Jackie's Girl

My Life with the Kennedy Family

By: Kathy McKeon

Narrated by: Aedin Moloney

Length: 8 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

An endearing coming-of-age memoir by a young woman who spent 13 years as Jackie Kennedy's personal assistant and occasional nanny - and the lessons about life and love she learned from the glamorous first lady.

In 1964 Kathy McKeon was just 19 years old and newly arrived from Ireland when she was hired as the personal assistant to former first lady Jackie Kennedy. The next 13 years of her life were spent in Jackie's service, during which Kathy not only played a crucial role in raising young Caroline and John Jr. but also had a front-row seat to some of the 20th century's most significant events.

Because Kathy was always at Jackie's side, Rose Kennedy deemed her "Jackie's girl". And although Kathy called Jackie "Madam", she considered her employer more like a big sister who, in many ways, mentored her on how to be a lady. Kathy was there during Jackie and Aristotle Onassis' courtship and marriage and Robert Kennedy's assassination, dutifully supporting Jackie and the children during these tumultuous times in history.

A rare and engrossing look at the private life of one of the most famous women of the 20th century, Jackie's Girl is also a moving personal story of a young woman finding her identity and footing in a new country, with the help of the most elegant woman in America.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2017 Kathy McKeon (P)2017 S&S Audio

Wonderful read!!!!

I really enjoyed this book. Kathy's stories are wonderful. She makes you laugh and cry as she comes of age. I'm so happy she told her story. It's one of the best stories I have read in a while.

VERY SURPRISED!

What a lovely, intimate and interesting look into “Madam’s” everyday life and at what a person she was in private and how she treated her staff.
Kathy, incredible personal story of family, perseverance, honesty and love. The reading is incredible. Very easy to follow. Super loved it!

A great book from start to finish.

I could not quit listening to the book from the moment I started listening to it.
It is well written and flows along smoothly. You feel like you are there with Jackie, John, Caroline, and Kathy. You can visualize the apartment and feel a part of every chapter.
I highly recommend this book especially to anyone who has an interest in the Kennedy family.
The Irish accent of the reader made the book even more interesting and draws you into each chapter.
L.Graham

Charming

This is such a sweet, down to earth book on the nanny's life. Warning, the title is misleading. It's not all about Jackie. It's more about Kathy's story and how Jackie played a part in it (but of course every other sentence mentions a Kennedy since that's where her life was).

Enjoyable Read (listen)

A peek into the life of Jackie Kennedy shortly after JFK was killed. Insights into the personality of Jackie and glimpses into the growing up years of her children. Also, enjoyed the description of the hardships the family of Jackie’s girl faced in Ireland. It’s one I could listen to again.

So touching

A very real and at times stark glimpse into the daily lives of Jackie O., Caroline, and John, from the point of view of Jackie’s longtime personal assistant. The juxtaposition of Kathy’s modest Irish upbringing and immigration to New York in the 1960’s as compared to the lavish lifestyle of the Kennedy’s, 4th generation Irish immigrants, lends a richness and texture to the story. Ultimately, I found this to be a love letter to Jackie, a remarkable, generous woman, whose humanity shone through the veneer that most never had the opportunity to see past. I cried my eyes out like I had gotten to know the family personally, so engrossing was Kathy’s narration of her time in Camelot.

One of the best books I have read.

I liked everything about this book. Narrator was the perfect choice. The personal account of life lived with the Kennedys was remarkable. The reader will come away feeling a warm connection to a truly
American family icon.
Kudos to Kathy McKeon for sharing her story in such a loving respectful way.

Jo F Cordell

You must listen to this book!!

If you could sum up Jackie's Girl in three words, what would they be?

Engaging, Touching, Honest

Who was your favorite character and why?

Kathy- You got a strong sense of what her life was like. You wanted to see her be happy with her own family while being able to maintain her strong relationship with the Kennedy's.

What does Aedin Moloney bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She really brought authenticity to the story. I loved her accent I loved the way she tried to speak like Jackie. I think listening to the audio version with Aedin's narration make the whole experience more enjoyable.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

An honest view of life with the Kennedy family as seen through an eye of someone who was not just an employee but a member of the family...

Any additional comments?

Loved, loved, loved this book. I listen to lots of audible books, but this so far has been my absolute favorite!!

Very touching account of the Kennedy era.

I have always been interested in learning about the Kennedy's, especially since my first name us "Jacqueline" and I was born in 1964! I enjoyed hearing this book from this different perspective if their family. I was moved to tears while listening to the tender account of dear John.

Sweet story.

Liked it. Interesting to learn how the Kennedys lived. Seems Jackie O. and Aristotle Onassis were nice people.