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This Time, This Place: My Life in War, the White House, and Hollywood
With the nation at war in the 1940s, twenty-two-year-old Jack Valenti flew fifty-one combat missions as the pilot of a B-25 attack bomber with the 12th Air Force based in Italy. In the 1960s, with the nation reeling from the assassination of a beloved president and becoming embroiled in a far different kind of war in Vietnam, he was in that fateful Dallas motorcade in 1963, flew back to Washington with the new president, and for three years worked in the inner circle of the White House as special assistant to President Lyndon Johnson. Then, for the next thirty-eight years, with American society and popular culture undergoing a revolutionary transformation, Valenti was the public face of Hollywood in his capacity as head of the Motion Picture Association of America.
Been there, done that, indeed. Texas-born and Harvard-educated, Valenti has led several lives, any one of which could have provided ample material for an unforgettable memoir. As it is, This Time, This Place is the gripping story of a man who saw the terrible face of war while fighting with skill and bravery for his country; who was in the room, listening, participating, and remembering, as political decisions were made that would benefit or devastate countless lives in this country and on the other side of the world; and who championed the interest of the vast and globally influential movie industry with tenacity and vision. The list of boldface names whom Valenti knew and with whom he worked is as varied as it is astonishing in number. Aside
from LBJ, there were Jack and Bobby Kennedy, Kirk Douglas, Frank Sinatra, Robert McNamara, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Julia Roberts, Cary Grant, Lew Wasserman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jack Nicholson, Michael Douglas, Warren Beatty, and Bill Clinton, to begin a very long list.
The life of a man who earned both the Distinguished Flying Cross and his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is inherently intriguing, but Valenti’s warm, sometimes rueful, always engaging account gives this memoir a depth of humanity and a taste of life’s unpredictability that will linger long after you turn the final page. From growing up poor but largely oblivious to that fact in a hardscrabble neighborhood of Greek and Italian immigrants in Houston to rising to the highest summits both of national government and Hollywood, This Time, This Place is a candid and clear-eyed reflection of the joys and sorrows, ambitions and disappointments, of a life fully recognizable in its extraordinary variety. It is also a sweeping and important historical record, written by a brilliantly successful man who helped to shape politics and entertainment in the second half of the twentieth century, and who always found himself in the center of the current storm.
Been there, done that, indeed. Texas-born and Harvard-educated, Valenti has led several lives, any one of which could have provided ample material for an unforgettable memoir. As it is, This Time, This Place is the gripping story of a man who saw the terrible face of war while fighting with skill and bravery for his country; who was in the room, listening, participating, and remembering, as political decisions were made that would benefit or devastate countless lives in this country and on the other side of the world; and who championed the interest of the vast and globally influential movie industry with tenacity and vision. The list of boldface names whom Valenti knew and with whom he worked is as varied as it is astonishing in number. Aside
from LBJ, there were Jack and Bobby Kennedy, Kirk Douglas, Frank Sinatra, Robert McNamara, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Julia Roberts, Cary Grant, Lew Wasserman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jack Nicholson, Michael Douglas, Warren Beatty, and Bill Clinton, to begin a very long list.
The life of a man who earned both the Distinguished Flying Cross and his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is inherently intriguing, but Valenti’s warm, sometimes rueful, always engaging account gives this memoir a depth of humanity and a taste of life’s unpredictability that will linger long after you turn the final page. From growing up poor but largely oblivious to that fact in a hardscrabble neighborhood of Greek and Italian immigrants in Houston to rising to the highest summits both of national government and Hollywood, This Time, This Place is a candid and clear-eyed reflection of the joys and sorrows, ambitions and disappointments, of a life fully recognizable in its extraordinary variety. It is also a sweeping and important historical record, written by a brilliantly successful man who helped to shape politics and entertainment in the second half of the twentieth century, and who always found himself in the center of the current storm.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 27, 2019
I sensed a certain honesty in Valenti's memoir which seemed almost out of place for a person involved in both politics and entertainment over his adult life. Add in the early part of his flying B-25s in WWII and you have a pretty good story.
