What's the Most Shocking Part of Mimi Alford's Story?
By now, you've probably heard of the delicious new book out by Mimi Alford, a White House intern during the administration of John F. Kennedy. Her memoir, Once Upon a Secret: My Affair With John F. Kennedy and its Aftermath, details her eighteen-month affair with the president. And the details are bizarre (rubber ducky races in the bath, secret phone calls, Alford was snuggled up in a White House bed during the Cuban Missile Crisis--bizarre, definitely).
The Daily Beast has an excellent and—more importantly—detailed review of Alford's book:
Uncertain and all of 19, tall and striking Marion “Mimi” Beardsley rode the train from Trenton, N.J.., down to Washington, D.C. in the summer of 1962 to intern at the White House. The Wheaton College undergraduate was puzzled as to why she’d been chosen for the internship—she hadn’t applied. Beardsley had, however, written an article for her all-girls boarding school, Miss Porter’s School, about one of its most famous alumnae, the first lady. A trip to the White House had led to a chance meeting with the president. And a year later, there she was, on her way to one of the cushiest posts available to a young woman whose parents frequently consulted the Social Register.
What happened over the next week—and continued for the following year and a half—forms the body of Once Upon a Secret: My Affair With President John F. Kennedy and Its Aftermath. Alford, now 69 and a grandmother of seven, reveals that from the first week of her internship in the summer of 1962 through November 1963, she conducted an affair with President Kennedy, spending nights with him in his private bedroom, traveling to be with him at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and seeing the president for the last time shortly before his fateful trip to Dallas. In this memoir, part confession, part hagiography, Alford divulges the intimate details of the time she spent with one of America’s most beloved presidents.
So Mimi went from sharing Jackie's high school to sharing her bed. Literally. JFK chose Mrs. Kennedy's private bedroom as the place where he'd take the 19-year-old's virginity.
There is plenty that will shock and awe in this story (click here, read the heading "In the Company of Other Men," try not to faint), but one of the most interesting tidbits comes from Alford's interview with NBC's Meredith Vieira, which aired last night. You can see some clips here.
Vieira, quoting Alford's book, describes how the affair began: "I wouldn't described what happened that night as making love, but I wouldn't call it nonconsensual either. He had maneuvered me swiftly and unexpectedly, and with such authority and strength, that short of screaming, I doubt I could have done anything to thwart his intentions."
Responding to Vieira's intimation that Kennedy forced himself on her—that the sex was nonconsensual, that it was rape—Alford denied the allegation, saying she was "not overpowered physically [in the sense] that someone had grabbed me and made me do something that I wasn't really willing to do, because I really think I was willing to do it." I wouldn't say that this admission--her willingness--was the most shocking part of the story, but her candor here did take me aback and made me wonder: by coming forward, and talking in plain and honest terms about the affair, should we praise Alford for her courage, or consider her a petty opportunist? I liked her honesty and, since admitting that on national television took some guts, I'd be willing to call her brave.
Anyhow, that's my take. What's yours? What's the most shocking part of this story to you?
And, a related question: Was JFK too immoral to serve? Historian and presidential biographer Robert Dallek weighs in, but what do you think?
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Comments:
May '10
Re: What's the Most Shocking Part of Mimi Alford's Story?
Not a big huge fan of Kennedy's. And this is despicable.
By most of our sexual harassment laws of today, Kennedy would be a near-rapist or sexual predator.
In general, anyone who does this kind of thing (cheating on the wife to start, and much worse, taking advantage of a position of power to get your way with a woman) should be treated with suspicion in other areas of their life, including political areas. I include Gingrich in this, although as I've said before, as Christians we try to make allowances for new beginnings based on sincere repentance, even though that is also hard to judge, and requires time to regain trust. In Gingrich's case, even if the repentance is sincere, I still prefer someone with Santorum's morality (or Romney's for that matter, on this particular issue).
But back to Kennedy, yes, it really is despicable.
I'm also mildly surprised at the generally mild reaction this is getting. She did well to release this after the late Senator Kennedy passed away.
Edited on February 9, 2012 at 1:19pmMar '11
Re: What's the Most Shocking Part of Mimi Alford's Story?
No surprise at how despicably a Kennedy acted toward a young woman.
I feel bad for the poor sap who courted and became engaged to Ms. Beardsley while she was having an affair with Kennedy. She loses my sympathy due to her own apparent deceitfulness.
Edited on February 9, 2012 at 1:24pmRe: What's the Most Shocking Part of Mimi Alford's Story?
The most shocking? How about getting Mimi Beardsley to "service" Dave Powers while the President watched? Or the arrangements the President made for her to have an abortion when she thought that she was pregnant? Or his failed attempt to get her to "service" Teddy?
Oct '10
Re: What's the Most Shocking Part of Mimi Alford's Story?
I find America's continuing obsession with the Kennedy's shocking. Well, disappointing, anyway.
Aug '10
Re: What's the Most Shocking Part of Mimi Alford's Story?
Concur.
So I hope this book sells well.
May '10
Re: What's the Most Shocking Part of Mimi Alford's Story?
I also wonder a bit at our reaction. It is a bit tabloid. Why should we talk about this?
Well, as a political matter, perhaps it should be aired as a cautionary tale, and to further undermine any future attempts to use Kennedy's name to further political ends. If it were just him, I would say leave it be, he's long dead.
But as for why anyone would actually buy this "delicious" book and curl up with it for a long look into every last detail... that strikes me as engaging in fantasies or voyeurism.
Edited on February 9, 2012 at 1:46pmSep '10
Re: What's the Most Shocking Part of Mimi Alford's Story?
New theory. Maybe Kennedy's assassin was some young girls father. Hope that doesn't violate the code on conspiracy theories...
