Mrs. Kennedy and Me

To my surprise this book is a love story. Not a salacious inappropriate smut filled account, but rather one with stories of growth, fun times, laughter, dedication, respect! A story of sorrow and sadness that is uplifting because of caring and friendship. This book is a warm modern portrait the Mr. and Mrs. John F. Kennedy and their children from someone who was close to them with no axe to grind. Even the sad events are presented with compassion. There's a lot of love in this book.Secret Service Agent Clint Hill begins his association in late 1960 with the Kennedy administration in a fearful place. Fearful that after a couple of years of what he believed was success on President Eisenhower's detail, he's suddenly removed from the "main action" of protecting the president. Is this a demotion he bemoans? Like any macho Secret Service dude seeking to advance, Mr. Hill naturally dreads moving to the First Ladies detail with its potential daily doses of "fashion shows and the ballet." Yet, both loving his job and having a young family to support, Mr. Hill accepts his fate and reports to 3307 N Street, Georgetown, to meet (be approved by??!!) the young First Lady-elect (she's already rejected one perspective agent!!).Disappoint quickly turns to beguilement, as Clint Hill is thoroughly charmed and enchanted by this beautiful, fun, witty, intelligent, adventurous, sporty, irreverent and yeah, a bit of a spoiled rich girl (who knows how to get her way). Heck, he even learns to not mind the occasional fashion show (so long as it features the First Lady!), ballet in New York and even personally shopping for ladies apparel in Ravello, Itally!!!! Who woulda thunk it.No, I've not overdone it on the adjectives and yeah, this isn't your typical "Kennedy" bio. Mr. Hill doesn't criticize or attack, but showers his subject with affection. He and all the agents, because of the nature of their jobs, seemingly abandon their own lives and families in their service to the first family and all who they protect. One can see how the close private contact and the enormous amount of time spent away from the agent's loved ones can lead to feelings that are deeper and more personal towards the subject of their protection.Mr. Hill (and she's "Mrs. Kennedy - she adheres to proper address at all times) not only loves the First Lady, but he also very much cares for her husband and their children too. He just plain loves the Kennedy first family period - and says that despite what's been written, they were a loving and playful family. He even is amused by the extended Kennedy clan and their friends!!Mr. Hill doesn't portend to sell more books by detailing alleged unsavory dalliances and missteps. You will find no recollections or opinions about the first couple's sex life (apart from a remembrance about some suggestive art that the First Lady picks up in India...humorous not amorous). While Mr. Hill does mention a certain controversial birthday featuring a drunken female movie star and her singing, and he does hint at a certain rat pack crooners' rather inappropriate interest in Mrs. Kennedy's personal activities (this was new to me - and I've read at least 50 bios on the K's), Mr. Hill doesn't go further than what he truly knows to be true - which is that Mrs. Kennedy never shared her feelings about either.I felt his writing in this way showed not only respect for his subjects, but a certain truth missing in most other biographies that serve rumor as fact, and seem to relish ripping their subjects apart. Well, there's no ripping here.If one reads between the lines, here is a portrait of a woman who undoubtedly loves her place in life with her powerful, public servant, handsome husband (whatever his warts), and yet thrives on the one thing that is the antithesis of his job (and perhaps his entire being) - privacy. A lady who is tough and yet wears her vulnerabilities in "her espresso-colored eyes." A lady who claims to dislike the "fish bowl" existence inherent in the White House, yet secretly enjoys reading the gossip magazines featuring herself.Topics that Mr. Hill offers an accounting:Why Mrs. Kennedy spent so much time away from the White House (Mr. Hill says she spent about eight percent of her time AWAY from the White House during one time period in 1961).Mrs. Kennedy's various vacations and partying amongst the creme de la creme of the European social set without her husband (according to Mr. Hill, usually with her SISTER - and nothing out of line - except for the time she jumps in the sports car of a very, very young Greek Count who engages Mr. Hill and his fellow agents on a high speed chase...but that was about fun - not illicit romance).Onassis! I didn't know that President Kennedy felt so strongly about Mrs. Kennedy having nothing to do with Onassis as early as her visit to Greece in 1961!!! Mr. Hill felt very uneasy about the Greek tycoon.Despite the fun and adventures, in the end, this is a story about great pain, loss and sorrow. Also, about one man's journey to learning to forgive himself. This book is a great success for no other reason than its finally allowed Mr. Hill peace of mind.

