Rating: 
Summary: A look at the lives of the women who made the men.
Review: This was an exceptionally well written book, from the family tree offered in the front, to the observations of what will be. These were incredible women who lived in the fishbowl without many of the perks that the men enjoyed. The detailed life of Rose Fitzgerald, starting with her birth, is thorough and engrossing. The daliances of the Kennedy men, with other women and in politics, leaves one wondering 'What were these women thinking?' Their accomplishments are many and are well detailed. It is not an enviable place to be, being born into 'royalty', but these women handled it with grace, style, and aplomb.
Rating:
Summary: A compassionate portrait
Review: When the Kennedy's entered the White House, everybody assumed that they were the perfect family. Following assasinations and tabloid headlines, the men were subsequently were criticized for fast living and political decisions.The women, once ideal images of feminity became scorned for being the "ideal helpmate". For years, the press did not want to cover the women in anything other than fashion and family. Although Jackie despised the "little wife" role, she nonetheless went with it for the sake of election. This book does a good job reconcilling the two methods of examination. For the first time, we get a well rounded picture of America's most famous family as seen through the eyes of women. Thanks to the separate spheres approach that prevailed until the late 20th century. If JFK's sisters were political, it was under the non-threating guise of community service and volunteer work. Although Rose Kennedy was considered a tradditional matriarch, no other book had touched her subconcious desire to enter into politics or her intial revulsion of Joe Sr's womanizing. Thus, the dislike of Jackie (many people did not realize how much policy making influence she had) becomes all of the more ironic. Younger generations of Kennedy women such as Kathleen Kennedy Townsend have also continued this tradition, but have sought (and won) elected office in their own right. RFK's youngest daughter, Rory, is an avowed feminist activist. This book would be of interest to anybody studying political dynastys and or the Kennedy family in particular. Because it balances the positives and negatives of it's focus, the book is well balanced and easy to read. Be warry of imitators because this is the definitive work.
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