Product Description

Customer Reviews (17)

Paper-thin Characters, Cliched Writing
In the introduction to this book, author Michael Connelly says it started out focused on the two week period starting with President Kennedy's death and ending in the Army-Navy game of 1963.The book expanded to its present form because Connelly became convinced there was a story to be told about that 1963 Navy football team.

If there is a story, Connelly did not tell it very well.You read the book and you realize how little you know about these "special" players.All you learn is that everybody connected with that team was a saint.The same goes for his sections about President Kennedy and the Kennedy family.Joseph Kennedy is seen as a loving father and model of virtue, Rose Kennedy is not mentioned at all.The closest thing to a flaw within the Kennedy family is that Robert and Ethel Kennedy expressed their displeasure at the team losing the Cotton Bowl to Texas as if it was some presidential order that had to be obeyed.

The narrative of the football season is so "Gee whiz" it boggles this writer.Connelly trots out every sportwriter's cliché early and often.

I am a great admirer of the service academies and have attended many Army-Navy football games.The real stories about the people who are in these academies is much more nuanced and interesting than the stories in this book.

But maybe there simply was not enough story here to make it into a good book.

In Their Honor
This is a genuinely wonderful book about one of the greatest college football teams ever to take to the gridiron.It also is about the wonderful relationship that they all had with President John F. Kennedy.With Roger Staubach as their QB and a host of amazing Middies, this team won the hearts of all America, despite injuries and the tragic assassination of their greatest fan.It also tells what the members of the team are doing today.Wonderful read, even for the non football fan.
I remember watching their games on TV and loved all the players since I have connections with the NAVY and love to visit Annapolis.

The President's Team
This book is not solely about football or a football team. It is a slice of life - a mirror into tragic times. It is a story of terrible loss and incredible bravery. Best of all, it is wonderfully and engagingly written with a touching forward by the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy. The author did an outstanding job of research and discovery to bring the President's team to life.

E.C. Sobol

Fascinating
An inspirational book that captures the spirit and brotherhood of an incredible TEAM of very special men.I have read it many times and given copies to friends and family members.

Tom Chen

The President's Team
Great book that ties in the history of the Naval Academy, football and the President at the time, John F. Kennedy. ... Read more

Product Description
Lee Harvey Oswald, the accused assassin of President John F. Kennedy, has remained an enigma for several decades. Fortunately, Lee Harvey Oswald was one of those people who wrote a lot. As a result, the public can see the workings of his mind as his writings are displayed in chronological order throughout his life. They are accompanied by historical events and psychological commentary.

The activities of Jack Ruby, who killed Oswald, are tracked and give insight regarding his murderous act. A psychological and political analysis of Oswald is included, as well as an explanation of most of Oswald's entries in his address book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

An original, revealing, informative study.
Diane Holloway is a retired Dallas psychologist who was involved with thepsychological assessment of one of Lee Harvey Oswald's assassinationtargets, Major General Edwin Walker (when Attorney General Robert Kennedyordered an evaluation because of Walker's bizarre anti-governmentactivities). Holloway as painstakingly gathered the works of Lee HarveyOswald over a period of ten years and in The Mind Of Oswald: AccusedAssassin Of President John F. Kennedy, incorporates Oswald's letters,diary, book about Russia, miscellaneous papers, notes, address book, jobapplications, radio interviews, and post-arrest television statements intoa remarkable presentation of Oswald and the times leading up to the Kennedyassassination. The Mind Of Oswald is a "must read" for anyonewith an interest in the Kennedy assassination, its impact on the Americanpolitical system, and the controversies that surrounded it then -- and someof which continue to linger in the public mind to this day.

Breath of fresh air in the JFK assassination literature!
Dr. Diane Holloway's new book, The Mind of Oswald, is a breath of fresh air in the JFK assassination literature.As a former FBI agent, attorney, and judge (in fact, I was the presiding judge in the much celebrated case depicted in the recent movie "Boys Don't Cry"), I rely on facts. I am so pleased that someone, and especially a psychologist, has looked atthe facts about accused assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald.The facts are what hesaid and wrote.Then she looked at it from the psychological viewpoint. The psychological approach is much like our approach; the best indicator offuture behavior is past behavior.Dr. Holloway, a retired Dallaspsychologist, has taken all of Oswald's words and life and tried to look atwhether he was the kind of person who would kill a president.It is anexcellent approach. I heartily recommend this book and give it a five starrating.Libraries would do well to add this to their list because there istoo much crazy conspiracy literature available and the facts are neededabout this important tragedy.Judge Robert T. Finn.

This book is worth your time!
Dr. Holloway has done a meticulous job of researching the career of Lee Harvey Oswald and sharing her findings with us.She has several unique perspectives working for her:being in Dallas at the time of the Kennedyassassination; having tested Gen. Edwin Walker, whom Oswald undoubtedlytried to shoot some months before JFK was shot; being a psychologist andthus able to give the reader her expert take on Oswald's capacity forviolence.I felt as if I were able to watch Oswald virtually every day ofhis life right up to the moment he was killed by Jack Ruby.One has tofeel a little sorry for Oswald, who never seemed to be happy no matterwhere he was or what he was doing.He couldn't spell, he lied about hisheight, he was just such a loser his entire life. Besides the close look atOswald, Dr. Holloway gives us the historical background--what was happeningin the world as Oswald was being Oswald. ... Read more

Product Description
Whether in business, politics, or the community, today's leaders have more in common with their legendary predecessors than they may realize. Intensely scrutinized by their constituents, colleagues, the media, and the public, leaders make decisions that affect lives far beyond their immediate surroundings.Perhaps no figure in recent memory more fully personifies leadership than President John F. Kennedy. Leading the nation in a time of unprecedented turbulence, challenge, and opportunity, Kennedy led his administration (and the country) with a courage and determination that even his harshest critics respected.

John F. Kennedy on Leadership identifies eleven core principles that made Kennedy, both before and during his presidency, a unique and dominant force who would serve as the standard by which future leaders would measure themselves-and by which they would be judged.Current and aspiring leaders would do well to adopt these principles, which include:

* Questioning the status quo: Progress is change, and no leader ever became great without breaking rules.
* Turning liabilities into pluses, making the best of miscalculations and misjudgments, and staying educable: There is value in mistakes, and there is always more to learn.
* Making decisions: Although you solicit and incorporate many viewpoints, know that the buck stops with you.
* Presenting an idealized view of what the future can be: Some may feel that "vision" is a tired concept, but properly crafted and communicated, it is a powerful motivator.
* Finding your own "Bobby": In building your team, surround yourself with people who not only are trustworthy and competent but who also make your job easier.
* Being the coolest person in the room: In times of crisis, take the reins. Your people will be looking to you; give them confidence.

John F. Kennedy on Leadership doesn't shy away from the well-documented darker side of Kennedy's life: the seemingly nonstop parade of lovers and the chronic and multiple illnesses. Every leader faces personal challenges that affect the ability to lead. This book shows how legendary leadership can exist even in the face of substantial limitations.

Kennedy led his nation through some of its most extraordinary challenges, from the volatile civil rights movement to the nearly catastrophic Cuban missile crisis. The extraordinary skills he exhibited in bringing America and the world into a new era are yours to embrace, emulate, and employ as you take your people and your vision forward. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Brief sumary, little detail
If you are like me and have read quite a bit regarding JFK, you will also likely be disappointed in this book. It is a brief summary of certain management techniques and little flourishes, (e.g. "find your Bobby"), that may have some historical reference but serious litle duplicative managent skills.
If you're a new reader to this fascinating period of presidential history and world politics, you might find this boook interesting reading.

weLEAD Book Review by the Editor of leadingtoday.org
Some of the most effective books to read on leadership development are biographies that examine historical characters. One of the most popular was Donald Phillip's Lincoln on Leadership which became a best seller. John F. Kennedy on Leadership falls into this category and illuminates the
leadership skills of JFK in a way seldom appreciated.

