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William "Bill" Walton: A Charmed Life Paperback – September 26, 2013

by Mary Hackett (Author), Mary Claire Kendall (Editor)

4 customer reviews

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Bill Walton grew up with days full of purpose and a compelling need to harmonize the reality of his current experiences and the people he met, with his youth’s Midwestern small town perspective and with a rich family of values that he treasured throughout his life. He was a writer, artist, confidante to key figures of the 20th century, and a major Washington player. Bill counted among his well-known friends: Ernest and Mary Hemingway, John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Robert Kennedy, Charles Collingwood, Marie and Averell Harriman, Pamela Churchill Harriman, Martha Gellhorn, Alice Roosevelt Longworth, Babe and William Paley, Marietta and Ronald Tree, Philip and Katharine Graham, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. and I. M. Pei, and many more. During the bloody World War II Battle of Hurtgen Forest—a few months after the Normandy Invasion—Bill became friends with America’s most celebrated writer, Ernest Hemingway. They had met six months prior at one of photographer Robert Capa’s bashes in London, during the run-up to D-Day. In the intervening months, they became better acquainted socially—celebrating with friends the liberation of Paris at the Ritz and vaca-tioning on the Island of St. Michel with fellow journalists. In the Hurtgen Forest, how-ever, they bonded for life. Both worked on newspapers early on. Both craved adventure. And, not unlike Hemingway, both desired to stay close and be independent of the War with all its related pain. Ultimately, the War defined Bill Walton. A journalist turned painter, Bill was made Chairman by President Kennedy of the Fine Arts Commission. In that position, he worked closely with Mrs. Kennedy on several other cultural projects as well.

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Product Details

Paperback: 248 pages
Publisher: Branden Books; 1st edition (September 26, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0828325006
ISBN-13: 978-0828325004
Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 15.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,121,185 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mary Hackett, the author, is Bill’s niece by marriage Mary Hackett is the niece, by mar-riage, of William Walton. They developed a close relationship which was personal, and one of shared interests in gardening, art, archeology, Native American pottery, architec-ture, and the appreciation of books. The author has lived several years in the Orient and Mexico, and traveled widely. After he died, Bill's lifelong letters to his older sister were inherited by Mary and her husband. The letters, and many intimate conversations, are the basis for this book. She felt his life was so unusual, personally involving several presi-dents and many of the famous people of our history, that his story should be chronicled for others to know.

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

An amazing 'back story' of prominent 1930-1980 historical figures...

By John on October 24, 2013

Format: Paperback

I just finished this book and couldn't put it down! Metaphorically, most books are written about 'the mountainous' figures of history. But the improbable, artistic, and charismatic life of Bill Walton might better be described as 'the clear winding river' that flowed smoothly around and through them, connecting them all together. Hemingway, Gellhorn, JFK & Jackie, prominent WW-II figures, and dozens of others, great and small, as few have known them, based upon six decades of treasured letters sent home. You will laugh out loud a dozen times... and you will cry two or three.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

Fascinating Bio of Man Behind the Scenes During Great Events in America's History...

By Amazon Customer on January 8, 2014

Format: Kindle Edition

A writer will always write and when William Walton went to report on many activities in Europe, he also wrote letters home to his family. He had always thought of writing his own biography, but thankfully, the family, and, in particular his sister-in-law Mary Hackett saw that his letters could be turned into one of the most interesting books sharing American history from a journalist's viewpoint...

Those who will want to travel with him into the war years will certainly have the opportunity. I think the thing that made the most impression on me regardinghis desire to do all that he could to keep America informed was to accept an invitation to train as a paratrooper. He jumped so that he was already there by the time the ground troops showed up!

But not all was about the war... Bill became close friends with Ernest Hemingway and his wife Martha Gellhorn, shown at the left (on my blog)...Hemingway even saved Bill's life, but there were many times for social gatherings as well.

One personal interest caught my attention--Bill was there when the most wanted gangster, John Dillinger was killed and rode with his body to the Cook County morgue. {Me, I'm related to Dillinger's and had a John Dillinger in my family who always got picked on--LOL} Bill..."noticed that Dillinger must, at some point, have attempted to file or burn his hands in an effort to eliminate identifying fingerprints...This reporting coup gave Bill his first national recognition. His byline, "by William Walton," would soon begin to appear in many more publications..."

Another little tidbit I enjoyed was that when, in June 1946, Bill stood to receive an honorary degree he gave a little [payback] speech...Read more ›

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Charmed, I'm sure

By Mark A. O'Blazney on November 26, 2013

Format: Paperback

From what I've been allowed to read, this is a buyable book about a VERY interesting man. He knew much and said little. I shall buy this book.

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Excellent