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The Georgetown Ladies' Social Club: Power, Passion, and Politics in the Nation's Capital
In this definitive portrait of the political and social life of Georgetown, bestselling biographer C. David Heymann chronicles the dinner parties, correspondence, overlappings, and underpinnings of some of the most influential women in Washington's history.
"The Georgetown Ladies' Social Club" -- a term coined by Ronald Reagan -- comprises a list of formidable and fascinating women, among them Katharine Graham, Lorraine Cooper, Evangeline Bruce, Pamela Harriman, and Sally Quinn. Their husbands, government officials and newsmakers among them, relied on the ladies for their sharp wit and sensitivity, refined bearings, and congeniality. In a city characteristically and traditionally controlled by men, the Georgetown wives were, in turn, afforded an abundance of behind-the-scenes political clout.
Filled with intriguing and often startling insights into Washington life, from the latter days of the Kennedy and Truman administrations to the Clinton era and the advent of President George W. Bush, The Georgetown Ladies' Social Club is a compelling testament to the sex, lies, and red tape of American politics.
"The Georgetown Ladies' Social Club" -- a term coined by Ronald Reagan -- comprises a list of formidable and fascinating women, among them Katharine Graham, Lorraine Cooper, Evangeline Bruce, Pamela Harriman, and Sally Quinn. Their husbands, government officials and newsmakers among them, relied on the ladies for their sharp wit and sensitivity, refined bearings, and congeniality. In a city characteristically and traditionally controlled by men, the Georgetown wives were, in turn, afforded an abundance of behind-the-scenes political clout.
Filled with intriguing and often startling insights into Washington life, from the latter days of the Kennedy and Truman administrations to the Clinton era and the advent of President George W. Bush, The Georgetown Ladies' Social Club is a compelling testament to the sex, lies, and red tape of American politics.
400 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2003
12 people are currently reading
607 people want to read
About the author
C. David Heymann
31 books30 followersC. David Heymann is the internationally known author of such New York Times bestselling books as The Georgetown Ladies' Social Club; RFK: A Candid Biography of Robert F. Kennedy; Poor Little Rich Girl: The Life and Legend of Barbara Hutton; and A Woman Named Jackie: An Intimate Biography of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. Three of his works have been made into award-winning NBC-TV miniseries. A three-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, he lives and works in Manhattan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
February 5, 2013
Everyone in this book, woman or man, made me so queasy I wouldn't touch any of them with a 15-foot pole. Whether it was Peter Duchin walking in on Averell Harriman and Pamela Churchill (both way over the hill at that point) going at it on the sofa with her skirt up around her waist and lipstick all over his face, or people marveling at how this or that hostess was so successful because she knew how to make men feel powerful, or Joan Braden asserting that Pamela Harriman was "the last of the great geishas," or Averell Harriman at his dinner parties as late as the mid-70s commanding the women to go upstairs after dinner so the men could smoke cigars and decide the fate of nations, or everyone, literally everyone, sleeping with literally everyone else.
The glorification of the Georgetown party circuit should nauseate any normal person. Thankfully it's an era gone by, dependent as it was on women utterly lacking power in Washington (aside from domestic power, and social power, the ability to keep a staff, assemble a guest list, and throw a shindig). The Clintons shunned the party circuit, for which they should be praised to high heaven (it was just one reason Sally Quinn loathed them). The Bushes (both generations) avoided it. The Obamas disdain it. I'm sure Sally Quinn still gives her parties, but she's in her seventies now (and as part of some sick joke, writes a religion blog for the Washington Post) and no serious person in Washington pays her any attention.
The glorification of the Georgetown party circuit should nauseate any normal person. Thankfully it's an era gone by, dependent as it was on women utterly lacking power in Washington (aside from domestic power, and social power, the ability to keep a staff, assemble a guest list, and throw a shindig). The Clintons shunned the party circuit, for which they should be praised to high heaven (it was just one reason Sally Quinn loathed them). The Bushes (both generations) avoided it. The Obamas disdain it. I'm sure Sally Quinn still gives her parties, but she's in her seventies now (and as part of some sick joke, writes a religion blog for the Washington Post) and no serious person in Washington pays her any attention.
