1. Kingmaker: Pamela Harriman's Astonishing Life of Power, Seduction, and Intrigue by Sonia Purnell chronicles the extraordinary life of Pamela Digby, later Pamela Harriman, a woman who masterfully le

1. Kingmaker: Pamela Harriman's Astonishing Life of Power, Seduction, and Intrigue by Sonia Purnell chronicles the extraordinary life of Pamela Digby, later Pamela Harriman, a woman who masterfully leveraged her personal connections and keen intellect to become a significant, albeit often behind-the-scenes, figure in 20th-century politics. Born into an aristocratic but cash-strapped family in rural Dorset in 1920, Pamela Digby received a limited education but possessed a sharp mind. Her desire to escape her constrained upbringing led her to an impetuous marriage with Randolph Churchill, Winston Churchill's son, in September 1939. Despite warnings about Randolph's philandering and abusive nature, she saw the marriage as a doorway to an exciting lifestyle and a way to avoid returning to Dorset. During World War II, as her marriage to Randolph deteriorated, Pamela forged a close bond with Winston Churchill. She quickly became Churchill's secret weapon, joining his inner circle, "Padlock," and gathering crucial intelligence from influential Americans. Her most notable liaison was with Averell Harriman, the 49-year-old in charge of Lend-Lease, whom she successfully "enlisted to the British cause" and "bewitched" with her charm and strategic "mating dance". She also influenced figures like CBS star Ed Murrow, feeding him information to bolster British support in American broadcasts. Her wartime experiences, including giving birth during a Blitz air raid, deeply shaped her perspective. After the war, Pamela continued to cultivate influential relationships, including with Gianni Agnelli of Fiat, whom she helped gain acceptance in Washington. She later moved to America, marrying producer Leland Hayward in the late 1950s. While in the US, she was a close friend of President John F. Kennedy, whose assassination deeply affected her. Following Leland Hayward's death, which left her financially depleted, Pamela re-encountered and married Averell Harriman. This marriage marked her full immersion into American politics. She transformed their Washington D.C. home into a hub for Democrats, making Harriman feel like a king and advancing her own influence. She was an early advocate for women's political involvement, pushing beyond the traditional role of a political hostess to focus on policy and candidates. Pamela became a crucial mentor to Bill Clinton after his 1980 gubernatorial loss, restoring his self-belief and providing strategic guidance, including advice on television appearances. Her efforts were instrumental in shaping the Democratic party and contributing to its successes, including Clinton's 1992 presidential victory. As a reward, President Clinton appointed her Ambassador to Paris, a role she embraced despite her lack of formal diplomatic training. In this position, she played a decisive role in strengthening Franco-American relations and bringing a "moral compass" to the Bosnia crisis, drawing on her own wartime experiences to urge intervention. Pamela Harrimandied in 1997 from a brain hemorrhage, with Bill Clinton delivering an emotional eulogy, acknowledging her indispensable role in his political journey and her significant contributions to the 20th century. 1827 FOREIGN OFFICE AND DOWNING STREET