A Lady, First: My Life in the Kennedy White House and the American Embassies of Paris and Rome

 

Summary (from the publisher): Letitia Baldrige is the woman best known as Jackie Kennedy's social secretary during the White House years. But in this fascinating memoir Baldrige reveals a career sparkling with a host of other achievements: embassy work in an era when women rarely were given jobs overseas, becoming the first female executive at Tiffany & Co., and founding one of the first companies run by a female CEO. In her amazing life story Baldrige shares her perspective as a White House insider: the hilarity of young Jackie's antics on foreign diplomatic visits, the terror of the Cuban missile crisis, and the heartbreak of President Kennedy's funeral. Stylish, chic and always polite, Baldrige reveals the determination that has made her a success and brought her the admiration of women around the world.

Review: Best known for serving as Jackie Kennedy's social secretary in the White House, Letitia Baldrige presents her fascinating career in this delightful memoir. Born into a fairly well to do family and raised largely in Omaha, Nebraska, Letitia avoided the fate of many of her school peers of settling down right after college and instead found her first job in Paris in the American embassy. This successful experience led to her job working in the Italian embassy for Clare Luce Booth. Her experiences working in foreign embassies allowed her to master other languages, work under immense pressure, and become a pro at throwing large parties for very distinguished guests. In her next job, she became head of public relations for Tiffany's and was the store's first female executive and an overwhelming success. Her creative, out of the box ideas, and superb people skills served her well. Next, due to her experience and skills - and her schoolgirl friendship with Jackie - she was asked to serve the First Lady in the White House. Yet even after this career pinnacle, she still went on to establish her own PR company, working for huge names like Sears and Elizabeth Arden. And on the side somehow found the time to author numerous books, become recognized as a national expert in all things etiquette, and raise two children. 

Letitia is an absolutely fascinating figure. She was in the right places at the right time but also had the right combination of charm, nerve, and determination paired with an indefatigable work ethic. The list of famous people she has met and worked with is extensive. She has traveled the globe and made the most of every opportunity handed to her. Truly a woman ahead of her time, she was a woman with prominent titles and roles in a time when most women were consigned to the background. Letitia was also extremely open minded towards other races and creeds and made it her personal mission to advance the cause of women while the White House, which I found extremely admirable. 

Letitia does an excellent job of conveying her own story in an entertaining and relatively succinct way. She is not afraid to share her own embarrassing mistakes and laugh at herself. Although this book focuses on her career highlights, it is also her life story and I wish a little more detail had been shared about her personal life, such as the final years of her parents' lives and her experiences as a mother. Also, she very distinctly alludes to experiences she is not sharing in this book, including several love affairs: "Matters concerning my heart in Italy will remain unchronicled" (120). I would have loved to know more! A fascinating figure whose life intersects with so many historical events and who shaped the course of public relations through her pioneering work in the field. 

Stars: 4