October 9, 2025
The "The Georgetown Ladies' Social Club: Power, Passion, and Politics in the Nation's Capital" is a book that draws the reader in once he/she has ventured beyond a few pages. The reader is taken back to an era in Washington DC (and by extension, the nation) when policy decisions and key relationships among politicians (and their wives and/or mistresses), diplomats, literary and media figures were made in the private homes of a select number of politicians, policy makers, diplomats, the well-heeled --- and their wives.
Here the focus is on 5 women (Katherine Graham, Evangeline Bruce, Lorraine Cooper, Pamela Harriman, and Sally Quinn), who, from the late 1940s until the early 1990s, resided in Georgetown (a part of Washington DC that actually predates the city itself, having been in existence since 1750, when it was a part of what was the Colony of Maryland).
Aside from Sally Quinn, who is representative of the generation that came of age in the 1960s, the other 4 women hailed from affluent backgrounds during a time in which women were expected to know their place --- while men ruled the world. They were of the interwar generation, having received various educations both in the U.S. and abroad. Katherine Graham (who later became the owner of The Washington Post following the death by suicide of her husband Phil in 1963 --- it was Phil Graham, who convinced JFK to select Lyndon Johnson as his running mate in 1960) grew up with parents who showed her little love. (Indeed, her mother never had an encouraging word to say to her, only criticism.) She struggled for much of her life to develop a firm sense of self. In the process, she came to be, in her own right, a significant powerbroker in Washington.
Evangeline Bruce ("Vangie"), whom I had never heard about prior to reading this book, utterly fascinated me. Here was a remarkably intelligent, saavy and resourceful woman, born in Britain in 1914, where her father, an American (who had been a classmate of FDR at Harvard and hailed from an old New York family) worked as a diplomat in the U.S. Embassy in London. Her British mother (with whom Evangeline was to have a distant relationship) came from a long line of "Tory members of Parliament, actors, and writers." Evangeline, up until her 20s, led a very peripatetic existence. Her father later held diplomatic posts in Japan and China until his premature death in 1924. Three years later, Evangeline's mother remarried a well-heeled British diplomat, with whom Evangeline and her younger sister lived in Paris.
A decade later, having lived in various European countries and mastered a number of languages, "Vangie" visited a paternal uncle in Boston and resolved to make a life for herself in America. She studied at Radcliffe, later made her way to Britain during the Second World War (engaging in war work in London), where she met David Bruce, a lawyer and diplomat, who was, at the time, married to one of the Mellons. (They later divorced, citing as a reason his wife's growing mental instability.) Evangeline married David Bruce in 1945. Both came to epitomize the ideal Washington couple. They had their main residence in Georgetown -- and owing to David Bruce's future posting as Ambassador to France and later Britain (during the Kennedy-Johnson years), spent a fair amount of time in Europe, too. "Vangie" was stylish, attractive, elegant, and well-versed in all the subtleties deemed vital for staging the best diplomatic and social functions over lunch or dinner. Both she and her husband were a perfect fit and charmed everyone with whom they became acquainted. ("Vangie" and Jackie Kennedy were the best of friends.)
Lorraine Cooper outlived her first husband, married a second who was a handsome playboy, living with him the high life in New York society of the 1930s and 1940s before divorcing him and moving to Georgetown, where she fully immersed herself in the life and politics of Washington. In the process, she met John Sherman Cooper, a Kentucky native, lawyer and state politician who had run for the U.S. Senate twice and lost. The two married in the early 1950s and were very well suited for each other. Lorraine Cooper, like Evangeline Bruce, was shrewd and very smart, and was crucial in her husband's winning election to the Senate in 1956, an office he would serve until retiring in 1973. He was one of the few Republicans from the South at that time, but unlike most of his fellow Southerners in Congress, he championed civil rights and proved to be a very principled and progressive politician.