Most people think of Kennedy as a privileged son of a wealthy businessman with powerful political connections who used his good looks and charisma to ultimately achieve the presidency. However, little attention has been given to his difficult struggle with a chronic disease, a severe physical
handicap and personal shyness. Further, few authors have closely analyzed how well Kennedy mastered the new medium of television, or fostered teamwork within the Whitehouse. What about the leadership skills that inspired him to create the Peace Corps, or the way he cautiously maneuvered during the Berlin crisis or the Cuban missile crisis in October 1962?

Author John Barnes deftly covers various attributes of sound leadership like vision, resilience, communication, team building, decision making and crisis management. He takes each of these qualities and weaves them into actual historical episodes within Kennedy's brief life. For example, Barnes clearly demonstrates JFK's powerful use of vision from his proclamation of America entering a "New Frontier", his remarkable Inaugural Address and his "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech of June 1963. At the conclusion of this chapter, Barnes offers the reader some thoughtful ways to create their own vision using the lessons learned from Kennedy's example.

This is an excellent book and is a pleasure to read. John F. Kennedy on Leadership is not a book that simply idolizes the achievements of JFK. Kennedy is honestly examined and all his personal strengths and weaknesses are frankly revealed. The final chapter entitled, Faults and Failures strips away the veneer of the Camelot myth. But even here... there is much for the reader to learn from JFK's unpleasant character flaws.

John F. Kennedy on Leadership is a readable book that beautifully merges real historical events with a man whose leadership skills changed the world we live in today. This is the kind of book that provides a satisfying rumination of thought when the back cover is eventually closed.

Marketing, not leadership
The Kennedy presidency is a great example of modern day marketing--not leadership. The book, John F. Kennedy on Leadership, by John A. Barnes is a textbook published by the American Management Association. Each chapter contains short chronicles of the Kennedy presidency combined with academic management lessons.
Barnes reveals the hidden, behind-the-scenes activities that promoted and projected Kennedy's public image while concealing the not-so-attractive underbelly. More than 40 years after his death, recent polls rate JFK as the second-greatest president of all time. His approval rating at 70 percent is the highest average approval rating of any president ever measured by Gallup.
Kennedy's leadership is not something to be admired. During WWII, JFK was reckless and frequently jeopardized his PT crew needlessly. General MacArthur and others say he should have been court-martialed. By some miracle, his misadventures in the South Pacific turned heroic and propelled him into a national figure.
During the 1960 presidential election, Kennedy harped on the "missile gap" that did not exist and repeated the slogan "getting the country moving again" when the national economy was healthy.
In the 1961 Inaugural address, JFK read a highly crafted speech:
Let the word go forth from this time and place...let every nation know...that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and success of liberty...
On the 62nd day of his presidency, Kennedy made a forceful speech declaring the nation would acknowledge its treaty obligations and support the goal of a neutral and independent Laos. In an extraordinary move, Kennedy bypassed Secretary of State Dean Rusk and the traditional role of the State Department when he appointed his man, Averell Harriman, to negotiate a toothless treaty with the Communists. Within a short period, Laos fell to the Communists. The Ho Chi Minh Trail, constructed on Laos territory, gave North Vietnam the logistical avenue to sustain its aggression in the south.
Kennedy viciously attacked the Eisenhower Administration for their "weakness" in dealing with the Cuban situation. Instead of helping to come up with the best plan to overthrow Castro and evict the Communists, Kennedy and Schlesinger devoted their efforts to disassociate the Presidency from the conspiracy--plausible deniability. Kennedy ordered changes to the CIA plan that crippled its effectiveness, and in the last hour, Kennedy dealt the deathblow. Although Kennedy wanted to blame the CIA and the military, the failed mission was the result of Kennedy's actions.
The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 would not have occurred if the 1961 Bay of Pigs plan had succeeded. Instead of immediately ordering a blockade, JFK formed a special committee to examine the options and reach a consensus while he went on a campaign trip. JFK again bypassed normal State Department channels and worked a secret agreement with Khrushchev that called for the removal of Jupiter IRBMs in Turkey and pledged never to invade Cuba.
Back on the subject of leadership and management, JFK relied on a "kitchen cabinet" similar to that of Andrew Jackson in 1829. Although cabinet officials were selected by him, Kennedy stifled the cabinet as a major decision-making body. Truman's Secretary of State Dean Acheson was returned to the White House as a special advisor to the president. Instead of using the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retired General Maxwell Taylor was returned to provide personal military advice to the President.
The West Wing of the White House was unofficially promoted to policy-makers and the cabinet secretaries had to compete in meetings on a level equal to the staff. The author noted Vice President Johnson was never taken into Kennedy's confidence, and was excluded from some of the most dramatic moments.
Landing an American on the Moon didn't make the South Vietnamese fight any harder and it didn't cause any Viet Cong to change sides. Kennedy ignored good advice from his Presidential Science Advisor and accelerated the manned space program for the sole purpose of upstaging the Russians. The author admires Kennedy's efforts to seek outside advice, but he limited his consultations with space enthusiasts such as Wernher von Braun, who were willing to underestimate costs and forecast overly optimistic schedules.
When Kennedy went before Congress to call for landing a man on the moon "before this decade is out," one wonders if the arbitrary deadline was the result of a speechwriter's quest for bumper sticker slogans.
The book John F. Kennedy on Leadership makes a good textbook on leadership and management--it is just unfortunate John A. Barnes chose JFK as a standard bearer for leadership.

JFK ADOPTED WINSTON AS PATRICIAN???
I hate reacting to another post but to say that the VERY Irish JFK turned to Winston Churchill as spiritual father is a tale from another planet. It's like saying Oliver Cromwell inspired James Joyce (well, actually the EFFECTS of Cromwell's genocide inspired Joyce's suppressed rancor). Read JFK's Why England Slept? to find how he forever incurred ultimately fatal British enmity. Read the speeches in Ireland a few months before his murder by British intelligence services.

That poster daring to breathe W in the same sentence as JFK recalls what this book most clearly delineates and contrasts with current commanders: JFK's brilliant and sharp intelligence and leadership and how we may apply that today. Simply replay the JFK Inaugural and ANYTHING since. THe greatest speech you will never hear is the Second JFK Inaugural. La lucha sigue!

I realize this is no BLOG, but come on already!

A Real Gem
This is a fascinating work of history as well as a superb business book. Among other accomplishments John Barnes reveals that JFK - who seems to us today to have been a natural-born political star - began his career as 'an awkward, self-conscous young man' who actually looked too youthful to impress prospective voters. His extraordinary charisma was in fact the product of an astonishing process of self-invention, one that required an enormous amount of work by Kennedy and those around him. He consciously made himself into the first 'movie-star president' and he did it after discovering through his own Hollywood contacts that many cinema stars had been formed out of materials rather less promising than his own.
A former political speechwriter and columnist, Barnes' chapters on communications and speechwriting are especially good.
Those who seek success cannot do better than by studying the efforts of those who have succeeded -- and this book is packed with valuable lessons for anyone interested in business and politics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Insights into the psychology of acceptance of evil
The thrust of History Will Not Absolve Us though is not so much sifting through the considerable evidence in a careful, rational manner, but suggesting that some rather special psychological problems exist for ignoring or willfully dismissing what the slightest logical engagement of the mind would show to be the truth.The author is especially interested in why key figures on the political left, notably the editors of The Nation and well known academics/writers such as Noam Chomsky and I.F. Stone, represented that the Warren Commission was authoritative and worthy of acceptance:"It is patently obvious that pigs flew out of that man's butt... (and anyone who disagrees is a conspiracy nut)."

