What I’ve Read: Mrs. Kennedy and Me by Clint Hill with Lisa McCubbin This book is the memoir of Clint Hill, the Secret Service agent assigned to Jacqueline Kennedy during the Kennedy administration. He’s never told about his experiences publicly until this book—and it was well worth the wait. This is a beautifully written book and a wonderful tribute to Jacqueline Kennedy. It’s not surprising that Kennedy seemed to prefer Hill over the other agents assigned to her. His earnestness and kindness towards her is evident throughout the book. He was insistent on giving her as much privacy and personal space as possible, something it was obvious she cherished having been abruptly thrown into the international spotlight. What’s remarkable about this book is that among all the other tell-all type memoirs that have been written about the Kennedys, this one feels more personal and more intimate than any other, but does the family no injustice. There’s been a million articles and books written describing the Kennedy assassination, but no account can compare to Hill’s. And yet, it’s clear he did not want to exploit this event for his own personal gain or to provide lurid details for a curious public. He admits that the events of that day haunted him through his entire life and his descriptions of interactions alongside Mrs. Kennedy throughout the day and the following weeks makes for a truly heartbreaking account. (If you’ve ever wondered who the agent was that jumped onto the back of the Presidential convertible after the shots were fired, that was Hill.) I found this book so refreshing and honest. It’s not sensational, it’s not exploitative—it’s just straightforward and honest and actually quite beautiful. Have you read this book? What did you think?

What I’ve Read: Mrs. Kennedy and Me by Clint Hill with Lisa McCubbin

This book is the memoir of Clint Hill, the Secret Service agent assigned to Jacqueline Kennedy during the Kennedy administration. He’s never told about his experiences publicly until this book—and it was well worth the wait. This is a beautifully written book and a wonderful tribute to Jacqueline Kennedy.

It’s not surprising that Kennedy seemed to prefer Hill over the other agents assigned to her. His earnestness and kindness towards her is evident throughout the book. He was insistent on giving her as much privacy and personal space as possible, something it was obvious she cherished having been abruptly thrown into the international spotlight.

What’s remarkable about this book is that among all the other tell-all type memoirs that have been written about the Kennedys, this one feels more personal and more intimate than any other, but does the family no injustice. There’s been a million articles and books written describing the Kennedy assassination, but no account can compare to Hill’s. And yet, it’s clear he did not want to exploit this event for his own personal gain or to provide lurid details for a curious public. He admits that the events of that day haunted him through his entire life and his descriptions of interactions alongside Mrs. Kennedy throughout the day and the following weeks makes for a truly heartbreaking account. (If you’ve ever wondered who the agent was that jumped onto the back of the Presidential convertible after the shots were fired, that was Hill.)

I found this book so refreshing and honest. It’s not sensational, it’s not exploitative—it’s just straightforward and honest and actually quite beautiful.

Have you read this book? What did you think?

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30 Notes

  1. lizlemon answered: Well, now I am reading it.
  2. yadayada reblogged this from jaclynday and added:
    “To Read” list. Jaclyn...steers me wrong.
  3. asitypethis answered: haven’t read it, but will be adding this to my list of book this summer!
  4. lifeinthebluehouse answered: Will add it to my list!
  5. jaclynday posted this