I've been collecting books about Jack and Jackie Kennedy for years, but didn't know that JFK's personal secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, had also written her professional memoirs. I had to order a copy from the US, but a chance to read about Kennedy from such a close, first-hand source was well worth the wait!

'Miz Lincoln', as Kennedy called her, made notes in her diary throughout the twelve years she worked for JFK, from when he was elected to the Senate in 1952 to his death in Dallas in 1963. When he asked her if she was going to write a book about him, Evelyn told him she was getting everything down in case he ever wanted to write his memoirs. Her insight, preparation and devotion - her book was first published in 1965 - make this a wonderfully detailed and intimate account of Kennedy. She covers all the key events of his personal and presidential life, but also throws in the kind of amusing anecdotes and observations that I love, like how he was terrible for misplacing possessions but had a keen memory for knowledge and connections (except maybe McGeorge Bundy). She was on hand to study the Senator, and later President, in his most private moments - with Jackie ('he did not like to ask Jackie to share their moments together with his public responsibilities'), his family (tapping his son with his foot until John threatened to 'tell Miss Lincoln' on his father!), and alone ('I didn't know it then, but I was to see him many, many more times sitting alone with only his thoughts').

Evelyn was obviously a strong character in her own right, inspired by her father to attend law school and study politics, and marrying a man - Harold 'Abe' Lincoln - who shared her dedication and drive. When Senator Kennedy was taken into hospital for two major operations on his painful back in 1954, Evelyn was also suffering and was diagnosed with a (thankfully benign) tumour on her spine. After months of recovery for both of them, Kennedy quietly broached his secretary's professional future with her husband, afraid that she wouldn't be able to cope with the rigours of running around after a busy politician, but Evelyn rose admirably to the challenge and was soon back in her old role. She also met President Kennedy's suggestion that she stand up when visiting dignitaries entered the office by getting the secretarial team to stand whenever he passed through! I loved reading about her no-nonsense, practical approach to managing - often mothering - JFK.

Biographies and memoirs by people who actually knew President Kennedy, especially written so soon after his tragic death, are obviously going to be biased, but I don't care. This was the real man, from the perspective of a woman who was the lynchpin of his political career and who visited his grave in Arlington every year until her death in 1995. ( )

This book was written by JFK's personal secretary, Evelyn Lincoln. She had an up close and personal view of his senatorial career, campaign, and presidency. It's written in a style that allows for easy reading and is quite compelling. ( )

Glossy bias of a secretary working for the icon. ( )