Biography & Autobiography.
Family & Relationships.
History.
Nonfiction.
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#1NEW YORK TIMESBESTSELLER • “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 In the summer of 1962, nineteen-year-old Mimi Beardsley arrived in Washington, D.C., to begin an internship in the White House press office. After just three days on the job, the privileged but sheltered young woman was presented to the President himself. Almost immediately, the two began an affair that would continue for the next eighteen months. Emotionally unprepared to counter the President’s charisma and power, Mimi was also ill-equipped to handle 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. After the President’s assassination in Dallas, she grieved alone, locked her secret away, and tried to start a new life, only to be blindsided by her past.
Now, no longer defined by silence or shame, Mimi Alford finally unburdens herself with this unflinchingly honest account of her life and her extremely private moments with a very public man. This paperback edition includes a special Q&A, in which the author reflects on the intense media attention surrounding the book’s initial release. Once Upon a Secret is a moving story of a woman emerging from the shadows to reclaim the truth.
“What [Alford] sacrificed in lucre she has more than recovered in credibility and dignity.”—The Washington Times “Compelling . . . a polished voice telling a credible story you can take to the bank.”—Seattle Post-Intelligencer “Explosive . . . searingly candid.”—New York Post
A mildly interesting story from the young woman's point of view. At least from the viewpoint of her older, wiser self. Although she draws life lessons from the experience and feels she has become more self-actualized than she would have without the experience, I still found it a depressingly common story of abuse of power by the men who run our country. Even worse, men whom so many idolize and admire. ( )
I picked this up because I was just curious. I was pleasantly surprised. The author gives just enough background to give a good context, then she goes on to describe her feelings, thoughts, and activities, always with a note that this is all done in hindsight. She does not try to explore what others were thinking and sticks very closely to her memories of her perceptions and how those perceptions might have changed with time. Mimi is very clear about what this book is about - her affair with President Kennedy. She very articulately describes the power differential and what that and the affair meant and means to her. She depicts exactly how she believes she fit into the whole Camelot White House. She does this candidly and honestly. The story unfolds very logically and concludes nicely with her unburdening of her long-held secret. I am glad I read this book. ( )
I first saw Mimi Alford on the Today show speaking about her book. At that point I wasn't sure if I wanted to read the book, but I then saw that it was available as an audio book and decided to listen to the story. It has been known that President Kennedy was not a faithful husband to wife Jackie, but this memoir really opened my eyes to the lifestyle that he led during his presidency. According to Mimi's telling, her affair with President Kennedy had a lasting effect on her entire life. This account seems fairly well documented to not be true. ( )
Biography & Autobiography.
Family & Relationships.
History.
Nonfiction.
HTML:
#1NEW YORK TIMESBESTSELLER • “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 In the summer of 1962, nineteen-year-old Mimi Beardsley arrived in Washington, D.C., to begin an internship in the White House press office. After just three days on the job, the privileged but sheltered young woman was presented to the President himself. Almost immediately, the two began an affair that would continue for the next eighteen months. Emotionally unprepared to counter the President’s charisma and power, Mimi was also ill-equipped to handle 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. After the President’s assassination in Dallas, she grieved alone, locked her secret away, and tried to start a new life, only to be blindsided by her past.
Now, no longer defined by silence or shame, Mimi Alford finally unburdens herself with this unflinchingly honest account of her life and her extremely private moments with a very public man. This paperback edition includes a special Q&A, in which the author reflects on the intense media attention surrounding the book’s initial release. Once Upon a Secret is a moving story of a woman emerging from the shadows to reclaim the truth.
“What [Alford] sacrificed in lucre she has more than recovered in credibility and dignity.”—The Washington Times “Compelling . . . a polished voice telling a credible story you can take to the bank.”—Seattle Post-Intelligencer “Explosive . . . searingly candid.”—New York Post
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