She called her employer “Madam,” although she thought of Jackie more as a big sister than an employer.

Kathy McKeon describes Jackie as generous and kind, with an easy manner. She was there when the children learned that their mother would be marrying Aristotle Onassis and that they would be spending part of their time in Greece. Kathy was there for the Kennedy children when they learned of their uncle Bobby’s death, who had become a father-figure to them after their own father was assassinated. Rose Kennedy, the Grande dame of American politics, affectionately called Kathy “Jackie’s girl.” Kathy accompanied the Kennedy family on their travels, including trips to Cape Cod where she met other members of the extended Kennedy clan. Kathy lived and worked with Jackie, Caroline, John, the other household staff, and the family pets. The job consisted of keeping Jackie’s extensive wardrobe in tip-top condition, running errands, and even filling in as governess at times. Jackie observed how natural and pleasant Kathy was with John and hired her on the spot. While she waited, a young boy – John – came into the parlor with his dog to show her tricks. Not long after JFK was killed, McKeon went to an exclusive Fifth Avenue address for an interview.

She heard of a position with “Madam.” Her new employer was Jackie Kennedy. was rather miserable, but then Kathy caught a lucky break. Without running water or electricity, the family was so poor that all 10 shared the same toothbrush. Life back home was not easy, with 10 family members crammed into a three-room farmhouse. In 1963, Kathy and her sister came to New York to find work as domestic servants. It offers a chance to understand what Jackie was like behind closed doors. In truth, the memoir is not a “tell-all” that reveals shocking secrets, but rather an affectionate and gentle telling of McKeon’s 13 years spent with Jackie Kennedy and her young children. Or that sometimes McKeon would bump into Jackie in the pantry in the middle of the night, catching her eating ice cream right out of the carton. The “secrets” included the fact that since one of Jackie’s legs was slightly shorter than the other, she had one ¼ inch lift in each pair of shoes. Jackie’s Girl: My Life with the Kennedy Family by Kathy McKeon is a coming-of-age memoir about the thirteen years she spent as Jackie Kennedy’s personal assistant and, at times, nanny to Caroline and John. Her book has many photos from her time with the Kennedys

Jackie's Girl by Kathy McKeon