Pamela Harriman came from the lower rungs of the British aristocracy. Her first husband was Winston Churchill's only son, Randolph. While Randolph was away on wartime duty in Egypt, his wife struck up a friendship with W. Averell Harriman (one of America's most richest and influential men, who was acting as FDR's Lend Lease representative in London) which developed into a torrid 2-year affair. Eventually, Randolph and Pamela divorced and she went on to live in Europe (charming a score of powerful, influential men along the way). Eventually, she remarried (Leland Hayward, a highly successful actors' agent and Broadway producer), lived in New York, where she became part of the social scene. Hayward died in March 1971. Later in the year, Pamela renewed her acquaintance with Averell Harriman (whose wife had died the previous year, leaving him emotionally bereft). Both married before the year was out and made their home in Georgetown. Here is where Pamela Harriman reinvented itself and involved herself deeply in Democratic Party politics, and earned a reputation as a hostess par excellence. With the election of Bill Clinton as President in 1992, Pamela, now widowed, had reached the heights.
This is a book that makes very much alive again the power and significance that Georgetown had once exerted, decades ago, in the life of this country. It is, simply an AMAZING story, peopled with a rich and diverse cast of characters who added their own spice to life to the social scene in Washington. I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK HIGHLY AND MOST ENTHUSIASTICALLY. (This book reads better than a Jackie Collins novel and what it tells is all true.)
Here the focus is on 5 women (Katherine Graham, Evangeline Bruce, Lorraine Cooper, Pamela Harriman, and Sally Quinn), who, from the late 1940s until the early 1990s, resided in Georgetown (a part of Washington DC that actually predates the city itself, having been in existence since 1750, when it was a part of what was the Colony of Maryland).
Aside from Sally Quinn, who is representative of the generation that came of age in the 1960s, the other 4 women hailed from affluent backgrounds during a time in which women were expected to know their place --- while men ruled the world. They were of the interwar generation, having received various educations both in the U.S. and abroad. Katherine Graham (who later became the owner of The Washington Post following the death by suicide of her husband Phil in 1963 --- it was Phil Graham, who convinced JFK to select Lyndon Johnson as his running mate in 1960) grew up with parents who showed her little love. (Indeed, her mother never had an encouraging word to say to her, only criticism.) She struggled for much of her life to develop a firm sense of self. In the process, she came to be, in her own right, a significant powerbroker in Washington.
Evangeline Bruce ("Vangie"), whom I had never heard about prior to reading this book, utterly fascinated me. Here was a remarkably intelligent, saavy and resourceful woman, born in Britain in 1914, where her father, an American (who had been a classmate of FDR at Harvard and hailed from an old New York family) worked as a diplomat in the U.S. Embassy in London. Her British mother (with whom Evangeline was to have a distant relationship) came from a long line of "Tory members of Parliament, actors, and writers." Evangeline, up until her 20s, led a very peripatetic existence. Her father later held diplomatic posts in Japan and China until his premature death in 1924. Three years later, Evangeline's mother remarried a well-heeled British diplomat, with whom Evangeline and her younger sister lived in Paris.
A decade later, having lived in various European countries and mastered a number of languages, "Vangie" visited a paternal uncle in Boston and resolved to make a life for herself in America. She studied at Radcliffe, later made her way to Britain during the Second World War (engaging in war work in London), where she met David Bruce, a lawyer and diplomat, who was, at the time, married to one of the Mellons. (They later divorced, citing as a reason his wife's growing mental instability.) Evangeline married David Bruce in 1945. Both came to epitomize the ideal Washington couple. They had their main residence in Georgetown -- and owing to David Bruce's future posting as Ambassador to France and later Britain (during the Kennedy-Johnson years), spent a fair amount of time in Europe, too. "Vangie" was stylish, attractive, elegant, and well-versed in all the subtleties deemed vital for staging the best diplomatic and social functions over lunch or dinner. Both she and her husband were a perfect fit and charmed everyone with whom they became acquainted. ("Vangie" and Jackie Kennedy were the best of friends.)
Lorraine Cooper outlived her first husband, married a second who was a handsome playboy, living with him the high life in New York society of the 1930s and 1940s before divorcing him and moving to Georgetown, where she fully immersed herself in the life and politics of Washington. In the process, she met John Sherman Cooper, a Kentucky native, lawyer and state politician who had run for the U.S. Senate twice and lost. The two married in the early 1950s and were very well suited for each other. Lorraine Cooper, like Evangeline Bruce, was shrewd and very smart, and was crucial in her husband's winning election to the Senate in 1956, an office he would serve until retiring in 1973. He was one of the few Republicans from the South at that time, but unlike most of his fellow Southerners in Congress, he championed civil rights and proved to be a very principled and progressive politician.