July 14, 2022
My only recollection of Jack Valenti was on Oscar night when he was in charge of the Motion Picture Association of America. I knew nothing of his background and was amazed at his past life. Jack was born in Texas and grew up pulling himself up by his boot straps. He went to college at night and graduated from the University of Houston and a law degree from Harvard. He started working for Humble Oil Company and was doing well until World War II. he enlisted and became a pilot of a B-28. After a stellar military career he became involved in politics. He was a tried and true Democrat who worked for John F. Kennedy and most notable a confident of Lyndon B. Johnson. After another stellar career in politics he became the CEO of MPAA.
A delightful read of a man that worked behind the scenes for four decades ans became very influential yet remained unknown to most people.
A delightful read of a man that worked behind the scenes for four decades ans became very influential yet remained unknown to most people.
April 4, 2021
Rarely has an author been a name-dropped like Valenti. Johnson, Kennedy (many of them), Eisner, Sinatra, Jones (as in Quincy), Douglas (Kirk or Michael), Brando (funny story), Cruise, Hepburn, Eastwood, Reagan, Madonna, Helms (as in conservative Senator), Weinstein (yep, even back then he was big in Hollywood), and many others. Yet, it was fun reading the little stories and see how the other half live. This book truly gives the reader a snapshot of the more fun aspects of being a presidential aide and of being a wheeler and dealer in Hollywood.
Two points were especially interesting in this book: how Valenti’s success in getting into Harvard for his MBA after graduating from a third-tier college in Texas made the difference in his entire life and how Johnson’s seemingly sexist selection of him over his wife to serve as an aide propelled his career. Valenti tells an interesting story of how his true grit. At 14-years-old, his father’s attorney friend told him about the importance of attending Harvard Law School. After serving in the army as a pilot and finishing up his degree from the University of Houston, he applied to Harvard School of Business for his graduate degree. He got an interview but didn’t think he was going to be selected since the counsellor didn’t even know his school and said no one got in with an undergrad from his school; but they spoke about his time as a pilot and the dean of admission admitted he couldn’t join because of poor lungs. Valenti got in – and it changed his life.
His life changed again when he got a call from VP Johnson to make preparations for a visit from Kennedy and Johnson to Texas, a visit Johnson opposed but wanted to go without a hitch. At that point, Valenti had a consulting business that included political work. Johnson knew Valenti because Valenti’s wife had been a ten year loyal staffer for Johnson when he was the Senate leader. All went well, until Kennedy was assassinated. Johnson told Valenti he was hiring him that same day and had him join Air Force One, witnessing his plane swearing in then join him living at home then the White House until he could set up his own house.
Valenti shared some about serving as an aide that was especially interesting. The most compelling pages in the entire book described some meetings on Viet Nam and how the president got fully committed. Sharing the relationship between Robert Kennedy and President Johnson was also interesting but fully from Johnson’s viewpoint. How Johnson reacted when his loyal aide, Walter Jenkins, was picked up by the police for allegedly having sex with another man in a bathroom. Such a charge was especially damaging politically in the early 1960’s. According to Valenti, Johnson instantly issued a statement saying he accepted his resignation but Mrs. Johnson Issued a statement standing by him. She told her husband, “We can’t let Walter hand out there all alone.” Johnson could not convince his wife otherwise. Unfortunately Valenti left the White House service and took the job with MPAA.
That section of the book was light and fun, highlighting the glory of Hollywood and international travel, playing up a lot of names and hobnobbing. He only briefly mentioned why they had him in that position, speaking about he fixed the problems with India seizing international property for cheap amounts to finance politically connected in that country. Otherwise, little of his actual work was covered.
After reading the book, I took a quick look at the internet and learned that Valenti died right before the book was published. I also learned that FBI Director Hover thought that Valenti was gay and that was why he was single until 41 years old. Hoover, a major homophobe, was convinced Valenti had an in appropriate relationship with a photographer. What a different, better time.
Two points were especially interesting in this book: how Valenti’s success in getting into Harvard for his MBA after graduating from a third-tier college in Texas made the difference in his entire life and how Johnson’s seemingly sexist selection of him over his wife to serve as an aide propelled his career. Valenti tells an interesting story of how his true grit. At 14-years-old, his father’s attorney friend told him about the importance of attending Harvard Law School. After serving in the army as a pilot and finishing up his degree from the University of Houston, he applied to Harvard School of Business for his graduate degree. He got an interview but didn’t think he was going to be selected since the counsellor didn’t even know his school and said no one got in with an undergrad from his school; but they spoke about his time as a pilot and the dean of admission admitted he couldn’t join because of poor lungs. Valenti got in – and it changed his life.
