Grace and Power: The Private World of the Kennedy White House

Glamor Days

If you're curious about the Kennedys, or if you want to relive a singular moment in American politics, this is the book for you. It's hard to believe, but a senior in college in 1963, when JFK was assassinated, would be over 60 years old today, leaving most Americans familiar with the mythology of the Kennedys but not with the facts and texture of their lives. I've read widely about the Kennedys and thought I knew almost everything there was to know about them, at least until I read this book. My hunch is that it will stand as the definitive account for years to come. Ms. Smith makes you feel as if you're inside the Kennedy White House, alongside their dazzling circle of friends and advisers, dealing with great events while partying deep into the night and shuttling between Washington, Hyannis Port, and Newport. Unlike most Kennedy books, this is not a cut-and-paste job. Ms. Smith convinces many Kennedy intimates to speak for the first time, and persuades others to disclose material that they had never discussed before. JFK's philandering is compulsive, and hearing his lovers talk about him reveals the core of the man. If you're interested in journalism, the footnotes show a masterful reporter at work. Only one question lingers: How does she get all these people to talk? Wait until you read the comments from a physician who speaks for the first time about his phone calls with Jackie, an emotionally fragile woman seeking advice about the most intimate aspects of her marriage. In today's poisonous political climate, 'Grace and Power' comes as a welcome tonic. It reminds us that politics and journalism in America were once civil, glamorous, and hopeful. We may have been overly innocent in the early 1960s, but, as Ms. Smith shows, the times were also sweeter then.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

A New Perspective

The nuances of this book are so finely tuned that the Kennedys step out of the history books and somewhat convey their private personalities to the reader. It is a fresh read about the Kennedy lifestyle.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Kennedy's Flaws and Triumphs

I have recently finished reading this book and I have to say it has become my all-time favorite. I couldn't imagine it being more researched. Every page is filled with quotes from the President, his family and friends, or politcal advisers. The book places a greater emphasis on his personal life, which makes it a very interesting read.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Simply fantastic

I wish I would have purchased this sooner... One of the most well written books about the Kennedy white house years I have ever read and I've read just about everything. A MUST READ.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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