Pamela Harriman came from the lower rungs of the British aristocracy. Her first husband was Winston Churchill's only son, Randolph. While Randolph was away on wartime duty in Egypt, his wife struck up a friendship with W. Averell Harriman (one of America's most richest and influential men, who was acting as FDR's Lend Lease representative in London) which developed into a torrid 2-year affair. Eventually, Randolph and Pamela divorced and she went on to live in Europe (charming a score of powerful, influential men along the way). Eventually, she remarried (Leland Hayward, a highly successful actors' agent and Broadway producer), lived in New York, where she became part of the social scene. Hayward died in March 1971. Later in the year, Pamela renewed her acquaintance with Averell Harriman (whose wife had died the previous year, leaving him emotionally bereft). Both married before the year was out and made their home in Georgetown. Here is where Pamela Harriman reinvented itself and involved herself deeply in Democratic Party politics, and earned a reputation as a hostess par excellence. With the election of Bill Clinton as President in 1992, Pamela, now widowed, had reached the heights.
This is a book that makes very much alive again the power and significance that Georgetown had once exerted, decades ago, in the life of this country. It is, simply an AMAZING story, peopled with a rich and diverse cast of characters who added their own spice to life to the social scene in Washington. I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK HIGHLY AND MOST ENTHUSIASTICALLY. (This book reads better than a Jackie Collins novel and what it tells is all true.)
August 5, 2016
This book started slow but definitely picked up. It spans quite a few decades, presidencies, families, and political beliefs and how a small group of women helped influence Georgetown. The book does a good job of showing how the women's influence grew, peaked, and waned, which was well done, but the biggest problem is that the book is supposed to be, according to the cover, about Kay Graham, Lorraine Cooper, Evangeline Bruce, Pamela Harriman, and Sally Quinn. The author, however, indulges his whims too often and goes on tangents about Elizabeth Taylor, the Clintons, Ben Bradlee, and a host of other characters who may be entertaining, but are tangential to the main "characters" who made up the Georgetown Ladies' Social Club (a name given by President Reagan). The book needed some editing and a tighter focus, but was overall a gossipy, behind-the-scenes look at an exclusive neighborhood and its influence on politics, policy, entertainment, and society in general. Other anecdotes include stories about Truman Capote, Tony Geary (AKA Luke Spencer on "General Hospital"), Sen. John Warner, Julia Child, Sec. of Defense Robert McNamara, Chris Matthews, Strom Thurmond, and Jackie Kennedy.
The group of women experienced nearly every situation imaginable: murder, suicide, rape, adultery, fame, miscarriages, wealth, celebrity, infighting, legal battles, divorce, and, above all, a front-row seat to many of the mid-to-late 20th century's major figures and events. These women were almost uniformly from wealthy, privileged backgrounds, and were groomed from early on to be perfect hostesses; the youngest women discussed at length, Sally Quinn, did not come from such a background and had a very different Georgetown experience, but hers was nevertheless probably my favorite story.
The group of women experienced nearly every situation imaginable: murder, suicide, rape, adultery, fame, miscarriages, wealth, celebrity, infighting, legal battles, divorce, and, above all, a front-row seat to many of the mid-to-late 20th century's major figures and events. These women were almost uniformly from wealthy, privileged backgrounds, and were groomed from early on to be perfect hostesses; the youngest women discussed at length, Sally Quinn, did not come from such a background and had a very different Georgetown experience, but hers was nevertheless probably my favorite story.
June 28, 2012
Heymann describes this book as "an anecdotal record of the lives of five women who helped run Washington from behind the scenes." He also describes it as "a social history of Georgetown."