...

For my complete review of this book and for other book and movie
reviews, please visit my site [...]

Brian Wright
Copyright 2008

Good, but ULTIMATE SACRIFICE the best book ever
Good, but ULTIMATE SACRIFICE the best book ever

While I thought this book was worthwhile in many respects, ULTIMATE SACRIFICE is simply the best book ever on the JFK assassination.Still, worth your time.

Vince Palamara-JFK/ Secret Service expert (History Channel, author of two books, in over 30 other author's books, etc.)
Pittsburgh, PA

BEST JFK ASSASSINATION BOOK: ULTIMATE SACRIFICE
BEST JFK SECRET SERVICE BOOK: SURVIVOR'S GUILT BY YOURS TRULY :)

Hard Hitting and Unafraid
Presents a cohesive theory of the assassination, one that implies that the individuals investigated by Jim Garrisson were only the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

Idiots and Romantics
another book for (people) and romantics who want to believe JFK was not the hardbitten, unreflective, Cold Warrior he was.

a shocking and thought-provoking expose
This little-known book contains the distilled thought of a group of prominent and well-respected lawyers and psychiatrists, who were convinced as early as 1963 that Kennedy was shot by the CIA (at the behest of the military-industrial complex) for his increasingly "soft" stance toward Cuba and the USSR. The book contains facts that are both obvious and sinister, and lends credence to Schotz's assertion that almost everyone in America today "believes" in some conspiracy to kill Kennedy, but doesn't really want to know.The book's only weakness is its occasionally overly-complex language; this is not unexpected, given the profession of its authors. No, this is NOT the ravings of another internet-conspiracy-theorist! Read it and you'll agree. ... Read more

Product Description
Until his inspiring life was tragically cut short, John F. Kennedy commanded the world's attentionGÇötoday, his legacy is still very much alive. This rich visual biography tells an unusual personal story by collecting rare memorabilia, everything from doodles and diary entries to drafts of major addresses. Hundreds of photographs and a compelling narrative by presidential scholar Chuck Wills uncover the remarkable tale of an intensely private man, from his rivalry with his older brother and his persistent courtship of Jackie to the inner workings of a historical presidency. Dozens of removable facsimiles and a 60-minute audio CD featuring some of Kennedy's most famous speeches, including his  inaugural address and his speech at the Berlin wall, capture an intimate look at one of the most revered figures in American history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

What Rubbish
This book is neither a biography nor a book of photos.
Bookwise, I do not know how to classify it.
All it has is a short - and quite useless - biographical narrative (by an unknown "historian", C. Wills) along with a series of concurrent photos and "enclosures" - the latter being photostats of the ex-President's letters plus reproductions of things like election brochures, tickets to party conventions, passport applications, etc.
It now seems that the merest vestige of contact with principal player of American Camelot will catch the public imagination -- and hence their wallets.
If you want to know about Kennedy read Hamilton's "Reckless Youth".
If you want photos there are many other more interesting volumes in most bookstores.
No doubt someone out there can supply you with JFK memorabilia also.

This product is straight from some dumbassed publisher's marketing department.

Beautiful Book. A Must Have For Every JFK Fan
I didn't know much about this book before purchasing it, so I was very pleasantly surprised by its beauty when I received it. This book is a definite must have if you're a JFK fan. I have 100s of Kennedy books and this is without a doubt one of the most gorgeous volumes in my collection. The photos are well chosen, including some I've never seen before. What really makes this book stand out are the reproductions of JFK's letters and medical reports. There's even a few included from JFK's infamous wartime flame Inga Arvad! Those alone are worth the purchase. One of the best JFK books out there. Buy it now!!!!

Really a nice book.
Heard about this on NPR and bought it was a gift.If you are a Kennedy fan, this is truly a unique addition to your collection.The book is excellent quality with nice photos.What really sets it apart are the numerous recreated memorabilia items.There are handwritten notes, IDs, etc. plus a CD of his most famous speeches.$22 is a steal for a book of this quality.

"Let the word go forth"...by this book my fellow Americans!
This is a fantastic book of the life on JFK. The book starts off of course him as a young man, talks briefly about the family history through his fathers family side for a little, up to his point of life in high school and then going off to Harvard and traveling around the world during and after Harvard. Going to London to visit his father who is ambassdor to the U.K. for two years and he writes his book "Appeasment in Munich", Which was changed to a more appealing title "Why England Sleep" for his thesis back in college. Then it goes into his navy days for 4 years(1941-1945) and then as a U.S. Rep(1947-1953) which he found to be boring at times,SO he wanted to do something much more intense and he finally runs for senator from 1953-1961 up until he becomes the 35th President of the United States in 1961. It's a non-stop, Can't put down page turner book And it really inspires you more on to read about JFK. Apprently theres a lot that atleast i didn't know about the young, Smart, Witty, Charsmatic once leader of the free world. These book will get in depth details of his youthful days in Harvard and his competition with his brother Joseph Kennedy Jr and his days as a PT-109 boat commander in the south pacific (World War II) as a heroic survivor that saved his men. The book even talks about his sex life at some points. Love the inserts of reproductive documents, shows his script writing diary when he was traveling to europe in the 1930s, His letters to his on and off girls, IDs like his passport and navy documents, letters to his father and much more. If your a fan of JFK, Get the book on amazon, Its much cheaper then B&N or Borders. Its worth every penny. Not a hard book to understand either, you can read through it moderately for a few days atleast, Cool photos as well of some i've never seen, Especially when he was younger. Its a simple and fun book to get and read. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as i did. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (8)

O'Brien's Biography on JFK is Excellent
This book on Kennedy is very well written and extremely informative.The details on his professional and personal life are intense.I highly recommend this book.

Excellent Biography on an Excellent
My fascination with John F Kennedy comes from when I first saw him riding down Lehigh Avenue in Philadelphia in 1959 when I was 9 years old.He was running for president back then.After he became president I used to like watching him on TV verbally sparring with news reporters.What a difference in how the "powder-puffs" we have today on TV avoid, hide and pretend we have no problems.I'm definitely no Democrat but JFK had a lot more courage, intellegence and insight than most of who you see on the scene today in political arenas.He had a specail way of moving people to action that just doesn't seem to exist anymore.Hopefully someone else will eventually come along again like him who actually becomes an excellent president.Maybe someone like Sarah Polin?

I'm also a big fan of well-written biographies and found this book to be amazing.What I liked about this book is how different aspects of JFK's life were catagorized and separated so that you could gain a real insite to how John Kennedy must have looked at the world.I liked that the author did not spend very much time on his assassination since there are already too many theories, stories and legends about that unfortunate incident.

JFK appears to have been the consumate listener which to me is probably why he was so smart about common sense aspects.He listened and did not want to block that part of life out since it does make a positive difference.And yes he liked the ladies (he was so charasmatically attractive does that surprise anyone?) and he seems to have taken his job as president seriously. He often went to the people whenever he needed to really get an important point across.Had he remained president that wind-bag who took over, president Johnson, would have went back to his ranch in Texas instead of helping to kill so many young people during Viet Nam.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to get a more realistic idea of who JFK was, what he was really about and what his principles really were.

