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My Life With Jacqueline Kennedy
One of the best biographies of a Kennedy. A very compelling and interesting well-written story.The Author, Mary Gallagher, is uniquely situated to understand the real woman beneath the goddess figure that the world made of Jacqueline Kennedy, having been her personal secretary for eight years.
She was privy to Mrs. Kennedy in her white house years as well as the years of her marriage before JFK took office. She was also with her on that black day in Dallas. This is an intimate look at the real woman behind the legend. It is not a tell-all that betrays, but a peek at a woman who was the Queen of Camelot.
She was privy to Mrs. Kennedy in her white house years as well as the years of her marriage before JFK took office. She was also with her on that black day in Dallas. This is an intimate look at the real woman behind the legend. It is not a tell-all that betrays, but a peek at a woman who was the Queen of Camelot.
395 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1969
5 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
About the author
Mary Barelli Gallagher
4 books5 followersMary Gallagher was born and grew up in Boston, the youngest of 12 children.
She first worked for a local paper company and then through Kenny O'Donnell, a former salesman for the company, she was hired by newly-elected Senator John F. Kennedy to be a secretary in his office, and went to Washington in January 1953.
Gallagher worked for Senator Kennedy for a number of years until her first child was born (after marrying Raymond A. Gallagher in 1955). Thereupon, she became a part-time secretary to Mrs. Hugh Auchincloss, and finally became Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy's personal secretary in 1957, a post she held until 1964.
She first worked for a local paper company and then through Kenny O'Donnell, a former salesman for the company, she was hired by newly-elected Senator John F. Kennedy to be a secretary in his office, and went to Washington in January 1953.
Gallagher worked for Senator Kennedy for a number of years until her first child was born (after marrying Raymond A. Gallagher in 1955). Thereupon, she became a part-time secretary to Mrs. Hugh Auchincloss, and finally became Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy's personal secretary in 1957, a post she held until 1964.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 15, 2022
I just “loved” how outraged Jackie was at the suggestion that she needed to compensate Mary for working overtime. The nerve that Mary had!
It’s essentially a story of how a rich woman exploits other women, while rich men exploit them all collectively.
What kept Gallagher in the WH for so long? The amount of work was unreal for the kind of money she was making. She was at it after hours, at home and on weekends, while her children were raised by her female relatives. For free. Actually, it sounds like there always was someone doing extra work and picking up the slack. Mostly women, too - secretarial work, cleaning, cooking, errands. But it was never Jackie. Jackie is the only woman who only did what she wanted to do and often wiggled her way out of the things she didn’t find exciting enough. She spent $40,000 per year on her clothes (math was done by Mary, so I believe it) but REALLY didn’t want to pay extra $4,000 out of her own pocket to her secretary.
So, Gallagher complains a lot and rightfully so, yet stays on with the Kennedys long after they avoided giving her a minuscule raise. Why did she? She seems like a very clear eyed, no-nonsense professional woman. After all she was the only person who when Jackie asked her what was the biggest expense in the house, straight up told her “your clothes.” Having finished this book, my best guess is she wanted to lead an exciting life. Meet interesting people. Travel to luxurious destinations. Gain invaluable experience both personally and professionally. This was an amazing opportunity and she grabbed it, staying for as long as it suited her. She wanted to be a part of History and working for Jackie Kennedy was the price she was willing to pay.
It’s essentially a story of how a rich woman exploits other women, while rich men exploit them all collectively.
What kept Gallagher in the WH for so long? The amount of work was unreal for the kind of money she was making. She was at it after hours, at home and on weekends, while her children were raised by her female relatives. For free. Actually, it sounds like there always was someone doing extra work and picking up the slack. Mostly women, too - secretarial work, cleaning, cooking, errands. But it was never Jackie. Jackie is the only woman who only did what she wanted to do and often wiggled her way out of the things she didn’t find exciting enough. She spent $40,000 per year on her clothes (math was done by Mary, so I believe it) but REALLY didn’t want to pay extra $4,000 out of her own pocket to her secretary.
So, Gallagher complains a lot and rightfully so, yet stays on with the Kennedys long after they avoided giving her a minuscule raise. Why did she? She seems like a very clear eyed, no-nonsense professional woman. After all she was the only person who when Jackie asked her what was the biggest expense in the house, straight up told her “your clothes.” Having finished this book, my best guess is she wanted to lead an exciting life. Meet interesting people. Travel to luxurious destinations. Gain invaluable experience both personally and professionally. This was an amazing opportunity and she grabbed it, staying for as long as it suited her. She wanted to be a part of History and working for Jackie Kennedy was the price she was willing to pay.
June 20, 2008
Jackie's favorite vacation rental was a house at the very tip of the Cape, isolated on three sides, situated on rock, looking out at a vast ocean. Her secretary wondered why someone so young could love such a quiet, lonely place? I can easily imagine she loved feeling like no one was looking at her. This memoir is a betrayal. It's gossippy. And it's fantastic. My favorite JBK bio by far. It's the book you wished her friends had written about her that someone actually wrote. I picked up my copy in an old dusty bookstore for $1.00, have read it twice and passed it to all my female relatives. I think if you like to read about Jackie, you will like this book.
November 23, 2013
Sneezed my way fhrough a vintage yellowed paperback version.
It's fairly dull reading, but I couldn't put it down for the 50th anniversary assassination weekend.
The late Ms. JO is depicted as a narcissistic princess who couldn't fathom why anyone would want or need overtime pay. I kept wanting Gallagher to just quit, for God's sake.