As you might imagine, then, it's largely personality driven. And personalities are perceived differently by different people. What one person perceives as strength, another might see as domineering. Heymann does a fine job of presenting many facets, observed by many people, of these five women (Kay Graham, Lorraine Cooper, Vangie Bruce, Pamela Harriman, and Sally Quinn). His bibliography is extensive, and he interviewed over 400 people for the book. He doesn't seem to have an agenda, as some biographers have had; he doesn't seem to be skewing the stories in any particular direction.
I really liked the book, but I have a special interest in Kay Graham and her contemporaries. I can see why some other reviewers might see the book as gossipy or without much value, but I think it's a fascinating look at how these women have been involved in our national politics.
The only downside is that now I'm adding about 50 books from Heymann's bibliography to my Kay Graham shelf!
As you might imagine, then, it's largely personality driven. And personalities are perceived differently by different people. What one person perceives as strength, another might see as domineering. Heymann does a fine job of presenting many facets, observed by many people, of these five women (Kay Graham, Lorraine Cooper, Vangie Bruce, Pamela Harriman, and Sally Quinn). His bibliography is extensive, and he interviewed over 400 people for the book. He doesn't seem to have an agenda, as some biographers have had; he doesn't seem to be skewing the stories in any particular direction.
I really liked the book, but I have a special interest in Kay Graham and her contemporaries. I can see why some other reviewers might see the book as gossipy or without much value, but I think it's a fascinating look at how these women have been involved in our national politics.
The only downside is that now I'm adding about 50 books from Heymann's bibliography to my Kay Graham shelf!
August 14, 2007
This was a good book in that it enlightened me to the social hierarchy that helped build the city of DC. I thought I would be all about this book, because I felt like it'd have a bunch of intrigue and scandal laced through its pages, but I was only half right. If you aren't acutely familiar with all of the "old school" DC-area families and their roles in the cultivation of this city and its social structure, you will definitely get overwhelmed with this book (I know I did). There were points where the author would spout off name after name after name, almost expecting you to automatically know who they are because they're a powerful social force in this city. It gets tough after a while to keep up with, but it definitely motivated me to go out and read Katharine Grahams autobiography (which I'm reading now). Again, if you're interested in DC at all, in any way, this is a great book for you.
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August 19, 2008This is one of the best books I have read in many years. Now, granted, I'm a total political junkie, used to live in Georgetown, and knew several of the players in the book. Still, I learned so much about DC, politics, protocol and history that I could not put this book down. Literally. And it's a big book! I carried this book in my purse for four days and read it every chance I had.
The Georgetown Ladies Social Club tells the story of the important roles a small group of women played in our nation's history while most of the world either had no knowledge of their existence or considered them to be little more than "Ladies Who Lunch". Women (especially) who have an interest in DC, national and international politics/diplomacy will enjoy this book thoroughly. And, if you have little interest in politics but love reading about the lives of the rich and famous, this book will still be right up your alley. Truly a great read...
The Georgetown Ladies Social Club tells the story of the important roles a small group of women played in our nation's history while most of the world either had no knowledge of their existence or considered them to be little more than "Ladies Who Lunch". Women (especially) who have an interest in DC, national and international politics/diplomacy will enjoy this book thoroughly. And, if you have little interest in politics but love reading about the lives of the rich and famous, this book will still be right up your alley. Truly a great read...
December 29, 2012
The long and short of it is: I've always thought Sally Quinn was a mean-spirited mental lightweight and this book proves it. It was a great read, a little heavy on the name-dropping of who attended what party (and there are TONS of parties), but its gossipy and fun and powerful in places and you realize that as the presence of women changes in DC and women are playmakers in their own right, this enclave of powerful wives is no longer needed. For readers, the stories of Evangeline Bruce and Lorraine Cooper are new, you can expect to come away a little disappointed in Katharine Graham, a bit repulsed by Pamela Harriman (more than normal) and you'll shrug and say "I thought so" about Sally Quinn.
July 13, 2011
While it was an interesting insight into what it meant to be female in the old boys world of Georgetown, I wasn't impressed with the writing. I thought the author lacked narrative focus, and was therefore prone to tangents. I wasn't sure what he was trying to accomplish with this book - capturing the feel of Georgetown life? Showing how women's roles within it transformed over time? Giving biographies of its most prominent women? Even outside those sweeping categories he seemed to bob between, I regularly found myself wondering how certain anecdotes fit into his narrative goals.
