Jackie's Girl

My Life with the Kennedy Family

By: Kathy McKeon

Narrated by: Aedin Moloney

New York Times Bestseller

“McKeon's delightful memories have been tucked away for fifty years, and thankfully, she has brought them out to share the enchanting magic of Camelot with us all.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Celebrity watchers who covet an insider’s role will find McKeon’s frank yet benevolent memoir to be both a sobering reality check and an engaging foray into the ever-fascinating world of the Kennedy dynasty.” —Booklist

An endearing coming-of-age memoir by a young woman who spent thirteen 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 nineteen and newly arrived from Ireland when she was hired as the personal assistant to former first lady Jackie Kennedy. The next thirteen 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 twentieth 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’s 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 twentieth century, Jackie’s Girl is also a moving personal story of a young woman finding her identity and footing in a new country, along with the help of the most elegant woman in America.

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.