Mrs. Kennedy and Me: An Intimate Memoir Read Online Free Page A

colors of the leaves, the rush of the river. I, too, enjoyed being outdoors, but she made me more aware of the aesthetics of our surroundings. It was as if she were walking in a living painting, conscious of how the colors and textures worked together.
    She was also very curious as to how the Secret Service operated and how it would impact her life. She had endless questions about protocol and what kindsof things needed to be cleared by the Secret Service. This was all new to her and I got the feeling that, while she didn’t like the fact that she could no longer go anywhere alone, if she had to be with someone, I was acceptable company.
    There was a continuous flow of people in and out of the residence as decisions were made regarding the selection of the new White House staff. We as agents had to learn who these people were and for what position they were being considered. This was the first change of administration I had witnessed, and I found it very interesting to watch how various people jockeyed for the prime positions.
    The first two weeks went by quite rapidly as I settled into somewhat of a routine with my new assignment. The more time Mrs. Kennedy and I spent together, the more comfortable our relationship became. I sensed that she was slowly beginning to trust me and I was beginning to realize that she was not going to be a first lady who was going to merely stand in the shadows of her husband.
    The day after the election, President-elect Kennedy had flown directly to Palm Beach, Florida, where his father had an oceanfront estate, to focus on the transition and selection of his cabinet and staff. Meanwhile, Mrs. Kennedy, despite being eight months pregnant, was handling a myriad of decisions and new responsibilities, with the world watching, and she appeared to be fearless. I was impressed not only with her capabilities, but also the fact that she was dealing with all of this completely on her own.
    On Wednesday, November 23, the president-elect returned to Washington to spend Thanksgiving with his wife and daughter, and I met John F. Kennedy for the first time.
    “Jack,” Mrs. Kennedy said to her husband, “this is Mr. Hill.”
    He was slightly taller than me, but had a thin, somewhat lanky frame. He had clearly spent time in the sun, as his face was tanned. But the thing you noticed most were his eyes and his smile. He had captivating blue eyes, blue as the ocean, and when he looked at you, it was like he scooped you into his universe, paying attention to you and you alone in that moment. He immediately reached out his hand and gave me a firm, vigorous handshake.
    “I’ve heard a lot about you, Clint,” he said as an infectious grin spread across his cheeks. “Jackie tells me you are a devoted walker and that she has been well taken care of these past couple of weeks. I do appreciate it.”
    He spoke with enthusiasm and sincerity, his words rolling out in that unmistakable Boston accent so quickly that you really had to pay attention.
    “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. President-elect,” I said.
    Caroline would turn three years old on November 27 and he had brought some wrapped gifts, along with a rather unique present for his daughter, for an early birthday celebration. The nine-year-old daughter of a West Palm Beach city councilman had given him a cage containing two live white ducks to present to Caroline for her birthday, and he had brought them back to Washington, eager as could be to see his daughter’s reaction. Those ducks were just the beginning of what would be a never-ending flow of animals into the Kennedy household.
    Even in that brief meeting, I got a sense of John F. Kennedy, and it was easy to see how he had been able to connect with the voters. He was energetic, friendly, a people person. And charming as hell. But I also saw a man who really cared about his family as well as the people around them. I liked him, and I knew from that first meeting that this was going to be a very