June 24, 2007
I thought I would just eat this up. Some of it was interesting. Overall, I couldn't wait to get finished with it. At the halfway point I started to feel as though despite some of the great things that were accomplished, the women were coming across as catty and self-important. The last chapter of the book seemed to get back on track. I'm glad I read it, but I'm glad I'm done with it too.
November 17, 2023
Interesting stories and catches you around page 100, but the structure is a little confusing and hard to follow.
January 8, 2015
I am a DC native who grew up there in the 1980s. I grew up in Spring Valley in a different section, definitely a different world than these snooty women. I love the Georgetown neighborhood, M Street, Georgetown University, the Tombs, the Hoyas, etc. I remember in High School not liking many of the kids that came from the parochial school in Georgetown thinking of them as arrogant and highly conceited. Seeing that they were raised in this rich enclave with parents who probably paid no attention to them, I understand how they came to be such jerks.
That leads me to the book. While I liked the connections highlighted between Georgetown and the political/national security scene such as the Mary Meyer case, I found these women so filthy rich and stuck up that I couldn't wait to finish the book. Especially Ms. Cooper, Bruce and the great Katharine Graham. Sally Quinn being a horrible person is common knowledge, the book just brought some good examples to light. You know you're rich and living in a fantasy land when your dinner guests are the Arthur Schlesingers, the Averell Harrimans, the..you get the picture. Too much backstories on everything also. May as well read Ms. Graham's book for all the stuff on Phil Graham. Hope they are resting in peace, but also glad these type of women, and this Georgetown scene, is no longer prevalent in DC.
That leads me to the book. While I liked the connections highlighted between Georgetown and the political/national security scene such as the Mary Meyer case, I found these women so filthy rich and stuck up that I couldn't wait to finish the book. Especially Ms. Cooper, Bruce and the great Katharine Graham. Sally Quinn being a horrible person is common knowledge, the book just brought some good examples to light. You know you're rich and living in a fantasy land when your dinner guests are the Arthur Schlesingers, the Averell Harrimans, the..you get the picture. Too much backstories on everything also. May as well read Ms. Graham's book for all the stuff on Phil Graham. Hope they are resting in peace, but also glad these type of women, and this Georgetown scene, is no longer prevalent in DC.
May 10, 2015
In this book, biographer David Heymann illustrates the influence of social networks and personal relationships on politics and government decision-making. He chronicles an era when a handful of powerful Georgetown hostesses used their money, social position and event guest lists to influence US politics. This includes Kay Graham, whose husband committed suicide, leaving her to publish the Washington Post.
The book spans more than 40 years. From anecdotes by people involved, it's easy to understand how leaders from business and industry, the military, spy agencies, journalists, lobbyists, congressmen and others come together in private social settings and have conversations that ultimately affect our entire nation.
Heymann holds nothing back in writing about personal insecurities, rivalries, jealousies, marital affairs, unsolved murders, scandals and suicides - right down to who drank too much at dinner parties and what happened when they did. It's a fascinating look at a way of thinking and acting that most Americans know nothing about. I wish Heymann would write a book about the current influentials in Washington.
The book spans more than 40 years. From anecdotes by people involved, it's easy to understand how leaders from business and industry, the military, spy agencies, journalists, lobbyists, congressmen and others come together in private social settings and have conversations that ultimately affect our entire nation.
Heymann holds nothing back in writing about personal insecurities, rivalries, jealousies, marital affairs, unsolved murders, scandals and suicides - right down to who drank too much at dinner parties and what happened when they did. It's a fascinating look at a way of thinking and acting that most Americans know nothing about. I wish Heymann would write a book about the current influentials in Washington.
