Jackie, Ethel, Joan Women of Camelot

by Taraborrelli, J. Randy

• ISBN13: 9780446564632
• ISBN10: 044656463X
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-04-03
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Summary

Over the years there have been many books published about the Kennedy family, individually and collectively. But only this book provides a powerful and detailed look at the complex relationships shared between the three women who were not born Kennedy but who married into the family: Jackie Bouvier, Ethel Skakel, and Joan Bennett. For each of the Kennedy wives, the Camelot years provided an entirely different experience of life lessons. These were the years when Jackie's dreams became reality, but at a hefty price. For Ethel, these were years of frustration where her dreams of being First Lady were dashed and she sank into a deep depression. For Joan, her years as a Kennedy wife were the most confusing of her life, and she is now a recovering alcoholic. This fascinating story is set against a panorama of explosive American history, as the women cope with Jack's and Bobby's alleged affairs with Marilyn Monroe, their tragic assassinations, and other tragedies and scandals. Whether dealing with their husbands' blatant infidelities, stumping for their many political campaigns, touring the world to promote their family's legacy or raising their children, the Kennedy wives did it all with grace, style, and dignity. In the end, JACKIE, ETHEL, JOAN is a story of redemption and great courage.

Author Biography

J. Randy Taraborrelli is a respected journalist, a recognizable entertainment personality, and in-demand guest on many television programs including Today, Good Morning America, The Early Show, Entertainment Tonight, and CNN Headline News. He is the bestselling author of thirteen books.

Table of Contents

Prologue: Long Live the Queen	p. 1
	p. 5
Joan...	p. 7
Jackie...	p. 10
Ethel...	p. 12
...and the Secret Service	p. 15
Jack Defeats Nixon	p. 18
The Pre-Inaugural Gala	p. 24
Jack	p. 27
The Five Inaugural Balls	p. 30
Bobby	p. 34
The Skakels	p. 37
Not One to Feel Sorry for Herself	p. 46
White House Infidelities	p. 47
The Bouviers	p. 51
Jackie's First Meeting with Ethel	p. 57
Jack Proposes Marriage	p. 61
All of This, and More	p. 67
Joseph and Jackie's Deal	p. 73
Sisterly Advice	p. 76
The Bennetts	p. 81
	p. 91
A Legacy of Infidelity	p. 93
Jack's Affair with Marilyn	p. 96
Jackie's Expensive Diversion	p. 98
Madcap Ethel during the Kennedy Presidency	p. 102
Joan's Social Impasse	p. 106
Trying to Understand Each Other	p. 108
Jackie's Documentary: A Tour of the White House	p. 111
The Voice	p. 114
"Secrets Always Come Out"	p. 118
	p. 123
Bobby Meets Marilyn	p. 125
"Life's Too Short to Worry about Marilyn Monroe"	p. 127
Jackie's Ultimatum to Jack	p. 132
Bobby's Rumored Affair with Marilyn	p. 133
Joseph's Stroke	p. 135
At Horizon House	p. 138
The Walking Cane	p. 140
Life at the Hyannis Port Compound	p. 142
The Fourth of July in Hyannis Port, 1962	p. 145
Joan's Many Faux Pas	p. 147
Pat Finds Jackie "So Insecure"	p. 152
Marilyn Monroe's Death	p. 154
Jackie Goes Away to Think	p. 157
	p. 161
The Kennedy Women Do Men's Work	p. 163
Jackie's Wicked Scheme	p. 173
The Cuban Missile Crisis	p. 175
Joan-The Senator's Wife	p. 182
	p. 187
Delighted to Be Pregnant	p. 189
The Deaths of Infants Arabella and Patrick	p. 190
Lee Radziwill Invites Jackie-in-Mourning	p. 198
"Not Ethel's Best Moment"	p. 201
Aboard the Christina	p. 203
Jack Summons Jackie-To No Avail	p. 207
"Ari Is Not for You"	p. 209
	p. 211
Jack's Rapprochement with Jackie: "Getting to Know You"	p. 213
Tragedy	p. 216
"The President's Been Shot"	p. 220
Holy Mary, Mother of God	p. 222
"The Party's Been Canceled-The President's Dead"	p. 225
In Mourning	p. 230
Tea with Lady Bird	p. 234
Thanksgiving, 1963	p. 238
Jackie's Camelot	p. 242
"Let It All Out"	p. 245
Aftermath	p. 248
	p. 255
Moving Out of the White House	p. 257
Lyndon Johnson "Using Jackie"	p. 261
The Kennedy Camp on LBJ: "A Blight on the New Frontier"	p. 266
Joan's Bottled-Up Anxiety	p. 270
Jackie's Saddest Days	p. 272
Jackie and Brando-The Rumors	p. 277
	p. 279
Ted's Plane Crash	p. 281
Joan Wins the Election for Ted	p. 287
Jackie on the Anniversary of November 22, 1963	p. 292
Using Jackie-Yet Again	p. 294
Joan the Emissary	p. 296
Cead Mile Failte	p. 299
Joan's Continuing Struggle	p. 302
	p. 307
The Rumor Mill	p. 309
RFK for President	p. 315
Enter "The Greek"	p. 318
The Appeal to Jackie	p. 322
Ethel's Thoughtless Remark	p. 326
Another Tragedy	p. 332
"The Hand of a Dead Man"	p. 337
"No God of Mine"	p. 340
Senator Robert Francis Kennedy Is Dead	p. 342
Bobby's Funeral	p. 347
"We Shall Carry on with Courage"	p. 351
Ethel-Just a Shell	p. 355
	p. 361
Ted Negotiates Jackie's Nuptials	p. 363
Andy Williams	p. 367
Ethel Pushes Jackie Too Far	p. 373
"Bobby's Little Miracle"	p. 375
	p. 379
Chappaquiddick	p. 381
Jackie Tells Ari: "I Have to Be There"	p. 384
Joan Accuses: "All You Care about Is How It Looks?"	p. 389
Ethel to the Rescue	p. 393
Mary Jo's Funeral	p. 395
Ted Asks for Forgiveness	p. 398
Joan Loses the Baby	p. 403
A Final Gathering for Joseph	p. 405
The End of Camelot	p. 408
	p. 415
Ted Hurts Joan Again	p. 417
Ethel's Troubled Brood	p. 421
Will Ted Run? The Joan Factor	p. 425
Joan and Ted: Creating the Illusion of a Marriage	p. 431
Joan in Control of Joan	p. 437
The Announcement: EMK for President	p. 439
Joan's White House Fantasies	p. 442
EMK's Candidacy: Not Meant to Be	p. 444
The Last Straw for Joan	p. 449
Postscript: Jackie, Ethel, and Joan after Camelot	p. 453
Acknowledgments and Source Notes	p. 465
Index	p. 515
An Excerpt from After Camelot	p. 529
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