John Kennedy
The 1960 election was one of the closest. John Kennedy was Catholic, and many voters were against him for that reason. Kennedy's critics still question whether the Vietnam War would have been fought had Nixon won. It may not have been. On the other hand, there may have been a nuclear war. We will never know. It is part of the controversy of those years. Kennedy is remembered for his moon speech to Congress in 1961: "I believe this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the Earth." In 1962, Kennedy confronted Khrushchev over Cuba. The U.S. could not allow Soviet missiles 100 miles off the Florida coast. John Kennedy and First Lady Jackie brought an elegance to the White House emulated by successors Ronald and Nancy Reagan. Kennedy's assassination in Dallas in 1963 is something America is still dealing with, like Pearl Harbor before it and 9/11 after it. Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone when he assassinated Kennedy. Conspiracy theories are false. The grassy knoll is a figment of the imagination. Oswald was a loner and a misfit. He was a marksman. He shot Kennedy from the 6th floor of the Texas School Book Depository as his motorcade passed below. He fled and hid in a theater but was quickly apprehended. Jack Ruby shot and killed Oswald. He said he did it out of sympathy for Jackie. There was no reason not to believe him.

PUBLISHER'S GROTESQUE ACADEMIC IRRESPONSIBILITYCUTTING FOOTNOTES
This great biography was written by an academic historian who gathers and compares several sources, yet the publisher to cut costs cuts the footnotes, which are of essential and greatest interest. In our era of intellectual property and knowledge as commodity, the publisher did not wish to provide the reader with specific indications for further study through the footnotes. With the collapse of the Internet we may never know what amplifications and insights the author may have included in these footnotes, which were no doubt as exhaustive as the work itself. How could the once great St. Martin's have been so academically irresponsible for commercial purposes? It is as inexplicable as our once great nation's journey from the intelligent JFK to the solipsistic W.

Not as memorable as the man
I read this book after reading the Caro series on Lyndon Johnson and this book fell short of my expectations.I felt that too many facts and stories where thrown together without a supporting theme or purpose. Also, I thought a disproportionate amount of time was spent on Kennedy's private life. ... Read more

Product Description
Learn about the life of John F Kennedy with iMinds insightful knowledge series.

On November 22, 1963. America was stunned. The events of that day would reverberate around the world and throughout history. The 35th President of the United States of America, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, had been killed.
The world watched the President’s motorcade roll through Dallas Texas with cheering crowds lining the streets.Amateur pictures of the fatally wounded President slumping into his wife’s lap were beamed around the world. While these images would become some of the most indelible of the 20th century, Kennedy's lifetime also offers a fascinating insight into the period, as he would prove one of the century’s most charismatic leaders.

iMinds brings targeted knowledge to your eReading device with short information segmentsto whet your mental appetite and broaden your mind. ... Read more

Product Description
An intimate portrait of John F. Kennedy, Jr., from his closest friend with 16 pages of color photos

From the iconic image of a little boy saluting his father’s casket to his tragic death at age thirty- eight, John F. Kennedy, Jr., was never far from the public eye. Now the friend who John was flying to see the night he died reveals the private man behind the public myth. Billy and John shared summers in Hyannisport and formed a bond in the Kennedy compound that lasted well into adulthood. With Forever Young, Noonan offers a unique glimpse into the private life of his boyhood friend—his courtship with Carolyn, his relationship with his mother, Jackie, and his struggle with being the son of a great man he hardly remembered. Affectionate yet candid, Noonan’s deeply personal memoir ultimately emerges as the definitive portrait of the son of Camelot. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (47)

Interesting tale of male friendship and celebrity
This is a good book, filled with personal anecdotes about JFK, Jr. and his life.The narrative is intimate and frank which makes it feel authentic.An interesting take on an interesting guy, who left us way too soon.

CAN I RATE THIS BOOK NO STARS???
After reading the book ( and then the Amazon reviews ) I feel justified in rating it "no stars".

Noonan has penned a self aggrandizing, utterly tiresome, story of his imagined friendship with John Jr.

His elitist tone is downright irritating. How nice for him that he can float around the Cape Cod islands on his pal's yachts. Like he contributed Something to the welfare of man.

From any standpoint this book is a "Dont Buy"

I enjoyed this book.
I enjoyed this book tremendously. I could imagine JFK Jr. and Billy Noonan conversing just like it was described on these pages. Very realistic and true to life. I appreciated the fact the events were not glossed over, and glamorized. Worth reading. I've read it a couple times already.

JFK Jr. Through His Friends Eyes
I loved this book!It was well written and had a lot of humor in it.I loved reading about his college years and the time he spent living in NY.It is very apparent that Jackie Kennedy Onassis did an AWESOME job raising her children...as John is grounded, ambitious, loyal, and dedicated enriching the lives of others...on top of being some serious guy candy (there were pictures in the book).I definately recommend it as it is a testament to this great man from one of his closest friends.

It's more about Billy than John
Difficult to stay awake or believe this slow-paced / grueling 7 CD's set. It quickly becomes obvious that Billy is selling Billy as John's "best friend" (BFF!) - even though John did not ask Billy to be his best man. Hummmm.

I do not doubt Billy knew John, however, there are many more clues that caused one to believe his story is embellished.

Seriously, what a disappointment. ... Read more

Product Description
A chronicle of the lifelong relationship between John F. Kennedy and his oldest friend, Lem Billings, a gay man, maintained despite the inherent political danger

I'm not that kind of boy," Jack angrily wrote to Lem after his friend made a sexual advance. But Jack didn't end the relationship. From the time John F. Kennedy and Kirk LeMoyne "Lem" Billings met at Choate, until the President's assassination thirty years later, Jack and Lem remained best friends. Lem was a virtual fixture in the Kennedy family who even had his own room at the White House.

Drawing on hundreds of letters and telegrams between the two, plus Lem Billings's oral history and interviews with family and friends like Ben Bradlee, Gore Vidal, and Ted Sorensen, award-winning Kennedy scholar David Pitts tells the story of an unusual friendship that endured despite an era of rampant homophobia. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

The book arrived in great time and in great shape.
I am not sure you're asking for a review of amazon's service or the quality of the book.Just let me say I have the highest regard for both.Conversely, I was sent a couple of books by J. Randy Taraborrelli who paid a premium for overnight/next day delivery.The books did not come as promised, causing me to miss a deadline.Shame on you for that.

Jack & Lem Review
Wonderfully written book about a close friend of JFK for over 30 yrs.For anyone who has ever read about JFK, you always see pictures of JFK & Lem Billings and hear his name as a close friend since teen age years, but then nothing else.This book ties it all together.Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, I didn't want to put it down.Would highly recommend it to anyone interested in JFK or anyone looking for a great book.Great research by the author!

More about the man always in the shadows
I have read literally dozens of Kennedy biographies and Lem Billings is always a shadowy character. Whether it's a book about JFK, or RFK, or Jackie or even Christopher Lawford, Lem is mentioned often but never in depth. After a while, one begins to wonder, "who was that guy?" This book answers the question. It's an affectionate and detailed portrait.His relationship with President Kennedy was a close one, emotionally intimate, and it lasted 30 years. His relationship with the Kennedy Clan spanned generations and lasted until his death. Pitts, an author who puts a gay perspective on this story, maintains that JFK was the unrequited love of Lem's life. Just because Lem was gay, I can't make that assumption. I wonder if he could have virtually lived with JFK and Jackie if he was romantically in love with Kennedy. I think another spin is just as moving and just as powerful, they were each other's best friends and loved one another that way. It was hard on the Billings family because over the years, Lem became more Kennedy than Billings. It was daring and brave of Kennedy to remain loyal and unapologetic of his gay friend in the less tolerate 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s.And it was extraordinary for the very Catholic Kennedy women to accept Lem as completely as they did, knowing he was homosexual. The book ends with Eunice Shriver's eulogy of Lem, "Heaven is Jesus and Lem and Jack and Bobby loving one another." What a moving, and inclusive, tribute that was.