Decent enough read for those of us who, embarrassingly, just can't get enough Kennedy. The antique style - "the blessed event" and so on - has a certain charm.
June 24, 2013
I couldn't stay away from it for long, hard to put down. It was informative to some degree but I wished for more depth, or 'gossip'. Enough was told by this intimate associate which brought onto her some minor fallout. Ms. Gallagher's presence is very much there at the swearing in on Air Force One of Lyndon Johnson on that day, as the author shows in this book. Any displays of that scene on or in any other media shows NO Mary Gallagher. A clear snub.
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July 19, 2019I've talked to this author, on the phone, and she is delightful. I thought I'd find her writing enthralling and compelling, like it is to talk to her. Not.
July 12, 2025
A great first-edition find from 1969 (shoutout CR-71 in Franklin). This was written by Jackie's personal secretary. Because she kept a daily diary, she was able to write about her years with the First Lady actually in remarkable day-to-day detail - almost to the point of being dreary but not quite. There are a number of insider stories some might consider "tea." Do I think it's in good taste to be privy to the inner workings of a famous person's life and then turn around and write a book about them? No, but hey, I did read it and did enjoy it. In fact, it's hard to believe she devoted so many years of exhausting work and sacrificed time with her own family for her job with the Kennedys, but she clearly worshipped them and said she had no regrets.
August 24, 2020
I read this when I was a teenager and bought a cheap copy off the internet to read it again now that I'm sixty. It is a look inside the life of a fortunate, privileged and woman and the private secretary that worked to keep her life running smoothly.
It fascinated me that MBG remained with the Kennedy’s even when they had such difficulty paying her a respectable wage and how she had to fight for that recognition.
It's still a good read just to immerse yourself in the world and the magic of the Kennedy years before, during, and after the White House.
It fascinated me that MBG remained with the Kennedy’s even when they had such difficulty paying her a respectable wage and how she had to fight for that recognition.
It's still a good read just to immerse yourself in the world and the magic of the Kennedy years before, during, and after the White House.
December 25, 2017
Insightful, interesting, fly on a wall insight into Jackie Kennedy and how she'd managed her life. Kind of bizarre really, I found it sad Jackie K didn't really connect in a personal way with so many people that went above and beyond to help her. I'm sure they all found rewards along their life for being good people. Jackie Kennedy was very educated, polished, and had a sharp eye for excellence.... But her people skills were very underdeveloped.
July 23, 2018
No idea how I ever found this book.
One thing I wonder is what Jackie O. thought of this.
It is not scandalous by any means, but she seems like the kind of person who wouldn't appreciate having any of her private life put on display.
One thing I wonder is what Jackie O. thought of this.
It is not scandalous by any means, but she seems like the kind of person who wouldn't appreciate having any of her private life put on display.
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February 15, 2021#Edición 1970
*Want to read
*Want to read
May 23, 2021
Excellent biography I read many years ago in 2001
March 14, 2024
Oh, Jackie! Some say this book is sour grapes on the behalf of her personal secretary- but I’ve been reading this book on the regular since 1979. Can never have too much gossip.
June 18, 2022
Mary Barelli Gallagher sets out a comprehensive overview of her time with the Kennedys, spanning from JFK's days as a Senator to her unexpected departure in 1964.
Gallagher struck me as a narrator who wanted to be Jackie, seeming almost to fawn over JFK wishing he was her husband. Her loyalty to the Kennedy family was certainly impressive, there were several occasions where many others would have quit, there were at least three instances of Gallagher being confined to bed rest due to stress/overexertion. Gallagher also paints a portrait of Jackie as someone who would spend money without a second thought and would throw a tantrum when she didn't get her own way. I wonder how Jackie recieved this book as Mary supposedly left on good terms and Jackie invited her to visit New York 'anytime' (I'm sure this invitation was removed following the book's release).
I noticed that one paragraph was copied twice in different sections of the book and the writing seemed choppy with stories seeming to crop up after a completely unrelated story. However, despite this, it gave a key insight into the inner workings of Jackie's role in the White House and offers some interesting stories, although some seemed exaggerated for the book. Gallagher's account of the assassination was only a small part of the book but I found it interesting to view it from a different perspective nonetheless.
Gallagher struck me as a narrator who wanted to be Jackie, seeming almost to fawn over JFK wishing he was her husband. Her loyalty to the Kennedy family was certainly impressive, there were several occasions where many others would have quit, there were at least three instances of Gallagher being confined to bed rest due to stress/overexertion. Gallagher also paints a portrait of Jackie as someone who would spend money without a second thought and would throw a tantrum when she didn't get her own way. I wonder how Jackie recieved this book as Mary supposedly left on good terms and Jackie invited her to visit New York 'anytime' (I'm sure this invitation was removed following the book's release).
I noticed that one paragraph was copied twice in different sections of the book and the writing seemed choppy with stories seeming to crop up after a completely unrelated story. However, despite this, it gave a key insight into the inner workings of Jackie's role in the White House and offers some interesting stories, although some seemed exaggerated for the book. Gallagher's account of the assassination was only a small part of the book but I found it interesting to view it from a different perspective nonetheless.
August 21, 2007
This was an entertaining book. Being the Kennedy fan I am, I was hoping for some jucier gossip, but was thoroughly entertained by the details of the daily routine of Jackie's personal secretary.
September 5, 2008
I like the story lin.
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April 17, 2015Everyone thinks she's perfect...she's not...she's flawed just like the rest of us.
September 7, 2014
I loved this book because I love Jackie, not for any other reason. Gallagher drags out the details page after page.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews