JFK Public, Private, Secret, J. Randy Taraborrelli
JFK Public, Private, Secret, J. Randy Taraborrelli
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JFK: Public, Private, Secret

Bestseller

Author: J. Randy Taraborrelli

Narrator: J. Randy Taraborrelli, Robert Petkoff

Unabridged: 16 hr 2 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/15/2025


Synopsis

NAMED ONE OF AMAZON EDITORS' BEST BOOKS OF JULY!

From the New York Times bestselling Kennedy historian and author of Jackie: Public, Private, Secret comes the other side of the story—her husband’s: JFK: Public, Private, Secret.

In this definitive portrait of John Fitzgerald Kennedy—one of America’s most consequential and enigmatic presidents—J. Randy Taraborrelli delivers a deeply researched and authoritative biography. More than the story of a presidency, this is an intimate study of a man whose public triumphs were shaped—and at times overshadowed—by the complex realities of his private life, from his legendary family to his marriage to Jacqueline Kennedy.

Drawing from hundreds of interviews conducted over twenty-five years—as well as candid, firsthand oral histories from the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Presidential Library, rare internal reports from the Secret Service, detailed files from the National Archives, and intelligence documents from both the CIA and FBI. This is JFK as never before captured by history: brilliant yet fallible, revered yet human—a figure whose legacy continues to shape America and the world.

Groundbreaking Revelations Include:
• A marriage defined by both devotion and distance—and Jackie’s quiet but firm rules regarding her husband’s infidelities.
• The romance that posed a potential national security risk—JFK’s deep connection with Inga Arvad, a woman he considered his great love, brought to an abrupt end due to FBI concerns over her ties to Nazi intelligence.
• The long-awaited truth about Marilyn Monroe—uncovered at last through the firsthand account of one of her closest confidantes, shattering decades of speculation and exposing the reality of her deeply complicated connection to JFK.
• The woman who might have changed history—Joan Lundberg, the mistress JFK turned to during the darkest time in his marriage, whose clandestine relationship with him threatened to derail his entire political career.
• The Mafia’s role in his rise to power—a definitive account that separates fact from fiction and lays bare the extent of organized crime’s involvement in JFK’s election.
• A presidency tested by betrayal and crisis—why JFK felt undermined by his own cabinet during the Bay of Pigs fiasco, and how he ultimately seized control of his administration during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The JFK presented in Taraborrelli’s definitive biography is a complex and endlessly fascinating historical figure—despite, and perhaps even because of, his many flaws.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

About J. Randy Taraborrelli

J. RANDY TARABORRELLI is the acclaimed author of numerous New York Times bestsellers about the Kennedys, including Jackie, Ethel, Joan: Women of Camelot, adapted as a miniseries by NBC, and The Kennedys – After Camelot, adapted for television by Reelz. His other bestselling works include The Kennedy Heirs and Jackie, Janet & Lee. His most recent book, Jackie: Public, Private, Secret, debuted at No. 3 on the New York Times bestseller list. Taraborrelli is currently adapting both Jackie: Public, Private, Secret and JFK: Public, Private, Secret for television.

About Robert Petkoff

Robert Petkoff has won multiple AudioFile Earphones awards for his acclaimed narrations. He was named Best Voice of Fiction & Classics for his reading of The Evolution of Bruno Littlemore by Benjamin Hale. His other narration credits include Oath of Office by Michael Palmer, Gangster Squad by Paul Lieberman, and books by David Foster Wallace.Petkoff has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and in theaters across America and Europe.  He has worked in television and film. His theater credits include Lord Evelyn Oakleigh in the Broadway production of Anything Goes, Perchik as part of the Tony-nomianted cast of Fiddler on the Roof, and Hubert Humphrey in the Tony award-winning play All the Way. He has also had numerous roles in television on shows such as Law and Order and Married with Children.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Paul on July 21, 2025

A must read, even if you don’t like the Kennedy family. This book tells the story not only of JFK, but the struggles of him and the people around him. It also claims that the father, Joseph, did not amass his fortune in the liquor trade during prohibition. It also affirms that everyone was unfaithfu......more

Goodreads review by Kevin on July 28, 2025

A compelling case for genuine character growth at the end of JFK’s life, properly highlighting the POV of the women in his life. As a result, it is an insightful, moving biography. Unsparing and empathetic at once.......more

Goodreads review by Richard on July 28, 2025

There have been many books written about President John F. Kennedy (JFK), most of them seeming to settle in on the assassination - that's become an entire cottage industry all its own - and of course, JFK the President. Add to that the gossip books where one little incident (often made up) results i......more

Goodreads review by Jenny Price on July 20, 2025

Great book! This is a very well written book, which had some new research presented. It actually confirms what a whole lot of people have believed all along in so far as his assassin…the government has/does coverup a whole lot of things!!......more

Goodreads review by Terteach1 on July 27, 2025

I have read many books over the years about JFK. But this one is different. It lets us glimpse the historical person as a man with all his foibles. It is very well documented. Worth the read.......more


Quotes

"A profoundly humanized portrait ... With more than 25 years of historical research on which to draw, Taraborrelli’s powerfully resourced biography offers incomparable observations ... Decades later, as the U.S. and the world again finds itself teetering on the brink of existential crisis, the ethos demonstrated through Kennedy’s public speeches and private musings resonates even more deeply." Booklist, starred review

“A compelling read with standout quality and originality that reveals the much-discussed personal side of JFK’s life via Taraborrelli’s … impeccable research … A riveting exploration for the millions of readers still fascinated by the Kennedy family’s dynamics and legacy.” Library Journal, starred review

“Taraborrelli eschews sensationalism, casting doubt on several lurid Kennedy legends … [an] entertaining take on a great American soap opera.” Publishers Weekly

"A Kennedy specialist, Taraborrelli has written six books on the family, but this is the first on JFK ... An excellent biography of the 35th president." Kirkus Reviews


Awards

  • Amazon.com Best Books of the Year