The importance of friendship and quiet acceptance
I enjoyed reading Jack and Lem.

Due to my age, I don't have first hand remembrances of Jack Kennedy - his life or presidency.I was a good student so I do have a learned historical perspective.Also, I am politically aware and involved so Teddy is a presence and Jackie was too.

While I was familiar with many of the events of Jack's life through other reading, David Pitts made these seem new (I guess seeing them through different eyes - Lem's) and helped keep my interest.I thought Lem was presented as a compelling character.His devotion to Jack was very moving and important to reveal.I don't think the friendship could have continued for 30 years if Jack hadn't had a similar regard for Lem.I think the theory was proved that Jack had great character in keeping Lem as a friend.And Lem had every right to make that claim too.

I know there have been questions about a biography of a behind the scenes individual.Since we cannot all be the great one, the one on whom the spotlight shines, I find it helpful to know who is (was) in the background.David Pitts performed a valuable service researching this book - the letters between Jack and Lem reflect on Jack as much as Lem.

Obviously, not every fact or event can be included in any one work.While there seems to be a long-standing rapport between Lem and Rose Kennedy, the limited references to her (absent during Jack's illness while he was a Choate and not attending Kathleen's (Kick's) funeral) make me wonder whether Lem liked her.

There appears to be an error on page 116.The photo credit is 1945, but the pages that precede the photo indicate that Lem went to the South Pacific in 1944 and while the war ended in 1945, it wouldn't be until 1946 that Lem was able to return home.He could not have been in Palm Beach in 1945.

There are a few instances of David Pitts using his authorship to editorialize.These appear in parenthesis.As a resident of D.C., I agree with one of these (the District of Columbia is without full representation).Another is a reference to Tony Blair, (as the current prime minister).These parenthetical statements are temporal so if we - when we - get representation and a different person holds elected office they will date the book.Instead of editorializing, it would have been reasonable to stick to the facts only.

Jack and Lem included some very touching recollections of these two men's lives, separate and together, and made me think about and better understand life in another time.I found "The Sea Change (1933 vs 1973)," the penultimate chapter, very interesting.I have sometimes wondered how much earlier I would needed to have been born to not feel comfortable today as a gay man.Most of my adult life I have been out to my family, co-workers, and neighbors.I'm also not confusing comfort with safety.I'm not naïve.Far too frequently there are press reports of hate and violence against not just gay people (the nooses of late are appalling).But not from the people I am fortunate to be surrounded in my world.I owe much to people in the generations before my own who "fought" for acceptance that I now enjoy.Again, my age limits my first-hand knowledge of events of 1969 and before.I'm grateful for the placement of this concise chapter that provides context to Lem's life and times.

JFK and his Lemming
This might have been an interesting magazine article.There was certainly not enough material to fill 250 pages.The author repeats himself constantly and pads sentences with redundancies and facts that he has already established in previous pages.

As for Lem Billings, it's too bad he didn't have a life of his own.

An interesting if not a compelling read. ... Read more

Product Description
The Kennedy Presidency, and his role in the history of a turbulent time, told through fast-paced narrative and illustrated with documents, photographs, artifacts, and audio recordings exclusive to the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum.

PublicAffairs is proud to introduce the first volume in our new Presidential Library Series, edited by renowned presidential historian Michael Beschloss.

Each year, thousands of people visit the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum to experience the "thousand days" of his presidency and learn what it took to be the leader of the most powerful nation on earth. Now readers can revisit the tenure of one of America's most mythic figures and most controversial presidents through this elegantly designed book and portfolio. John F. Kennedy: The Presidential Portfolio is a unique time capsule that captures the essence, style, and excitement of the Kennedy presidency. Readers will travel back in time to the breathtakingly close election; the drama of the Cuban Missile Crisis; the careful political maneuvering at the start of the civil rights movement; the Bay of Pigs fiasco; and the inspiring creation of the Peace Corps. Key figures, such as First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, are vividly profiled. And bound to each book is a 90-minute CD recording of never-before-heard Kennedy phone conversations and dictations.

For Kennedy Library visitors, fans of Camelot, or anyone interested in American history, this historically authoritative examination of the man, his era, and an institution is an essential reference volume and a beautiful gift.Amazon.com Review
Drawing on the resources of the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum--which include millions of pages of documents, more than 100,000 photographs, andmany thousands of books, audiotapes, and film reels--this slender book isfar more than a keepsake for visitors to that institution. Instead, itoffers a thoroughly illustrated, thoughtful, and sometimes even critical overview of the late president's life and political accomplishments.

Though born into a vast fortune, John Kennedy, notes historian CharlesKenney, had to overcome a great deal of difficulty (including frequentillness and a pronounced lack of direction) before arriving at theconfident sense of purpose that characterized his public image. (Kennedy,the author notes, was also given to vanity, and he worked extraordinarilyhard "to remain slender, well-groomed, and carefully tailored," whileshunning the ostentation of an earlier generation of powerbrokers andpoliticians.) Charting Kennedy's evolution from playboy to war hero andscholar, and thence to a leader buffeted by one crisis after another, thebook makes generous use of the president's own words--and, especially, ofonce top-secret correspondence and memoranda. An audio CD, containingrecorded addresses, speeches, telephone conversations, and dictations,accompanies the book.

The publication coincides with the 37th anniversary of the president'sassassination--which, notes historian Michael Beschloss, 80 percent ofAmericans polled believe was the result of a conspiracy, not a lonegunman--and with the 2000 presidential election, the conduct of which maymake some readers more nostalgic than ever for the comparatively purevision of Kennedy's Camelot. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

excellent book
there are over 250 pictures ans documents, it's very complete. the texts are interessing, not boring.
there is a cd also.
we can hear a few dialogues,. there is one with rfk and on the 14 tracks we can hear young caroline.
there is part to rfk and jbk too.
so I enjoyed it.

John F. Kennedy: The Presidential Portfolio
John F. Kennedy: The Presidential Portfolio features more than 250 photos and documents from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum that capture the essence, style, and excitement of the Kennedy presidency. Included in these pages are the artifacts from a lifetime young Jack's letter requsting to be made Godfather to his brother Teddy, a handwritten fragment of the inaugural adress, correspondence from Nikita Khrushchev, Martin Luther King, Jr., Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and many others. Providing the backdrop for these images is a carefully rendered narrative highlighting the many remarkable events of Kennedy's life and his presidency: the tremendous physical ailments JFK had to overcome on a daily basis, his privileged chilhhood, transformation from reluctant student to Pulitzer Prize - winning author, dramatic political campaigns, struggle over the Cuban missile crisis, and his efforts to end segregation as well as counter nuclear proliferation, are all recounted here.

To Enhance The Experience of reliving the Kennedy years, a riveting 60 - minute audio CD of JFK'S phone conversations and personal dictations is packaged with the book. The following is a list of the recordings.

- An undated memoir entry concerning JFK'S entrance into politics.

- A dicated letter (circa 1959) to Joseph P. Kennedy on election and poll results.

- A dictated letter (circa 1959) to Jacqueline Kennedy on weekend in Rhode Island.

- Phone Conversation with Sargent Shriver recorded on April 2, 1963 regarding keeping CIA out of the Peace Corps.

- Three phone conversations with Ross Barnett recorded on September 30, 1962, regarding the University of Mississippi crisis.

- Phone conversation with Richard J. Daley recorded on October 28, 1963 regarding the civil rights bill.

- Phone conversation with Charles Halleck recorded on October 29, 1963 regarding the civil rights bill.

- An undated phone conversation between JFK and RFK concerning articles in Newsweek and Time magazines.

