Synopses & Reviews
In this definitive and first-time portrait of the political and social life of Georgetown, bestselling biographer C. David Heymann chronicles the dinner parties, correspondence, intersections, and overlappings of some of the most powerful women behind American politics.
Henry Kissinger pronounced that "the hand that mixes the Georgetown martini is time and again the hand that guides the destiny of the Western world." In this compelling book -- a heady mix of politics, sex, scandal, and power -- Heymann reveals the real moguls of Washington. "The Georgetown Ladies' Social Club," a term coined by Ronald Reagan, comprises a list of formidable and fascinating women, among them Katharine Graham, Lorraine Cooper, Evangeline Bruce, Pamela Harriman, and Sally Quinn.
In a city characteristically and historically controlled by men, these women's social status and personal wealth (in addition to their courage, vision, and voracious ambition) afforded them an abundance of behind-the-scenes political clout. Througha combination of primary-source documents and personal interviews, Heymann offers intriguing and often startling insights into Washington life, from the latter days of the Truman administration to the advent of President George W. Bush. Filled with the history and lore of Georgetown itself, The Georgetown Ladies' Social Club is a riveting exposé of the powers behind the throne, the women who made and make Washington tick.
Review
"[C]aptivating....Heymann deftly explores these personalities through interviews with family, friends, enemies, admirers and detractors....[A] winning combination of sex, scandal and political escapade." Publishers Weekly
Review
"It's all cold dish, largely enclosed in quotation marks, an inflated and fetid hodgepodge suited to a tabloid's party report....Shallow and nasty enough to make readers queasy." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"Not surprisingly, the book is incredibly dishy....Heymann pulls out all the stops...and the result is a well-researched, fast-paced, and fascinating look at dinner-party power-broking. Expect plenty of buzz around this one." Ilene Cooper, Booklist
Review
"[A] several-hundred-page gossip column...a consequential exchange occurs at most every hundred pages....This book will hold precious little interest for Washington insiders, and none for those...who have never heard of Lorraine Cooper." Library Journal
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 365-380) and index.
Synopsis
In this riveting book--a heady mix of politics, sex, scandal, and power--Heymann reveals the real moguls of Washington. "The Georgetown Ladies' Social Club," a term coined by Ronald Reagan, comprises a list of formidable and fascinating women.
About the Author
C. David Heymann is the internationally known author of such bestselling books as RFK: A Candid Biography of Robert F. Kennedy, Poor Little Rich Girl: The Life and Legend of Barbara Hutton, A Woman Named Jackie: An Intimate Biography of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, and Liz: An Intimate Biography of Elizabeth Taylor. Three of his biographies were made into major award-winning NBC-TV miniseries. A three-time Pulitzer prize nominee, he lives and works in Manhattan.
Table of Contents
Ch. 1 The Last Party 1
Ch. 2 Phil and Kay 15
Ch. 3 The P and Q Street Axis 41
Ch. 4 The Turning Point 62
Ch. 5 The Ambassador's Wife 70
Ch. 6 The Senator's Wife 93
Ch. 7 Dead Men Walking 118
Ch. 8 An Inconvenient Woman 151
Ch. 9 The Big Do 169
Ch. 10 The Mighty Quinn 208
Ch. 11 Lorraine and Vangle 241
Ch. 12 Georgetown Goes Hollywood 269
Ch. 13 Queen Pamela 290
Ch. 14 Who Killed Georgetown? 321
Epilogue 354
Explanation of Sources 357
Acknowledgments 359
Bibliography 365
Index 381