“All too often, our ambition consumes us, and leads to hasty decisions. An intelligent spouse can help refine and focus that drive. "

Today, an epic interview with Jacqueline Kennedy, dating back to 1964, is being released to the public. The interview, conducted in seven parts with historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr., happened just months after John F. Kennedy's assassination. Jacqueline Kennedy is incredibly candid and charming throughout the interview, appearing ever the loyal, proud wife, even during what her daughter Caroline Kennedy refers to as "the extreme stages of grief."

When we heard some of these tapes, we were reminded once again how important a supportive, confident wife is for the ongoing success of a powerful man.

While it's certainly not a requirement for career success, a supportive life partner can propel you professionally and make life richer and more meaningful. Here are some of the things that a good woman can do for you.

She Provides Self-Confidence

By praising what you do and not demeaning your ideas or vision, a great woman can stroke your ego and give you the confidence you need to succeed. The marriage of Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan has been described as one of the great love stories of the century. Reagan knew it. From the 1950s to the '90s, before Alzheimer's slowly took his life, Ronald wrote devoted love letters to his wife, expressing his gratitude for her support. These letters were later published in Nancy Reagan's book, titled I Love You, Ronnie.

In one of the book's letters, written while he was Governor of California, Reagan expressed how much he valued his partner: "There are no words to describe the happiness you have brought to the Gov. It is no secret that he is the most married man in the world and would be totally lost and desolate without you."

She Feeds Ambition & Drive

Women enjoy men who are fueled with ambition, drive and dedication. Hillary saw something special in Bill Clinton when the two met at Yale Law School. She shared the vision he had for himself, and provided a sounding board for his ideas and actions in all of his political campaigns. All too often, our ambition consumes us, and leads to hasty decisions. An intelligent spouse can help refine and focus that drive.

She Offers Solid Support

A great wife is there to listen to you and help you deal with issues. She offers emotional support which makes you feel better about yourself. It's well known that Laura Bush single-handedly persuaded her husband, George W. Bush, to lay off the bottle when he was in his early 40s. By being an emotional rock when her husband needed it the most, Laura helped Bush get back on his feet.

Thanks to Laura's emotional strength, Bush went on to become the Governor of Texas and the President of the United States. In addition to fulfilling our professional goals, we need to occasionally refuel our emotional tanks. A loving and intimate life partner will be there for you.

She Allows You To Take Risks

People who avoid risk rarely become successful. By providing a stable personal life and encouraging your vision, a supportive spouse can give you the confidence to take the risks necessary to reach the next stage in your professional life. Much has been written about the love between Napoleon and Josephine. They were married in March of 1796, just before he marched off to conquer Italy on behalf of France. In letters, Napoleon gave Josephine credit for fueling his confidence. And this from a guy who's renowned as one of the greatest military minds in history!

Most of us need some sort of stability. If our personal lives are disheveled, it's hard to make our professional lives work. A spouse who cares deeply for you and shares your dreams (yet maintains her independence) will give you the confidence to take on more ambitious professional challenges.

Remember the great quote from Robert F. Kennedy: "Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly." Business success involves risk. A wonderful life partner will let you reach for the stars, but be there to catch you if you fall back down to earth.

She Gives Life Perspective

A loving spouse helps you to see what's really important in life. Bill Gates had become the richest man in the world before marrying Melinda, but some argue that it was Melinda's influence that convinced Gates to spend billions on world health issues. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has been endowed with close to $29 billion to solve global health and education crises. As ambitious men, we can literally work ourselves to death and miss out on what is truly important -- faith, friendship, community, and public service. It's these things that make the world a better place, not how many dollars you've accumulated when you leave it.

Here again, we can look to Arnold and Maria. Arnold has been very public in expressing his gratitude to Maria for turning his attention away from himself and toward the groups who need his help -- namely, disadvantaged youths and the Special Olympics, two causes he strongly supported before his run for Governor.

She Carries The Household

By no means does this imply that successful men should have spouses that stay at home. A strong woman maintains her own identity and supportive husbands recognize, accept and encourage it. But let's face it, guys: A woman's touch does wonders for the household. It was Jacqueline Kennedy who updated the White House and turned it into a showcase for design, fashion and art, while her husband, John F. Kennedy, tackled the political crises of the early '60s. In a column for New York's The City Review, Michele Leight writes of Jacqueline, "Her impact on American culture was significant. She took America out of the staid and conservative 1950s and into the world of classy international elegance and also became an important champion of the arts and historic preservation."

In the archival interview footage released in September of 2011, Jackie comes off as very devoted to a traditional idea of womanhood and marriage, but she's also intelligent and well-spoken. She uses very careful language when describing her husband, indicating that she's very conscious of making sure she doesn't jeopardize what the public thinks of him. Listening to the tapes, we can't help but think Jackie may be history's classiest wife.

In addition, let's not forget another notable achievement. Jackie is the one who brought up two amazing children, Caroline Kennedy and JFK Junior, both of whom were anything but the spoiled, ungrateful and shallow brats we see in most rich and famous households.

Always By Your Side

The term "trophy wife" has a negative connotation and deservedly so. A woman is not a trophy for achieving financial or professional goals. But life with a strong, independent, loving, nurturing, and supportive spouse carries its own rewards for both partners.

Resource: Carmine Gallo is a business presentation coach and author of 10 Simple Secrets of the World's Greatest Business Communicators.

www.thecityreview.com