The Astronaut Wives Club
by Lily Koppel
Tuesday, May 19, 6:30 p.m.
As America's Mercury Seven astronauts were launched on death-defying
missions, TV cameras focused on the brave smiles of their young
wives. Overnight, these women were transformed from military spouses
into American royalty. They had tea with Jackie Kennedy, appeared on the
cover of Life magazine, and quickly grew into fashion icons.
Annie
Glenn, with her picture-perfect marriage, was the envy of the other
wives; platinum-blonde Rene Carpenter was proclaimed JFK's favorite; and
licensed pilot Trudy Cooper arrived on base with a secret. Together
with the other wives they formed the Astronaut Wives Club, meeting
regularly to provide support and friendship. Many became next-door
neighbors and helped to raise each other's children by day, while going
to glam parties at night as the country raced to land a man on the moon.
As their celebrity rose-and as divorce and tragic death began to touch
their lives-they continued to rally together, and the wives have now
been friends for more than fifty years. The Astronaut Wives Club tells
the real story of the women who stood beside some of the biggest heroes
in American history.
Please feel free to read The Astronaut Wives Club along with us this month, and join the discussion using the comments section of this blog!
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