-Phone conversation with Dwight D. Eisenhower on October 22, 1962 regarding Cuban missile crisis.

- Phone conversation with Dwight D. Eisenhower on October 28,1962 regarding Cuban missile crisis.

-Phone conversation with Lincoln White on October 26,1962 regarding comments to the press concerning Cuban missile crisis.

- A dictated memoir entry dated November 1963.

Pleasant but not outstanding
As a twenty-something, I really don't know much about John or Robert Kennedy other than the vague "Camelot" fantasies tossed around. I acquired this book as part of my recent appetite for understanding JFK/RFK.

I found it to be a light-weight overview of the major periods of JFK's life, along with some information on RFK and Jackie. While it revealed a few new things I hadn't heard before, this book is really of interest primarily as a coffee table book for ocassional perusal, and not for study. It's a great combination of stories you will have heard and pictures you have already seen.

The accompanying CD, however, is particularly interesting in what it reveals about JFK the man and his way of being. Overall, I enjoyed it.

The Most Complete & Accurate on JFK
This book is the most complete and accurate book on President John F. Kennedy.With the contribution from the John F. Kennedy Library & Museum, the true and exact data regarding the man who changed the life of many Americans is shown here in a direct manner.Great pictures.In conclusion, this book deserves to be at each home in the USA and abroad.JFK is worth to be known and admired through this masterpiece. This book is a must. ... Read more

Product Description

The 1960 presidential election, won ultimately by John F. Kennedy, was one of the closest and most contentious in American history. The country had never elected a Roman Catholic president, and the last time a Catholic had been nominated--New York Governor Al Smith in 1928--he was routed in the general election. From the outset, Kennedy saw the religion issue as the single most important obstacle on his road to the White House. He was acutely aware of, and deeply frustrated by, the possibility that his personal religious beliefs could keep him out of the White House.
----- In The Making of a Catholic President, Shaun Casey tells the fascinating story of how the Kennedy campaign transformed the "religion question" from a liability into an asset, making him the first (and still only) Catholic president. Drawing on extensive archival research, including many never-before-seen documents, Casey takes us inside the campaign to show Kennedy's chief advisors--Ted Sorensen, John Kenneth Galbraith, Archibald Cox--grappling with the staunch opposition to the candidate's Catholicism. Casey also reveals, for the first time, many of the Nixon campaign's efforts to tap in to anti-Catholic sentiment, with the aid of Billy Graham and the National Association of Evangelicals, among others. The alliance between conservative Protestants and the Nixon campaign, he shows, laid the groundwork for the rise of the Religious Right. This book will shed light on one of the most talked-about elections in American history, as well as on the vexed relationship between religion and politics more generally.
----- With clear relevance to our own political situation--where politicians' religious beliefs seem more important and more volatile than ever--The Making of a Catholic President offers rare insights into one of the most extraordinary presidential campaigns in American history.

Customer Reviews (2)

Religious Political History at its Best

This 200 page book characterizes the 1960 presidential campaign between John Kennedy and Richard Nixon as a battle pitting Protestant personalities and institutions against what they perceived to be the threat of foreign hierarchical Catholic power infiltrating democratic Protestant America.The author, Shaun Casey, is an Associate Professor in Christian Ethics at Wesley Theological Seminary and director of an educational Washington Semesterprogram for seminarians. He played some role as an advisor in President Obama's campaign. His book is a masterly blend of careful research and narrative that does not include his own political worldview, until the epilogue.

Any student of religion and politics or practitioner in the art of elections will benefit by studying Casey's assemblage of characters and primary sources. He does not impose the sensibilities of our own times on the picture he draws of a broad based Protestant animus against a Catholic president.Liberal Protestants (who preferred Adlai Stevenson), and popular preachers (Billy Graham and Norman Vincent Peale) joined theanti Catholic tract producing POAU (Protestants and other Americans United for Separation of Church and State) in mounting arguments against the ascendancy of a Roman Catholic as President. Understanding American republican institutions as the civic manifestation of the religious exodus of free Protestant churches in the role of Israel waging bloody war against the monarchical Babylon of Catholicism was not a story developed in the 1960s simply to fight off JFK.The American republic was a child of the newly formulated ecclesiastical communities of the Protestant reformation. To trust the command of the military of the most powerful Christian nation in history to a practicing Catholic would cause a deep foreboding in any man with a sense of God's work in history amidst the nations.

Casey never anachronistically labels such concerns as bigotry. There were plenty of Vatican and Catholic hierarchy statements about "error having no rights" and the undesirability of separation of church and state in states where the Catholics were a majority. If a Catholic candidate obeyed his bishop or the pope on national policy issues, then electing a Catholic was in effect electing a bishop or pope as president. These arguments were made by Protestant high clergy like Methodist Bishop G. Bromley Oxnam as well as Paul Blanshard, the general counsel for POAU.Bishop Oxnam ("America'sProtestant cardinal") waspresident of American Methodist bishops as well as a founding member of POAU and the FCC-a precursor to the National Council of Churches. Blanshard was a tireless effective political organizer atstate and federal levels in alerting free Protestant America to the steady rise of Catholic political power and their encroaching claims on portions of the public purse. POAU was founded to counter the rising power of Catholic immigrants in big city political machines. POAU enjoyed wide support across the Protestant spectrum.

Casey explains that a key strength of Kennedy was his willingness to meet face to face with his strongest opposition. Kennedy in fact met with both Blanshard and Bishop Oxnam. The Bishop introduced him in April 1959 to a meeting of 51 Methodist bishops a group no less hostile than the Houston Ministers Association who Kennedy would meet the next year in Texas. Kennedy met with the best of his opposition for dialogue and debate--this made him sharper in formulating his message and more formidable as a leader willing to defend himself in any environment however hostile. Like Kennedy himself, Houston ministers and Methodist bishops respected manly engagement with hostile groups. For all of them a decade after WWII, the character needed to initiate such engagement evidenced a necessary virtue for the Presidency.It may be hard for those younger than forty to appreciate the unusual nature of Kennedy's direct approach to his ideological foes who were not formal candidates and opposition. JFK's approach was actually more dramatic but still analogous to a black candidate representing the "godless Democrats" accepting a direct interview debate moderated by a white prolife evangelical Christian.

Casey paints the organized Protestant opposition to Kennedy as the real roots of the religious right and the birth of a Republican southern strategy. At the same time he relates the high tone civil discussion by Protestant "liberals' at Christianity and Crisis which could see contemporary American Catholics through a different lens than papal statements of the 1870's condemning democracy, liberalism, and the secularization of the nations. He concludes the story of the election with a fascinating tale of the heroic honesty of conservative Baptists in Texas.On Nov. 2, an editorial in the Baptist Standard advised that Baptists "vote your convictions"pointing out that it was Protestants Lodge and Nixon not the Roman Catholic Kennedywho were "evasive and ambiguous" about federal aid to parochial schools.

This book allows many unfiltered voices to be heard from 50 years ago. It will be a valuable resource in understanding the difficulty for Catholics or Mormons to win current presidential Republican primaries (Mitt Romney, Bobby Jindahl and Sam Brownback should all read this book). The book also marshals a beginning counter narrative to the neoconservative portrayal of JFK as the instigator of the naked public square. Kennedy, a man faithful to his religious obligations to worship and his civic obligation of military duty, was emphatic that the public policy statements of Catholic clergy would not bind him in performing the duties of his office. In another useful example of Casey's exploration of original sources he includes letters and insights from Kennedy's most important cleric confidant (more than the amiable and loyal Richard Cushing) Bishop John Wright. Bishop Wright, a religiously orthodox, culturally conservative, politically liberal clergyman, shows a much more profound understanding of Kennedy as a "structural Catholic" than today's young "orthodox" Catholic critics.