June 6, 2016
Gossipy account of Georgetown Society during its heyday, the administrations of Truman through Bush II, when women wielded power mainly by having dinner parties where important men could meet and mingle. It was fun to read about the personal scandals , affairs and tragedies involving powerful men and their mates during this bygone era, as well as the important connections and decisions made in these social settings. One of the most fascinating and surprising individuals chronicled in this book was Senator John Sherman Cooper of Kentucky, a progressive Republican who supported Civil Rights and opposed the Vietnam War. He and his wife, Lorraine, were among the most influential and admired people in Georgetown. Interestingly, he had an intern in his office named Mitch McConnell who recalled asking Cooper how he rationalized taking such liberal stands on issues most of his constituents opposed, and was impressed with the response that he represented Kentucky but felt obligated to follow his conscience as an American. Hmmm.
April 8, 2013
This book was selected by my book club for this month's read and I don't think I would have gravitated to the book on my own if it hadn't been assigned to me.
The stories started out pretty slow and I admit that I skimmed quite a number of pages, especially those that were littered with the names of people who were attending the parties in Georgetown (and that kind of name-dropping happened a lot!)
I thought C. David Heymann did a good job of showing how the Georgetown ladies influenced the political scene in Washington, D.C. and how that power grew, peaked, and waned. What I didn't care for was that tangents that Heymann went on that interrupted the flow of the stories and I felt this took attention away from the five primary ladies this book claims to be about.
I will admit that I learned some things I didn't know from the gossip that ran rampant through the book's pages, but I still had a hard time caring about the people I read about.
The stories started out pretty slow and I admit that I skimmed quite a number of pages, especially those that were littered with the names of people who were attending the parties in Georgetown (and that kind of name-dropping happened a lot!)
I thought C. David Heymann did a good job of showing how the Georgetown ladies influenced the political scene in Washington, D.C. and how that power grew, peaked, and waned. What I didn't care for was that tangents that Heymann went on that interrupted the flow of the stories and I felt this took attention away from the five primary ladies this book claims to be about.
I will admit that I learned some things I didn't know from the gossip that ran rampant through the book's pages, but I still had a hard time caring about the people I read about.
January 26, 2008
To enjoy this book, it helps immensely to be curious about DC society and politics and also the history and transition of the Washington Post. I am not; however, I still found it a fun read and I learned much more about major players such as Katharine Graham, Lorraine Cooper, Evangeline Bruce, Pamela Harriman and Sally Quinn. Unfortunately, I suspect the only thing I'll remember is that Katharine Graham transformed through tragedy and time from sheepish to bold and that Sally Quinn was the Posts' jerky, cruel society columnist for many years. And that young, sexy Quinn had nothing published at the time Post big shot Ben Bradlee hired her. The two went on to marry and they bought Grey Gardens, the old Beale mansion on Long Island.
May 5, 2012
A look at the 'power' behind what is published in The Washington Post, as well as what some consider the real driving force behind issues that make it to the attention of national/world media. Frankly, I found the main characters superficial; the very effort involved to stay 'striving' and to keep up the facade of power and prestige was exhausting. Finally, the book just struck me as sad...all of these "powerful" individuals needing to sleep with everyone other than their spouse/significant other, and to fill whatever void in their lives with socializing for the sake of appearances...it made me pity the powerful, really.
May 19, 2024
This book got me from start to finish. I also very much enjoy C David Heymann's writing style.
Powerful Washington DC women, married to powerful Washington DC men. High-power politics and business are not for the faint-hearted, as these women aptly demonstrate; so, there's plenty of heartbreak, as well, with interesting trade-offs.
No longer a big fan of Ronald Reagan and his policies, I still chuckled that it was his phrase that describes these women, 'The Georgetown Ladies' Social Club.'
Regardless of your politics~ Enjoy.
Powerful Washington DC women, married to powerful Washington DC men. High-power politics and business are not for the faint-hearted, as these women aptly demonstrate; so, there's plenty of heartbreak, as well, with interesting trade-offs.
No longer a big fan of Ronald Reagan and his policies, I still chuckled that it was his phrase that describes these women, 'The Georgetown Ladies' Social Club.'
Regardless of your politics~ Enjoy.
February 20, 2015
About DC society and politics and also the history and transition of the Washington Post. Major players included Katharine Graham, Lorraine Cooper, Evangeline Bruce, Pamela Harriman and Sally Quinn. This is a group of highly motivated women who lived in the same neighborhood at the same time. Nixon referred to the group as "a shadow conspiracy of women." However, these women, their parties, and presence certainly brought about changes we are still experiencing. A good read especially for a native Washingtonian.