His life changed again when he got a call from VP Johnson to make preparations for a visit from Kennedy and Johnson to Texas, a visit Johnson opposed but wanted to go without a hitch. At that point, Valenti had a consulting business that included political work. Johnson knew Valenti because Valenti’s wife had been a ten year loyal staffer for Johnson when he was the Senate leader. All went well, until Kennedy was assassinated. Johnson told Valenti he was hiring him that same day and had him join Air Force One, witnessing his plane swearing in then join him living at home then the White House until he could set up his own house.
Valenti shared some about serving as an aide that was especially interesting. The most compelling pages in the entire book described some meetings on Viet Nam and how the president got fully committed. Sharing the relationship between Robert Kennedy and President Johnson was also interesting but fully from Johnson’s viewpoint. How Johnson reacted when his loyal aide, Walter Jenkins, was picked up by the police for allegedly having sex with another man in a bathroom. Such a charge was especially damaging politically in the early 1960’s. According to Valenti, Johnson instantly issued a statement saying he accepted his resignation but Mrs. Johnson Issued a statement standing by him. She told her husband, “We can’t let Walter hand out there all alone.” Johnson could not convince his wife otherwise. Unfortunately Valenti left the White House service and took the job with MPAA.
That section of the book was light and fun, highlighting the glory of Hollywood and international travel, playing up a lot of names and hobnobbing. He only briefly mentioned why they had him in that position, speaking about he fixed the problems with India seizing international property for cheap amounts to finance politically connected in that country. Otherwise, little of his actual work was covered.
After reading the book, I took a quick look at the internet and learned that Valenti died right before the book was published. I also learned that FBI Director Hover thought that Valenti was gay and that was why he was single until 41 years old. Hoover, a major homophobe, was convinced Valenti had an in appropriate relationship with a photographer. What a different, better time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2017
I loved every word of this book. Valenti writes vividly and clearly, his personal voice resounds with positive energy. He certainly lived in interesting times. Born in 1921, he grew up in an Italian-American family and neighborhood in Houston, TX. He flew B-25 bombers during WWII. After graduating from the Univ of Houston in 1946, he got an MBA from Harvard and then went to work in marketing for Humble Oil Company, which became Exxon. I really connect with his stories about Humble because my father was working for Humble Pipeline in TX during these same years.
He and a partner established a successful advertising agency in Houston in 1952 and began working for politicians. Eventually he worked with President Lyndon Johnson and so can describe what was transpiring in the White House during those turbulent years of the Vietnam War and passing the great legislation: Medicare, Voting Rights, Civil Rights with regard to housing. Then he worked 38 years as President of the Motion Picture Association of America, creating the film industry rating system still in use.
While this is one man’s view of USA during the 20th century, it is a pretty good picture of our world through the eyes of an energetic optimist “mover and shaker” extraordinaire. GOOD READ!
He and a partner established a successful advertising agency in Houston in 1952 and began working for politicians. Eventually he worked with President Lyndon Johnson and so can describe what was transpiring in the White House during those turbulent years of the Vietnam War and passing the great legislation: Medicare, Voting Rights, Civil Rights with regard to housing. Then he worked 38 years as President of the Motion Picture Association of America, creating the film industry rating system still in use.
While this is one man’s view of USA during the 20th century, it is a pretty good picture of our world through the eyes of an energetic optimist “mover and shaker” extraordinaire. GOOD READ!
February 6, 2023
A very information and interesting read.
December 3, 2025
very shallow, he says good things about everthing
August 14, 2011
I really enjoyed this one.
Jack Valenti truly occupied a unique space in modern life, a WWII veteran substantively and highly placed in both political and entertainment circles. As such, his autobiography is a nice window into all those worlds.
Not bad for a dollar store buy!
Jack Valenti truly occupied a unique space in modern life, a WWII veteran substantively and highly placed in both political and entertainment circles. As such, his autobiography is a nice window into all those worlds.
Not bad for a dollar store buy!
September 4, 2015
I only wish he had discussed his time in WWII in more detail! This book is fascinating.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews