The League of Wives
The Untold Story of the Women Who Took on the U.S. Government to Bring Their Husbands Home
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Narrated by:
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Heath Hardage Lee
About this listen
"Listeners are transported back to the 1960s by Heath Hardage Lee and her painstaking research... Her fascination with her subjects is infectious. Listeners who are fans of history will find much to admire in this little-known story." — AudioFile Magazine
“A remarkable true story of love, war, courage, constancy and change - as a group of naval housewives transformed themselves into powerful advocates for their missing husbands." (Liza Mundy, author of the NY Times best seller Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II)
This program is read by the author.
The true story of the fierce band of women who battled Washington - and Hanoi - to bring their husbands home from the jungles of Vietnam.
On February 12, 1973, 115 men who just six years earlier had been high-flying Navy and Air Force pilots shuffled, limped, or were carried off a huge military transport plane at Clark Air Base in the Philippines. These American servicemen had endured years of brutal torture, kept shackled and starving in solitary confinement, in rat-infested, mosquito-laden prisons, the worst of which was the Hanoi Hilton.
Months later, the first Vietnam POWs to return home would learn that their rescuers were their wives, a group of women that included Jane Denton, Sybil Stockdale, Louise Mulligan, Andrea Rander, Phyllis Galanti, and Helene Knapp. These women, who formed the National League of Families, would never have called themselves “feminists”, but they had become the POW and MIAs' most fervent advocates, going to extraordinary lengths to facilitate their husbands’ freedom - and to account for missing military men - by relentlessly lobbying government leaders, conducting a savvy media campaign, conducting covert meetings with antiwar activists, and most astonishingly, helping to code secret letters to their imprisoned husbands.
In an unpausable work of narrative nonfiction, Heath Hardage Lee tells the story of these remarkable women for the first time. The League of Wives is certain to be on everyone’s must-listen list.
©2019 Heath Hardage Lee (P)2019 Macmillan AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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- The Transformation of a Man and the Emergence of a Great President
- By: Thurston Clarke
- Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
- Length: 14 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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A revelatory, minute-by-minute account of JFK’s final days that asks what might have been. Fifty years after his assassination, President John F. Kennedy’s legend endures. Noted author and historian Thurston Clarke reexamines the last months of the president’s life to show a man in the midst of great change, both in his family and in the key issues of his day: The Cold War, Civil Rights, and Vietnam, finally on the cusp of making good on his extraordinary promise.
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In Depth and Beautifully Written
- By grace on 06-03-23
By: Thurston Clarke
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Citizens of London
- The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour
- By: Lynne Olson
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 17 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Here is the behind-the-scenes story of how the United States forged its wartime alliance with Britain, told from the perspective of three key American players in London: Edward R. Murrow, Averell Harriman, and John Gilbert Winant. Drawing from a variety of primary sources, Olson skillfully depicts the dramatic personal journeys of these men who, determined to save Britain from Hitler, helped convince a cautious Franklin Roosevelt and a reluctant American public to support the British at a critical time.
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If we are together nothing is impossible
- By Susan on 03-06-10
By: Lynne Olson
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The Longest Rescue
- The Life and Legacy of Vietnam POW William A. Robinson
- By: Glenn Robins
- Narrated by: CAPT Kevin F. Spalding USNR-Ret
- Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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While serving as a crew chief aboard a US Air Force Rescue helicopter, Airman First Class William A. Robinson was shot down and captured in Ha Tinh Province, North Vietnam, on September 20, 1965. After a brief stint at the "Hanoi Hilton", Robinson endured 2,703 days in multiple North Vietnamese prison camps, including the notorious Briarpatch and various compounds at Cu Loc, known by the inmates as the Zoo.
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I Was There
- By Dan on 04-28-16
By: Glenn Robins
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The Netanyahu Years
- Translated by Ora Cummings
- By: Ben Caspit
- Narrated by: George Guidall
- Length: 17 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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A portrait of the current Israeli prime minister, one of Israel's more noticeable leaders in recent decades. Benjamin Netanyahu is currently serving his fourth term in office as prime minister of Israel, the longest serving prime minister in the country's history. Now Israeli journalist Ben Caspit puts Netanyahu's life under a magnifying glass, focusing on his last two terms in office.
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weak
- By kay on 06-11-18
By: Ben Caspit
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Gorbachev
- His Life and Times
- By: William Taubman
- Narrated by: Henry Strozier
- Length: 32 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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When Mikhail Gorbachev became the leader of the Soviet Union in 1985, the USSR was one of the world's two superpowers. By 1989, his liberal policies of perestroika and glasnost had permanently transformed Soviet Communism and had made enemies of radicals on the right and left. By 1990 he, more than anyone else, had ended the Cold War, and in 1991, after barely escaping from a coup attempt, he unintentionally presided over the collapse of the Soviet Union he had tried to save.
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The Man Who Changed The Course Of History
- By Jean on 12-30-17
By: William Taubman
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The Nightingale's Song
- By: Robert Timberg
- Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
- Length: 22 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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Robert Timberg weaves together the lives of Annapolis graduates John McCain, James Webb, Oliver North, Robert McFarlane, and John Poindexter to reveal how the Vietnam War continues to haunt America. Casting all five men as metaphors for a legion of well-meaning if ill-starred warriors, Timberg probes the fault line between those who fought the war and those who used money, wit, and connections to avoid battle.
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Too Long
- By Tom Carroll on 11-15-18
By: Robert Timberg
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Three Days in January
- Dwight Eisenhower's Final Mission
- By: Bret Baier, Catherine Whitney
- Narrated by: Bret Baier, Danny Campbell
- Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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In this debut history from one of America's most influential political journalists, Bret Baier casts the three days between Dwight Eisenhower's prophetic "farewell address" on the evening of January 17, 1961, and his successor John F. Kennedy's inauguration on the afternoon of January 20 as the final mission of one of modern America's greatest leaders.
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Gently In Manner, Strongly In Deed...
- By Gillian on 01-20-17
By: Bret Baier, and others
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A Rope and a Prayer
- The Story of a Kidnapping
- By: David Rohde, Kristen Mulvihill
- Narrated by: David Rohde, Kristen Mulvihill
- Length: 10 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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The compelling and insightful account of a New York Times reporter's abduction by the Taliban and his wife's struggle to free him. Invited to an interview by a Taliban commander, New York Times reporter David Rohde and two Afghan colleagues were kidnapped in November 2008 and spirited to the tribal areas of Pakistan. For the next seven months, they lived in an alternate reality, ruled by jihadists, in which paranoia, conspiracy theories, and shifting alliances abounded.
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A History Lesson
- By Ed on 12-31-10
By: David Rohde, and others
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When Lions Roar
- The Churchills and the Kennedys
- By: Thomas Maier
- Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
- Length: 21 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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When Lions Roar begins in the mid-1930s at Chartwell, Winston Churchill's country estate, with new revelations surrounding a secret business deal orchestrated by Joseph P. Kennedy, the father of future American president John F. Kennedy. From London to America, these two powerful families shared an ever-widening circle of friends, lovers, and political associates - soon shattered by World War II, spying, sexual infidelity, and the tragic deaths of JFK's sister Kathleen and his older brother Joe Jr.
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Study of influence of Winston Churchill on JFK
- By Pierke Bosschieter on 08-10-16
By: Thomas Maier
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41
- A Portrait of My Father
- By: George W. Bush
- Narrated by: George W. Bush
- Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States, has authored a personal biography of his father, George H. W. Bush, the 41st president. Forty-three men have served as president of the United States. Countless books have been written about them. But never before has a president told the story of his father, another president, through his own eyes and in his own words. A unique and intimate biography, the book covers the entire scope of the elder President Bush’s life and career.
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Heartwarming and Honoring
- By Marie on 12-24-14
By: George W. Bush
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Counselor
- A Life at the Edge of History
- By: Ted Sorensen
- Narrated by: Ted Sorensen
- Length: 14 hrs and 24 mins
- Abridged
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Ted Sorensen, John F. Kennedy's closest advisor, recounts in full, for the first time, his experience counseling Kennedy through some of the most dramatic moments in American history. Rising from legislative assistant to speechwriter and advisor, the young lawyer from Nebraska worked closely with JFK on his most important speeches, as well as his book Profiles in Courage. Sorensen encouraged the junior senator's political ambitions and was later named special counsel to the president.
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Rare Insight
- By Robert on 05-10-08
By: Ted Sorensen
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What listeners say about The League of Wives
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Seahawk
- 06-18-19
A good story poorly narrated
This is the story of the Viet Nam POWs and their ultimate return after the war as told through the eyes of wives who were left to cope and pick up the pieces when not many people cared. Told strictly from the wives at home point of view, you can feel their frustration at a poorly executed and ill-conceived war and especially at the failure to look with any interest at the POWs who were being tortured and killed at the hands of the Vietnamese. It's a story that needed telling but It strayed perilously close to the 'All men are stupid' theme that so many women writers inflict upon their audiences.