March 14, 2009
My book club's selection for February 2009. I only got through about 50 pages of this book. It was quite interesting to get a qlimpse of Georgetown socialite life in the 1900's (both early and late) and as I read it, I kept thinking of my friend who lives off of P Street in DC... good, but I found it hard to keep track of all of the notable names and not engaging enough to keep me coming back for more.
June 11, 2009
A biography of 5 formidable women: Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham; Lorraine Cooper, wife of Kentucky's Sen. John Sherman Cooper; Evangeline Bruce, wife of U.S. ambassador David Bruce; Democratic Party fund-raiser (and later ambassador) Pamela Harriman, married to the powerful and wealthy Averell Harriman; and Sally Quinn, Washington Post writer and wife of the Post's former executive editor Ben Bradlee.
Their personal stories make for a fascinating read.
Their personal stories make for a fascinating read.
August 16, 2009
If you are wild for DC politics, consider this a 3-star review. Otherwise, I think you will tire of the gossip,the revelations of big decisions made for shallow reasons and the influence of alcohol and sex at the top levels of government.
I was fascinated by the details of these notable lives for the first half of the book and then I was ready to get beyond the sleaze and dysfunction of a world I did not admire.
I was fascinated by the details of these notable lives for the first half of the book and then I was ready to get beyond the sleaze and dysfunction of a world I did not admire.
April 19, 2011
This book brings to life the old axiom, "the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world". Sadly, while the five women showcased in this book were powerful, elegant, and street-smart, they also possessed the moral compasses of female cats in heat. Infidelity, deceit, and neglect marked their lives in very specific ways. I was hoping to discover a woman who was worthy of admiration--instead, I just felt pity.
An honest insight into how Washington works...
An honest insight into how Washington works...
December 29, 2011
This book is an account of 5 ladies (Katharine Graham, Lorraine Cooper, Evengeline Bruce, Pamela Harriman and Sally Quinn) who influenced politics in Washington over the last 50 years. They brought together politicians, businessmen, artists, journalists etc. into their homes and not only entertained, but provided a forum for discussions on world changing events. It takes awhile to get through this book, but I enjoyed it...probably a 3+.
December 22, 2018
I started out rather enjoying reading about Katharine Graham and Evangeline Bruce; And while there were many fascinating accounts about the colorful inhabitants of Georgetown society, including Lorraine Cooper, the further absorbed I became into the lives of the ultra wealthy, the more petty and gossipy it all became. This could have been a better book if the author hadn't felt it necessary to show just so many purported (?) outrageous behaviors and bitter judgements.
January 14, 2008
If you ever wanted to know what the wives of Washington politicians plus Barbara Walters did in the 50's through the 90's, here you go.
They were mostly alcoholics who made more of a difference through strategic dinner parties and intimate relationships then you ever would have known, and aspired for so much more than being a housewife. Whoda thunk it?
They were mostly alcoholics who made more of a difference through strategic dinner parties and intimate relationships then you ever would have known, and aspired for so much more than being a housewife. Whoda thunk it?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2013
Closer to 3-1/2. I really enjoyed this since Washington, DC, is my life-long home. Many of the names were familiar to me, and I had even met a few, so it felt very personal. Not sure I would have enjoyed it as much if I were not a native Washingtonian. (To be honest, I'll also give any book an extra 1/2 star if I can read it by the pool like I did with this one!)
August 5, 2015
The Georgetown Ladies' Social Club: Power, Passion, and Politics in the Nation's Capital is a very interesting book I enjoyed and loved the varied sources of information. The lives of some of the women were so sad considering their wealth and connections. The way their children were raised is nothing to envy.
May 5, 2008
Ah yes. The wealthy women who ruled the men who ruled the world. Nothing better then to get to know who screwed who in their ambitious climb to the top. Interesting fact from this book, Julia Child was a spy.
August 7, 2008
I love Georgetown and stories of successful women, but this was a little scattered for my taste. He wove in several stories and interviews, but it was hard to keep track of so many characters and their roles and relationships.
May 22, 2007
Why did I waste my time?
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