Jfk: Public, Private, Secret

J Randy Taraborrelli

Book cover for Jfk: Public, Private, Secret
Book cover for Jfk: Public, Private, Secret

Jfk: Public, Private, Secret

Jfk: Public, Private, Secret

J Randy Taraborrelli

Member Benefits

  • 40% Off All Books - Savings that support storytellers, not stock prices.
  • Fight Book Bans - Every membership sends a book to LGBTQ+ youth in affected states.
Member Book Price
$35.00 $6.00
View full details

Description

From the New York Times bestselling Kennedy historian and author of Jackie: Public, Private, Secret comes the other side of the story--her husband's: JFK: Public, Private, Secret.

In this deeply researched presidential biography, J. Randy Taraborrelli tells John F. Kennedy's story in a provocative new way by revealing how public moments in his life were so influenced by private relationships with not only his family, but also Jackie's.

But it's the secret life that also surprises. As Congressman, Senator and finally President, JFK was a magnet for women. With exclusive interviews and meticulous research, Taraborrelli reveals not only the man's many affairs but also the strength and resolve his wife showed in coping with them.

JFK's women include:

- Jackie Kennedy, and her rules of engagement for Jack's infidelity: "Show me some respect and don't rub it in my face"
- Inga Arvad. JFK's first love and how it ended over fears she was a Nazi spy.
- Marilyn Monroe. Why Jackie insisted JFK end it with her: "This one's different, Jack. This one's trouble!"
- Finally - the truth about of JFK's relationship with Marilyn exclusively from Marilyn's closest friend... and how it wasn't what people believed.
- Joan Hitchcock. The mysterious brunette who comforted Jack after Jackie threatened to file for divorce.

Other great stories:

- How JFK's grief over his infant son caused him to make rash decisions that pulled the USA into Vietnam for the first time.
- The real truth, once and for all, about the Mafia's involvement in JFK's election.
- The startling drug abuse that clouded the President's decisions during the disastrous Bay of Pigs...
- ... and how Jackie managed to wean him from those drugs in time for the nearly cataclysmic Cuban Missile Crisis.
- The Kennedys' secret plans to renew their wedding vows, made just before JFK's assassination.

The JFK presented in Taraborrelli's definitive biography is a complex and endlessly fascinating historical figure, despite--and maybe even because of--his many flaws.

About the Author

J. RANDY TARABORRELLI is the acclaimed author of numerous New York Times bestsellers about the Kennedys, including Jackie, Ethel, Joan: Women of Camelot, adapted as a miniseries by NBC, and The Kennedys - After Camelot, adapted for television by Reelz. His other bestselling works include The Kennedy Heirs and Jackie, Janet & Lee. His most recent book, Jackie: Public, Private, Secret, debuted at No. 3 on the New York Times bestseller list. Taraborrelli is currently adapting both Jackie: Public, Private, Secret and JFK: Public, Private, Secret for television.

Critical Reviews

ONE OF AMAZON EDITORS' BEST BOOKS OF JULY

"[A] bombshell JFK book." --People magazine

"A profoundly humanized portrait ... With more than 25 years of historical research on which to draw, Taraborrelli's powerfully resourced biography offers incomparable observations ... Decades later, as the U.S. and the world again finds itself teetering on the brink of existential crisis, the ethos demonstrated through Kennedy's public speeches and private musings resonates even more deeply." --Booklist, starred review

"A compelling read with standout quality and originality that reveals the much-discussed personal side of JFK's life via Taraborrelli's ... impeccable research ... A riveting exploration for the millions of readers still fascinated by the Kennedy family's dynamics and legacy." --Library Journal, starred review

"This crowd-pleasing biography of one of history's most enigmatic characters divulges insider details from JFK's orbit and paints a page-turning look at the man behind the myth... a refreshing, inspiring read about politics that stirs nostalgia, and asks new questions about a legacy you only thought was written in stone." --Lindsay Powers, Amazon Editor

"Taraborrelli eschews sensationalism, casting doubt on several lurid Kennedy legends ... [an] entertaining take on a great American soap opera." --Publishers Weekly

"A Kennedy specialist, Taraborrelli has written six books on the family, but this is the first on JFK ... An excellent biography of the 35th president." --Kirkus Reviews

Publishing Information

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pub date: 2025-07-15
Length: 592 pages

The Allstora Membership

Membership Perks:

  • Save 30% on all online store purchases
  • Exclusive access to author's content
  • You pay less, but authors still earn double

Membership Terms:

First Month: $0.00
Monthly price: $5.00
  • To access membership discount simply log in and add to cart, discount applied automatically.
  • One month free trial, cancel anytime. Membership renews on the 15th of each month.