Mrs. Kennedy and Me

An Intimate Memoir

By: Clint Hill, Lisa McCubbin Hill

Narrated by: Jeremy Bobb

Length: 11 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

He called her Mrs. Kennedy. SHE called him Mr. Hill.

For four years, from the election of John Fitzgerald Kennedy in November 1960 until after the election of Lyndon Johnson in 1964, Clint Hill was the Secret Service agent assigned to guard the glamorous and intensely private Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. During those four years, he went from being a reluctant guardian to a fiercely loyal watchdog and, in many ways, her closest friend.

Now, looking back 50 years, Clint Hill tells his story for the first time, offering a tender, enthralling, and tragic portrayal of how a Secret Service agent who started life in a North Dakota orphanage became the most trusted man in the life of the First Lady who captivated first the nation and then the world.

When he was initially assigned to the new First Lady, Agent Hill envisioned tea parties and gray-haired matrons. But as soon as he met her, he was swept up in the whirlwind of her beauty, her grace, her intelligence, her coy humor, her magnificent composure, and her extraordinary spirit.

From the start, the job was like no other, and Clint was by her side through the early days of JFK's presidency; the birth of sons John and Patrick and Patrick's sudden death; Kennedy-family holidays in Hyannis Port and Palm Beach; Jackie's trips to Europe, Asia, and South America; Jackie's intriguing meetings with men like Aristotle Onassis, Gianni Agnelli, and André Malraux; the dark days of the year that followed the assassination; to the farewell party she threw for Clint when he left her protective detail after four years. All she wanted was the one thing he could not give her: a private life for her and her children.

Filled with unforgettable details, startling revelations, and sparkling, intimate moments, this is the once-in-a-lifetime story of a man doing the most exciting job in the world, with a woman all the world loved, and the tragedy that ended it all too soon - a tragedy that haunted him for 50 years.

©2012 Lisa McCubbin, Clint Hill (P)2012 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"With clear and honest prose free of salaciousness and gossip, Hill (ably assisted by McCubbin) evokes not only a personality both beautiful and brilliant, but also a time when the White House was filled with youth and promise. Of the many words written about Jacqueline Kennedy, these are among the best." ( Kirkus)

A Reluctant Participant in History

We've all heard about Secret Service Agent Clint Hill's regret and shame over the failure of his team to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, but we’ve never seen the events through his own eyes.

“Mrs. Kennedy and Me: An Intimate Memoir” is Mr. Hill’s first person account of life inside the Kennedy White House, from the point of view of a man who had more access than almost anyone outside of the immediate family. It’s not just a little eye-opening to realize Mr. Hill had access to Jackie Kennedy’s hotel room – while she was dressing.

The responsibilities of Mr. Hill’s job, and the manner in which he apparently bore them, are quite impressive. For instance, many believe Mr. Hill led President Kennedy’s protection team in Dallas on November 21, 1963; but in fact he was never on the president’s detail.

Rather, he led the first lady’s protection detail during the Kennedy Administration. I also expected the second half of the book to explore what happened to Mr. Hill after the assassination, including his reported depression, alcoholism and deep personal pain. The book touches only briefly on this, but it leaves the astute reader with a clear picture of the agony he apparently continues to endure.

The tragic scene in Dealey Plaza is obviously the climax of the story, but this book is really about Mr. Hill's personal and professional experiences with Mrs. Kennedy. The two traveled the world together, often without the president, and at times the affection (bordering on sexual tension) between them is palpable. However, in Mr. Hill’s telling, he was the consummate professional, dutifully serving his client in the chivalrous spirit of Camelot, upholding the oath he swore when he received his Treasury Department commission.

I was previously unaware of this extremely close relationship between the two, so sooner or later I half expected to come upon a chapter detailing some late night rendezvous on a yacht in the Mediterranean – or at least a stolen, lingering kiss.

But this is no Harlequin Romance novel. While Hill’s strong feelings for Mrs. Kennedy are clear, this is the story of a dedicated public servant, the personal impact his actions had on the Kennedy family, and the high price he paid for his efforts.

“Mrs. Kennedy and Me” doesn't seek to shock, nor does it bother with conspiracy theories or scandalous behavior. However, what it does do is place you alongside Jackie Kennedy, giving you a glimpse behind those big dark sunglasses. It also places you on the rear bumper of President Kennedy's limousine in Dallas.

Personally, I hope this book and the reaction Mr. Hill will undoubtedly receive from the public can give him some measure of the emotional closure he so deserves. It's hard to imagine anyone outside of the Kennedy family suffering more from the assassination of President Kennedy than Mr. Hill.