May '10
Re: What's the Most Shocking Part of Mimi Alford's Story?
I disagree strongly with Robert Dallek's article:
Why is it an impossibly high standard? It is not. We have had faithful men in office before.
And it really does speak about your character, whether you achieve greatness in other areas or not. It is a character flaw, particularly the abuse of position in this case.
I want a President who's trustworthy even in personal areas of life. Is that too much to ask?
And what happens when our leaders are not faithful? They open themselves up to blackmail. They lose moral leadership. And they may lead impressionable young people astray. I remember that many who were teens when Clinton's unfaithfulness was in the news cited his behavior in saying that oral sex is OK and/or is not real sex.
Aug '10
Re: What's the Most Shocking Part of Mimi Alford's Story?
Let us focus on those who placed the man and his family atop their Mt Olympus. The party that ignored their continuously subhuman behaviour while granting them demi-god status. The party that sustained them in office as the country suffered their navigation and their decisions. Let Mary Jo Kopechne speak first.
Edited on February 9, 2012 at 10:18pmRe: What's the Most Shocking Part of Mimi Alford's Story?
Totally agree. Although, the fact that Mimi agreed to service Powers in the pool is shocking, too. She was young, but not that young.
May '10
Re: What's the Most Shocking Part of Mimi Alford's Story?
The whole story is so sleazy it gives me indigestion.
I think the worst part is the consistent willingness of the enablers- acolytes, media, etc. to cover up execrable conduct in order to protect the Noble Cause, and the sense of entitlement exuded by the misbehavers. Where that applies on our side as well (Baumann, Foley, Gingrich, Jerry Sandusky, etc.), string 'em up. And I am no prude.
We got it with Clinton as well, but we also get the same media whoredom on Obama's behalf, though for very different, equally appalling, types of misconduct. A pox on all their houses.
Jul '10
Re: What's the Most Shocking Part of Mimi Alford's Story?
Mr. deleon, I totally agree with your last point on Clinton. I was a teenager during the sex scandal, and there is no doubt that adults willing to give the President a pass on something like that meant that we were allowed to do it too. I do blame much of today's teenage promiscuity on the media's unabashed attitude towards sex, the Clinton scandal being but one of many examples.
Jun '11
Re: What's the Most Shocking Part of Mimi Alford's Story?
The only shocking thing I've heard so far, having not read the book, is that they were openly doing drugs at a party at Bing Crosby's house. The sexual stuff isn't surprising let alone "shocking" to me.
May '11
Re: What's the Most Shocking Part of Mimi Alford's Story?
This does seem like salacious click-farming, comment-ranching.
Assuming this is all true (I of course have no idea), I suppose she can't be called too too much of an opportunist, having waited fifty years to speak.
Kennedy may have been "too immoral to serve" for my tastes (let me not throw stones, however), but I would draw few lines around blanket statement of eligibility. Even if we could all agree on an objective definition, setting a bar would be the tricky part. Without a definition, setting a bar is impossible. I do draw the line at, say, Marxism, but that's a whole other conversation. I'll take any number of pro-American scoundrels, given a selection.
I would vote for Vlad the Impaler if the circumstances warranted.
Re: What's the Most Shocking Part of Mimi Alford's Story?
Uh huh, but you couldn't hold yourself back from commenting ; )
Sep '10
Re: What's the Most Shocking Part of Mimi Alford's Story?
My father was one of those people who claimed that what Clinton did wasn't sex. (The obsession with certain body parts boggles the mind.) So, I said, okay, dad. Say some young woman serviced you this way. Would you tell mom? After all, it isn't sex, is it?
Sep '10
Re: What's the Most Shocking Part of Mimi Alford's Story?
I find those on our side who make an absolutist moral case do a good deal of damage to themselves and their political comrades when they fail to make distinctions. (See # 11)
Being married three times (Gingrich) is not the same as boffing a White House intern (Clinton) and according to this woman, Kennedy's taking a wide-eyed 19 year-old virgin and later pimping her out to his buddies and little brother in the White House pool.
Edited on February 9, 2012 at 2:32pmRe: What's the Most Shocking Part of Mimi Alford's Story?
Leslie Watkins: My father was one of those people who claimed that what Clinton did wasn't sex. (The obsession with certain body parts boggles the mind.) So, I said, okay, dad. Say some young woman serviced you this way. Would you tell mom? After all, it isn't sex, is it? · 3 minutes ago
Great point. That must have been quite the conversation!
Oct '11
Re: What's the Most Shocking Part of Mimi Alford's Story?
The thing about JFK's affairs is that they are not a case of a single mistake or error in judgment one night rather they are systematic and pre-planned, a total rejection of any sort of monogamous relationship with Mrs. Kennedy. It also shows a willingness to use government resources not to mention one's own time organizing all these affairs. The forcing your teenage girlfriend to inhale drug fumes at Bing Crosby's house, if true, seems pretty bad. I am surprised there would be drugs at a Bing Crosby party though perhaps Bing did not control the guest list. It is kind of gross, from an STD perspective among others, the way these guys were passing woman around.
Jan '11
Re: What's the Most Shocking Part of Mimi Alford's Story?
The biggest concern for a president's moral character is whether, having been entrusted with considerable power, he's unwilling to live within the constraints of the authority of the office. In other words, although a president has tremendous authority, the power needed to carry out that authority has limits. Does he respect that?.
Respecting the authority of the office means to use power within limits. If you don't respect limits in your personal life, i.e., if you won't take no for an answer, then that's grounds for believing you won't respect the limits of your office.
We aren't electing a saint. I don't buy the myth that a president is our national moral icon. But if his behavior egregiously disrespects the simplest limits, then I have little trust that he'll respect the limits of his office.