be over, thanks to the mudslinging tactics of modern day journalism, but I don't care. I know show more that Jack cheated on Jackie relentlessly. I know that his appearance of youth and 'viggar' belied his ill health. I know that Jackie was conditioned by her mother to stay with her philandering husband because his family was rich. But I also believe that Jack and Jackie did love each other, in their way. He had issues with displaying (nonsexual) affection and Jackie preferred to be alone and could cut people out of her life without blinking an eye. Yet in the words of one friend, 'They both wanted desperately to connect, but hadn't the faintest idea how. That's what made their love story so achingly poignant.' Both had personal quirks and failings born of privileged yet dysfunctional backgrounds, but they were 'two lonely people' and saw in each other the other half of themselves, and that's what I love about the slow-burning, marriage of convenience turned partnership that was Jack and Jackie's marriage.

Andersen interviewed first hand many of the people who knew the President and his First Lady, which surprised me after reading the first chapter, which sounds slightly cribbed and one-sided. He does tell both sides of the story, light and dark, however, including JFK's many dalliances and Jackie's personal methods of dealing with a homelife that was at times both mentally and physically gruelling. I just revelled in the descriptions of Jack's love for his children, his admiration for his wife, and Jackie's growing and enduring love for him - brutally cut short in Dallas, 1963. And if the chapter on baby Patrick's short life doesn't bring a tear to the eye, there must be something wrong! Beautifully told. show less

I gave this 3.5 stars. While it was certainly interesting, it took a long time to slog through it. Some times trashy, and then at other times engaging, it is difficult to know what was true and untrue. Many tattletale "facts" seemed undocumented. Did she really have an affair with Marlin Brando, Bobby Kennedy, some of her husbands cabinet members?

One of the interesting tidbits was that the doctor who repeatedly injected the president, also injected Jackie with the same feel good steroids. show more Years later, before Jackie's diagnosis of nonHodgkin's lymphoma, it was discovered that these chemicals were known to cause the illness that Jackie died from.

No doubt, a highly-interesting lady, she brought fashion and class to the White House. The portrayal of the death of her husband while she watched his body parts fly on her and the car, leaves no doubt that she would be emotionally challenged afterward. She was a very strong woman. Like all of us, at times other directed, and other instances self absorbed. show less

Jack and Jackie shows that deeply, unbelievably flawed people can still accomplish great things snd achieve some good in the world. This is a warts and all look at the Kennedys that seems well-sourced. Everybody talked with the exception of the close family—friends, friends of friends, ex-lovers, business acquaintances, service people—all spilled everything they knew. All the sex, drug use and other questionable behavior jumps from the page. Every gritty detail, offhand remark, joke and show more misstep was taken note of by someone and Anderson gathered it all. With friends like these who needs enemies? Jackie allegedly left an autobiography to be published long after her children’s lifetime but if anyone is still interested by then I doubt it will reveal anything new. show less