I finished this book the same day I received it a couple of weeks ago, and was done in about two hours. Once I started I was transfixed and could not put it down.Unfortunately, I am not of an age to have experienced the fabled thousand days of the Kennedy Presidency. I have no recall of it at all, except vaguely frightening memories of the muffled drums, horse-led caisson and wailing bagpipes of the three day State funeral...which I was much too small to appreciate or understand. Still, I have always been fascinated by the incredibly glamourous and ultimately tragic First Couple of the Kennedy White House. I have read almost everything in print on Jacqueline Kennedy.(sorry...much like Clint Hill I cannot stand referring to her as Mrs. Onassis!) After so many unflattering revelations in various books both before and after her death-the amoral, borderline depraved creature of Peter Evans "Nemesis" comes immediately to mind-it was quite a relief to read about this complex woman from someone who knew her as well as anyone and does not have an axe to grind. Here are a few of the things that stayed with me after I finished reading:---The exalted circles the Kennedy family in general and the First Couple in particular moved in...a duke and a countess there, a prince and a princess here. And some of these people were in-laws and members of their extended family.--- There are SO many funny stories and anecdotes!Jackie attempting to tease poker faced Agent Hill into discussing the "Kama Sutra" by showing him sexually explicit drawings, the Secret Service nervously discussing JBK's desire to have some tiger cubs she was given in India roam freely on the White House lawn..the hilarious telegram from JBK to JFK berating the President for his "rudeness" regarding her new horse Sardar, a gift from the President of Pakistan.I didn't know whether to laugh OR cry after reading about the "goat sacrifice in Afghanistan" episode...that poor animal! By the way, I wish Mr. Hill had included more information about the famous Kennedy menagerie of dogs, including Pushinka the Space Puppy and Clipper, JBK's magnificent but reportedly badly behaved German Shepherd who was photographed with her so often in those days. Those dogs were a big part of the family's lives during their time in the White House and I would have loved to hear more about them. But I was delighted to read about her rapport with horses, and her daring and skill as an equestrienne.---That photo of Agent Hill freaking out on the Italian Riviera in a boat that is about to capsize is PRICELESS...I think I laughed harder than Jackie just viewing it!---The haunting description of JBK thrashing restlessly in her hospital bed the night her newborn son died made me cry. The fact that she was never told just how critically ill he was-so she could have possibly been prepared for the end-was simply heartbreaking. I won't discuss the assassination and funeral. It's just too horrible. Besides, I can't add anything that hasn't already been said.It struck me on page after page what a less tolerant, more "politically correct" time we live in now. For example, if word ever got out that Michelle Obama had shown sexually suggestive material to her SS agent even as a joke, I think certain members of Congress and the public would demand a Congressional probe into "sexual harrassment" of the Secret Service! And can anyone imagine how the Kennedy marriage, with it's upper class 18th century standards of behavior, would go over with our "family values" voting public today? How about their jet-set aristocratic friends, their posh vacations and high brow focus on culture and the arts? And if a First Lady now would ever DARE leave her babies-including a few weeks old infant and a toddler-in Palm Beach with a British nanny for six weeks as Jackie did, the public criticism and even outrage would be considerable. Yet JBK shines through the pages as the most sensitive, involved and doting of mothers. No one could ever accuse her of being anything other than an excellent parent, deeply bonded with her youngsters.Agent Clint Hill's integrity, loyalty and devotion, even after her death,to his beloved Mrs. Kennedy seems as poignant as it is quaint. He almost comes off like some medieval knight from another time. And even though this exquisite little memoir broke my heart I am so grateful to him for writing it, finally. I cannot recommend it highly enough.BRAVO MR HILL!

Beautifully written book! I felt so many emotions reading this book. It was sometimes funny...reverent....and so sad when Mr. Hill takes us along on his journey.... knowing what the outcome will be. I believe Mr. Hill when he says the assassination changed his life. I saw an interview with him and he said it has taken a toll on his life and his family. You Mr. Hill were a hero on that dreadful day of November 22, 1963! Loved the book! Such a tribute to Jackie and what she had to endure. Jackie was lucky to have you as her secret service agent for those years....Bravo Mr. Hill....I highly recommend this book!

I like the book.

What a fascinating read. I've read tomes about the Kennedys and always think I must know all about them now, and then another book is released and (sometimes) I learn I don't at all. This is one of those times. I've waited over a year for this to become more affordable for me so was delighted when the price finally dropped from its £14+ inception cost !! I am a big fan of the Publisher's Font used in this as well. It's a really nice and very readable one. Wish my Kindle had one the same.It's written so well and he brings Jackie to true life better than any other writer has.....it was nice to hear of her lighting up a cigarette (I did use the f word here but Amazon bounced it back to me) in the backseat of the car with him and other mischief she caused.....he had his work cut out for those years but I would hazard a guess those were his favourite years of his illustrious career at the White House. It was nice to see some photos I hadn't seen before as well.The Secret Service certainly scrimp on their operatives....for all his time with her he only ever had one fulltime person with him and at times did the job on his tod which I found pretty staggering !! I was also shocked to read that Texas in November 1963 was the first and only time Jackie ever accompanied JFK on a domestic political trip !! This I found a poignant passage and I shed a few tears:"Three shots had been fired in Dealey Plaza. And the world stopped for four days."I was drawing some parallels with Princess Diana reading this.....compare the difference of JFK joking about accompanying Jackie Kennedy to Paris to Prince Charles' po-faced chops when crowds went wild over his lovely wife.....and there was the Al Fayed spectre in her life whereas Jackie had Onassis wanting to make a name for himself. I'd not realised that Jackie had done the solo Taj Mahal photo first, either, on the same spot, although looking happier. I did have the odd snivel again reading about JFK's last birthday and how Clint referred to it.I spotted the odd apostrophe mistake along with these hyphen mistakes.....comprehen-sion and father-inlaw and Aaron Copeland is spelt like this and Aga Khan not Agha....but that was it, which is pretty good going.I plan to get hold of his other book set in these same times, too. It's also written with Lisa McCubbin so I am sure will be as interesting as this one was.

Das Buch war wirklich toll. Ich könnte es gar nicht mehr weglegen und musste mich am Ende echt bremsen, um es nicht zu schnell fertig zu haben. Clint Hill ist einfach ein bemerkenswerter Mann, der viel miterlebt hat und bei vielen geschichtlichen Events dabei war. Ich hätte nicht gedacht, dass mir das Buch so gefallen würde, aber es ist eines der besten, die ich je gelesen habe. Ganz klare Empfehlung!

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