Unfortunately the narrator - also the author - was hard to listen to. Turns out she is a much better writer than reader. The text was full of mispronunciations and words that even the casual students of history would know how to pronounce. That, and the annoying Maryland/Virginia accent with the Baltimore twang. Oh well. We can't all be perfect.
Nevertheless, as a veteran of 400+ Autible/Books on Tape, I'd recommend it.
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- William R. Easton, Jr.
- 10-24-19
amazing book
my brother in law was in Hanoi Hilton and one of the Alcatraz eleven. i remember these times but this book is a more truthful political history. i stand in awe of these women.
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- Jen Kerstiens
- 02-24-23
Wow
I’m in awe of what these women went through and did. I’m a Navy wife myself and they have inspired me to be just a tough. What a great read.
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- Linda B
- 11-15-24
Great review of history that I lived through as a child
I know it took place over many years, but this retelling seemed to go on and on. It was great for me to reassess my opinion of some of the leaders that were in power during my childhood such as Ross Perot. I also lost some respect for President Johnson and his disrespect and lack of empathy for those in the war. Reminded me of how insignificant women were as individuals back in the 60’s and 70’s. These women were different, but when their men came home, they returned to the traditional rolls of their time.
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- Cindy Nipper
- 05-12-20
Historical Non-Fiction
I love stories about women in history and this one was another story built on powerful women who broke the mold and made a difference for America! These women fought American government as much as they fought for the return of their POW and MIA husbands, sons and boyfriends! Much respect to them all!
The story was well written and informative and the narration was superb!
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- karen
- 04-29-19
Valuable history.
I enjoyed learning about the plight of family members awaiting the return of their loved ones. Did not care for the narrator.
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- Holly
- 10-04-19
What You Didn't Know About the Vietnam War!
I discovered this book on Twitter and ordered it immediately from Amazon, along with the audiobook, which is read by the author. This book tells the 'rest of the story' about the Vietnam War precisely, what these proper POW/MIA military wives did (don’t do anything to jeopardize your husband’s careers) by defying the U.S. government.
I joined the U.S. Marine Corps at the end of the Vietnam War in 1973, which made "The League of Wives" particularly interesting. Although I never participated, I was a college student during the days of the war protests and wore a POW/MIA bracelet for years to support our troops. (Captain Perry Jefferson was declared an MIA. I still have the bracelet and etching from the wall.) I had male friends who were drafted and sent to the war zone. Later, many of my Marine friends told me stories about the war. Retired Sgt.Maj. Terry Bennington was one of the last Marines to be airlifted off the roof of the embassy building in April 1975.
Ms. Lee did a beautiful detailed job with her research and attention to detail. She makes you feel like you know these women personally and what they were going through. I had a hard time putting it down. Each chapter takes you through the years; from the time the first plane was shot down to how the women organized to solve a problem, the government wanted to brush under the rug.
She includes the history of the POW/MIA flag and the bracelets, so many of us wore. You learn about the secret code the women used to write to their husbands, always fearing their husbands could be killed if the NVM found out. Our government didn't think the wives left behind, should receive their husband's paychecks while they were gone!
These women found each other and came together to form The League of Wives. You learn about Ross Perot’s assistance and the involvement of the peace activists like Cora Weiss and Jane Fonda. I felt the wives’ frustration and was appalled when I read that Senator Bob Dole was the first to bring their plight before Congress in 1970 only to find that many members of Congress didn't even know what POWs and MIAs were! (Congress was just as clueless then as it is today!
Recently, I was thrilled to learn Reese Witherspoon bought the movie rights. I can't wait to see this true story played out on the big screen!
Congratulations and Much Success, Ms. Lee!
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- Anonymous User
- 06-11-19
Good Story
I probably would’ve enjoyed reading this book more than listening to it. The narrator was really hard for me to listen to.
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- healthy gourmet
- 07-25-19
Biased and lacking perspective
I think the author did a great disservice to the League of Wives with her right wing biases and total lack of reflections on the horrors of the Vietnam War. At times, the book was so plastic I wanted to scream. I was especially troubled by her false assertion about the low rate of PTSD of the downed pilots which she attributed to their higher level of education.
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