John F. Kennedy and a New Generation

It is interesting to me that a short book such as this illuminates as much about the Kennedy administration than many thicker books for popular reading. A main difference is that the more popular readings focus on sensational stories and some try to make unsupported connections between some aspect of the political figure's personal development and that person's decisions while in office. This short political biography ignores the bed sheet and fashion stories that dominate so many other Kennedy books. This is a book for a person with a serious interest in the Kennedy presidency. Despite its brevity, the author gives a strong presentation on the president's political style and his influence on domestic and foreign affairs. His discussion on Kennedy's significant domestic policies is of particular importance since, except for civil rights, JFK is better remembered for his foreign policies. The writer without engaging in Peggy Noonan-like glorification of his subject (Noonan writes on Reagan) portrays JFK as a highly intelligent and astute figure developing more into a statesman than a politician. Unfortunately, Kennedy's legacy was long ago hijacked by those who want to minimize his influence by remembering him as a youthful charmer with little substance. This is done by both conservatives (who are angered both by his civil rights efforts and his growing independence of military), and by liberals (who too are angered by his civil rights positions that moved too slowly for their taste and his general refusal to put the cart of the liberal agenda ahead of the national horse). As a result, most discussions of Kennedy center on matters that had little to do with him as the nation's leader. Many of us (for me as a child) remember him and know him as a person whose death was very personal and traumatic. It was the first time many of us saw our parents and teachers cry. This book helps us to better explain to younger generations Kennedy's importance to the nation and to ourselves.