Today's young Catholic critics of Kennedy have substituted a kind of Canadian Lutheran propositionalism for the lived orthodoxy of Catholic worship and civic duty which instructed the life of our first and only Catholic president. Kennedy's language from Houston to Berlin strikes the Roman cadence of duty and office invigorated by the Germanic oaths of warrior blood covenants. When he discusses being Catholic, it is not a voluntary choice but the liturgical fact of infant baptism.When he discusses American military obligations, it is not a choice but a watch duty assigned by history. His critics speak in the language of applied morality flowing from joint declarations of principles. As Bobby Kennedy once said of Eugene McCarthy (who nominated Stevenson in 1960) "he thinks because he quotes Thomas Aquinas, he is a better Catholic than us."

When Kennedy spoke against heeding the clerical line on narrow "Catholic issues" of sending an ambassador to the Vatican orgranting federal aid to parochial schools he generally followed with overtly religious rhetoric. When he rejected Catholic sectarianism he never followed by renderingthe public square naked but in fact fully clothed his deeper vision of"the real issues before the nation" in religious-military dress. After evoking the fortress of the Alamo and the bloody battles in the Pacific Ocean and German heartland, he ended his speech to Houston ministers with the presidential oath-"so help me God."Young intellectuals who read Kennedy with the neutered eyes of propositional morality have never really heard "so help me God" in the deep masculine voice of a free man representing a biblical nation in a life and death war with a godless foe.

Casey offers a rich selection of Kennedy's words and a careful recalling oftheological nuances in different religious journals (the Protestant Christian Century and Christianity and Crisis as well as the Catholic Commonweal and America). All of these sources point to a very different interpretation of Kennedy as a warrior-chief of a nation under God. While Casey in his epilogue states his own doubt that such a civil religion is still possible, this does not stop him from presenting Kennedy in his own words and time. An honest reading of this book by conservative Catholics may help them reexamine the "structural religion" of imposed duties and high ritual which make Kennedy quite unlike modern Catholic Democrats. Understanding the fundamental religious difference between John Kennedy as the President and John Kerry as a candidate or Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House instructs both neoconservatives at First Things magazine and evangelical counselors to President Obama. This book's diligent gathering of sources is excellent history precisely because it can instruct men with very different sensibilities about the role of a direct forceful masculine personality willing to dialogue with friend and foe alike while articulating the obligations and aspirations of the American civic tradition.

The religion side of a famous presidential election
Shaun Casey is a friend of mine. Early in 2009, I heard that Shaun had a book published. I found a copy online. This is the type of book that I would never buy off the shelf in a bookstore. This, however, was a different situation. A friend had written the book - now the title and subject matter intrigued me. I ordered a copy and anxiously awaited for it to arrive.

I was two years old when Nixon and Kennedy faced one another in the general election of 1960. What I know I heard from movies (unreliable) and snippets of news coverage (only slightly more reliable). There was intrigue with the mafia, labor unions, and voter fraud in that election. Still, it was one of the most narrow victories in a Presidential election in our history.

Shaun didn't write about any of those matters. Instead, he wrote about theletters, meeting, "tracts" (some of us old south conservative Christians know what a tract is), small Bible colleges, and so on. These played roles in that close election. Shaun brings those stories and those people to life in his book. There is some serious research in here. When did Shaun have the time to do that. He was working inside the Obama campaign through 2008.

I liked this book. I am glad Shaun wrote it or I would have never read it. The stories are interesting. I recognize the names of some of the places, people, and publications. They all influenced the outcome of that election.

Nixon and Kennedy had religious backgrounds. That seems strange to write. Kennedy cheated on his wife, invaded Cuba unsuccessfully, and succeeded at involving the United States in Southeast Asia. Nixon pulled the U.S. out of Southeast Asia, cursed blue streaks in the Oval Office, and ordered illegal break-ins during a landslide campaign. Still, these two men had religions and understood how religion could influence the outcome of their race. Shaun Casey helps bring these two Presidents to life in a manner that I understood them.

Thanks, Shaun. ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Product Description
Prepared by a leading Kennedy scholar, this volume is the most definitive and up-to-date bibliography on Kennedy. Unlike the earlier efforts of the 1970s and early 1980s, it covers the primary sources on Kennedy and his presidency, including letters and other manuscript material, oral histories, and both published and unpublished government documents. It also contains the scholarly secondary literature including books, articles, and unpublished doctoral dissertations and masters theses on the Kennedy era. Finally, it includes most of the contemporary articles from various magazines and journals. ... Read more

Product Description
This book brings together all the principal evidence demonstrating conspiracy in the assassination of President Kennedy and shows the linkage to radical U.S. Rightists. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

His Best By Far
Harry has always been a true believer. His chapter updating the latest on the autopsy is reason enough to get this book. The newest information will
spin the heads around of the Posnerites. This work is not for the novice, but it will more than sustain the experienced JFK reader.

Too Disjointed At Times
While some good facts are in the book, I think it could have been better organized.The author goes on and on about wounds whose locations were changed so the "official version" of the assassination made sense to the American people.After awhile, there is too much repeating of the same thing.He covers the wounds in so many different sections, that after awhile he is really not stating anything new.Plus he throws in so many names of people at times that it is hard to figure out who is who and how they fit in.I've read better books regarding the assassination.

Not Up to Livingstone's Previous High Standards
Although I waited anxiously for this book, I must admit that as one who read Livingstone's other JFK assassination books, overall I was a bit disappointed in this production. Much of it is a rehash of his other books and borrows the new big picture framework from others, like Peter Dale Scott's Deep Politics and the Assassination of JFK. [Still, along with Michael Collins Piper's Final Judgment, is one of the best books on the JFK assassination.]

On the positive side, I was pleasantly surprised and happy to see that the author finally got religion and joined the ranks of those JFK researchers who see the importance and value of focusing more on the big picture, than groveling continuously in the dirty details without ever coming up for air. In this regard, Livingstone's previous work on the medical evidence is first-rate and seeing most of it repeated here did the book no harm.

Also, his investigative reporting on the pre-assassination party held at Texas oil magnate Clint Murchinson's home on the eve of the assassination is also first rate -- as was the way he connected the dots between the players in attendance there. Previously, the idea that such a party actually took place, remained in the realm of hear-say.

Unfortunately for me this was the high point of the book. It was all downhill from there.

The rest, including the much-touted "new revelations on the J.D. Tippit murder," left me cold. Facts, fiction, hearsay, rumors, "factions" and "factoids," seemed to have been all been given equal weight. The author provided no context, guidance, or analysis to wade through and out of this quagmire of "new information."As a result, one would be insane to try to draw any conclusions based on what amounts to random facts and "near facts" tossed at the reader, with the hope that something would stick. So far, for me none has.

This is especially unfortunate for a researcher of Livingstone's caliber, as now he will surely be cast down into purgatory with another run-of-the-mill researchers as just another "assassination conspiracy kook." This is especially unfortunate for this author, since his previous work has been of such high standards and generally held in high regard.

Despite this, I gave the book three stars.