The Kennedys received an outpouring of love and support from the world following the loss of the 38th president. But in an age long before post-traumatic stress was understood or therapy was realistic, Mr. Hill was left only with his deep personal grief, shame and guilt, which he has borne for almost 50 years.

Clint Hill shows us the best we can be as Americans. Professional, considerate, dedicated and classy.

NOTE: Narrator Jeremy Bobb performed the story exceptionally well. He speaks in Hill's voice with appropriate emotion and professionalism, and it's easy to listen to him.

A true First Lady

This is a truly wonderful book. The story is well told an Jeremy Bobbs narration was excellent.
This peek into the personal life of an amazing First Lady leaves you wanting more. This must have been very difficult for Mr Hill simply knowing how the story ends. I am now searching the Internet of the photos mentioned. I want to place them in my mind as told in the story . Thank you Mr Hill for sharing the magic.

Excellent

I was a very young girl when this horrible assassination happened. This book brought all the emotions to the surface in a very real way. I think Mr Hill loved Mrs. in the best kind of way....they had a divine relationship of admiration that could be felt through his own words in his own voice. This is one I will read and enjoy again.

Getting to know all about you

What did you love best about Mrs. Kennedy and Me?

Their relationship and what drove her to do certain things when President Kennedy was shot in the head.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Mrs. Kennedy and Me?

How she handled her children and her husband

Have you listened to any of Jeremy Bobb’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

neither

Any additional comments?

Mrs. Kennedy was a wonderful person and I am glad to have found this book to read. Clint Hill is a remarkable man.

Thank you, Mr. Hill

I was in the 9th grade when JFK was assassinated and watched every second of tv coverage. Still the Jackie we saw was one-dimensional. Thanks to this book I now have a much greater appreciation of this amazing woman. Talented, smart, funny, and strong. Thanks Mr. Hill for giving me a greater appreciation of who she was.

Loved every second

I don’t do a whole lot of reviews, but can’t help myself after listening to this book. Clint Hill is an incredible human being. I love listening to any of the stories about him, but this book takes it to a whole new level. You can really feel how much he loved the entire Kennedy family. It breaks my heart to hear how much guilt he still carries over not being able to save JFK. He’s a hero for what he did that day. This is a wonderful love story, but not in any kind of romantic way. Couldn’t recommend this book more.

CLASSY LADY! CLASSIER MAN!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely! A lovely read! I enjoyed it very much and learned a lot more about the time during the Kennedy office.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Mrs. Kennedy and Me?

I LOVE (& ride horses) so I was VERY thrilled to know how MUCH she rode....I knew she did, but not that much!

Which character – as performed by Jeremy Bobb – was your favorite?

Clint Hill

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No.

Any additional comments?

I initially selected the book because I was HOPING to learn about the inside scoop of JFK and how his extra 'activities' during his marriage affected Jackie O, but MUCH to my surprise, Clint Hill NEVER mentioned one speck of it!! At first I was super disappointed! But, then I quickly realized how wonderful Mr. Hill was and that THAT was NOT his reason for this book and HE WOULD NEVER GO THERE! And I am SURE he knew ALL ABOUT THEM! I appreciated that.

I couldn't have said it better myself . . .

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No. By some of the reviews I was expecting to feel some emotions, but I was usually distracted by Clint Hill (could've also been known as Barney Fife)...inflated ego.

Any additional comments?

Please read the reviews entitled "Kennedy Bodyguard~NARCISSISTIC~? by Molly "Wazoo Books" April 6, 2012 and "Just Okay" by Alexandra on January 22, 2013. Like I said, I couldn't have said it better myself. The only thing I'll add is that Clint Hill made me cringe at times. I bet if Jackie knew how he looked at her and what he was really thinking most of the time, she would've been a little creeped out.

A formal yet intimate relationship

What a unique relationship this Secret Service Agent had with Mrs. Kennedy; it was at once formal, yet very intimate. In order to understand what I'm talking about, you'll need to listen to the book - it will all make sense then. The way the Secret Service Agents give up their personal lives to attend to the safety and needs of the First Family is both curious and admirable to me. Mr. Hill was with Mrs. Kennedy through good times and very, very bad times. He obviously admired her tremendously (for good reason) and, reading between the lines, loved her very dearly. I gained some new insights into the Kennedy family, which I have read/listened to a number of other stories about. They are one of those families who has had the very best and the very worst of everything in life. Definitely a book worth listening to.

The other side

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

It was really interesting to go behind the scenes in the White House - especially since Jackie spent so little time there. That explains a lot. Clint Hill's account of the dreadful day in Dallas is vivid and his own role is powerful, but you are left wondering about what happened to his own personal life as his responsibility to his family as subsumed by his "duty" to the First Family.