Laurence Leamer — Ladies' Man: The Careless Heart of John F. Kennedy

Laurence Leamer discusses *Ladies’ Man: The Careless Heart of John F. Kennedy*, his examination of John F. Kennedy’s turbulent private life and the women who knew him intimately. The book presents Kennedy as both a charismatic, ambitious leader and a reckless, manipulative man whose relationships and affairs could have jeopardized his presidency.

Drawing on unprecedented access, including Leamer’s personal knowledge of three of Kennedy’s mistresses, the book follows Kennedy from his early relationships at boarding school through connections with Inga Arvad, Gunilla von Post, Jacqueline Bouvier, Pamela Turnure, Diana de Vegh, Judith Exner, Ellen Rometsch, and Marilyn Monroe. Leamer considers how these women’s experiences reveal aspects of Kennedy that were hidden behind his carefully managed public image.

When: Thursday, November 5, 2026

Showtime: 7:00pm

Venue: Politics and Prose at 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, 5015 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

Speaker: Laurence Leamer

Tickets: Free admission with first-come, first-served seating.

About the speaker: Leamer is a New York Times bestselling biographer whose other books include *Capote’s Women*, *Hitchcock’s Blondes*, *Warhol’s Muses*, *Madness Under the Royal Palms*, and *The Kennedy Women*. He lives in Washington, DC, and Palm Beach, Florida.

Related book: *Ladies’ Man: The Careless Heart of John F. Kennedy* is available as a $32 hardcover. It was published October 20, 2026, and has ISBN 9798217048403.

Accessibility: To request accommodations or ask about accessibility, email events@politics-prose.com, ideally at least one week before the event. The venue will make an effort to accommodate requests made up to the event time.