Turning the Media-Mirror around and showing the real side.
He's on the right track here.He didn't write about Nixon pardoning Jack Ruebenstein ,from testifying to the HUAC ,in 1947.These men were socially and ideologically ,polar opposites.Yet,they both had a common link,the freemasons.Nixon was more than likey a big-wig in the masonic Scottish Rites and Jack Ruby a big price in the masonic jewish B'nai B'rth. How could a strip-tease nightclub owner escape the Cold War inquisition ,if he provided politicians with escourt girls? Well,very easily. Nixon may have cut a deal with Jack Ruby.If Ruby shot Oswald,Nixon would pardon him ,once he reclaimed the White-House throne,in 1964.Nixon knew if Ruby tried to explain publically the conspiracy-plot,the butterfly nets would swoop him up.So,Ruby followed along. In 1959,Nixon was the heir-apparent.Yet,America wanted something fresh and glamorous,not clammy and shifty.Nixon's quest to break the law ,in order to maintain his control over American politics,is well-known with the Watergate scandal. So, anyone who thinks that L.B.Johnson was the main-schemer in the asssassination plot,take a look at the far-right wing side. Good book !

A little crude in style but ...
As Mr. Livingstone has stated elsewhere, the entire establishment is a conspiracy.Well put!

This whole JFK case has been subverted (or "faked" if you will) to cover up the involvement of those reaching into the very top of the US government.

It's very important to remember nearly 50 years later that ANYTHING less would have been "Old News" by now, pronto.

As Jim Garrison once said, it's not a question of whether Oswald's (US intelligence and/or military) handlers were or were not responsible for the assassination -- they WERE responsible.

But you won't hear about any of this from the Executive Branch, the Congress or the Mainstream Media because this story still has the potential to undermine the whole US political system, one that serves these folks quite nicely just like it is. ... Read more

Product Description
An Unfinished Life is the first major, single-volume life of John F. Kennedy to be written by a historian in nearly four decades. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (77)

Balanced and Historical
Well written and researched biography of John F. Kennedy.It was neither idealizing, nor denegrating, of the ex-president - it was a balanced, interesting portrait of Kennedy and his times.It may be a little long for some, but I prefer my biographies to go into such detail, in order to get a good feel for the subject.I would recommend this book to anyone looking to read an intellectual study of this period of history.

JFK
This is a great book about JFK. It is well written and shows that although a great many people would argue, JFK was very close to being a total failure as President. It shows the development of his many ailments how he hid them from the electorate and became President. He fumbled along through crisis after crisis until he hit a home run during the Cuban missle crisis. But his works mean much more to the country then he deeds. He inspired the country to move to great great things which is where he eventually finds his greatness, with after his assassination LBJ adopting and enlarging his views on space exploration,civil rights etc.

Excellent
Dallek does't rehash already well covered aspects of this remarkable man.He gives in depth, well documented insights into the life and personality of America's 35th president.This is neither a whitewash nor a hachet job.Well written and insightful.A scholarly approach to one of the 20th centuries most charismatic politicians.

Essential Reading But...
Robert Dallek is a gifted historian.He is also a complete historian, because he writes extremely well.I wonder if he has ever won the Parkman Prize, because his apparent meticulous research is consumed by the reader with such ease.Of course, because it is Dr. Dallek, I have but one complaint.In the young, Kennedy years, prior to the presidency, the biography feels intimate -- as if we were talking to someone who was right in the house growing up with him -- almost if we were like Lem Billings.But when we get to the presidency there is a bit of opinionating that oftimes goes from historian to editorializing.For example, when speaking of the Berlin Crisis, Dr. Dallek opines that it is best that JFK was running the show because RFK, being a hothead, might have gotten us involved in a nuclear exchange.Other than that minor, minor complaint, (because he is probably right on his opinionating), I think Dallek is great.So is his new title about Nixon, (and Kissinger,too.)

Joe Nichols

Adequate First Kennedy Biography
Thought that the book was an adequate one volume account of the life of JFK.The author talked alot about JFK's medical problems, more than I would have liked.He could have written a chapter about the medical problems JFK had with his stomach and back and about how the Kennedy's covered up those ailments during the run for the presidency and during the presidency.

But overall I thought that it was a very good book and would recommend to anyone who is reading their first Biography of Kennedy. ... Read more

Product Description
From the moment of their births, John and Caroline Kennedy occupied a central position in what is generally regarded as the most famous family in the United States, if not the world. Even as young children growing up in the White House, their most subtle gestures and actions made headlines.... Yet until now they have not been the subject of a dual biography. In that sense, this volume represents a first.

In American Legacy, #1 New York Times bestselling author C. David Heymann draws upon a voluminous archive of personal interviews to present a telling portrait of John and Caroline Kennedy. A longtime biographer of various members of the Kennedy clan, including Jackie and Robert Kennedy, Heymann covers John's and Caroline's childhood in the White House, the dark aftermath of their father's assassination, their uneasy adolescence, and the many challenges they faced as adults, all under the glaring eye of the media. He reveals John's and Caroline's loving but at times trying relationship with their larger-than-life mother, as well as Jackie's own emotional struggles, romantic relationships, and financial concerns following JFK's death.

Other revelations brought to light for the first time in American Legacy include the assassination attempt made on Jackie just before she gave birth to John; JFK Jr.'s romantic escapades prior to marrying Carolyn Bessette and accounts of the predominantly happy marriage they shared despite criticisms from questionable sources; the shocking report of the autopsy performed on John following the tragic plane crash that killed him, Carolyn, and her sister Lauren; Caroline's rise to become one of the wealthiest women in America and her life now as the sole keeper of her family's magnificently complex legacy.

Utterly compelling and full of new and fascinating details, American Legacy overturns much of what we thought we knew about two of the most talked-about members of the Kennedy family. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Beautifully Written
I personally loved this book. I couldn't put it down.It made me feel like weeping on the tragic loss of John.It made me understand Caroline much more fully and to feel her pain and agony in the loss of those close to her, especially her beloved brother.It also made me realize what a strong, independent, woman of the world her mother was.I have read many books about this family, and others by this same author.I rate this right up there with the best.He captures their essence like no other.I will read it again.If you enjoy reading about John and Jacqueline Kennedy, this is a must read.It will moveyou.

Good, but not great
It was interesting, but not compelling, and some of the material I strongly question.But then, I'm a big Kennedy fan, just not a fan of their politics.

such a bore
Writer lacking in charm elegance and style has compiled a great deal of gossip serving it with no evaluation of sources used. Faults in several details adds to impression of a bored writer. Nothing new to what you knew already. Poor photos.
Was there no editor available?

An overdone topic.
So much has been written about the Kennedys that it's getting a little ridiculous.I guess they make lots of money for the writers who keep rehashing the same old stories.Will this country EVER get over the Kennedys?!Geez, give it a rest.

It's a great subject, but is this a great book?
I'm answering my own question by saying, "I don't know." I certainly enjoyed the time I spent on this book. I admired Jackie's dedication to her children, and to teaching them how to deal with their with their legacy. It was neat to see each sibling's unique personality unfold. But I'm not sure if I enjoyed it because John and Caroline are such compelling figures, or because Heyman did a good job. He waffles so much -- in the Schlossberg marriage, either Ed or Caroline is aloof, and either Ed or Caroline is friendly. Carolyn Bessette was either highly demonstrative, or she wasn't. And the passages about JFK Jr's sexual experimentation (which either did or didn't happen) seemed to come out of left field. So while I enjoyed this book, I can't honestly recommend it. ... Read more

Product Description
In 1,000 days in office, John F. Kennedy captivated a nation and inspired a generation. His mastery of a new form of media-television-enabled him to become the most accessible president of his time. Kennedy energized the presidency and imbued it with unrivaled style and grace.

The Everything John F. Kennedy Book is an intimate portrait of our youngest president and his lasting legacy, covering:

• His privileged childhood and the influence of his parents
• Illnesses and family tragedies that shaped him
• Meeting and romancing Jacqueline Bouvier
• His part in the first televised presidential debates
• The Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban missile crisis
• His commitment to the Peace Corps and the space race
• His connection with the Civil Rights movement
• His assassination in Dallas