Sons & Brothers: The Days of Jack and Bobby Kennedy

I began reading this book by invitation of a friend. I found that once I began I could scarcely put it down. This book analyzes the crucial relationship that existed between President Kennedy and his would-be President brother. As children the two never became close, few in the Kennedy clan saw much in the way of redeeming values in Robert Kennedy. Once he took the reins of the elder Kennedy?s campaign for congress everyone within, as well as outside, the family realized that Bobby would be a loyal soldier for the family. He valued loyalty above all else and Jack Kennedy soon realized that he could at times count on no one but his brother. Sons & Brothers explores the family?s ties to the mob. While Bobby kept himself busy going after everyone he claimed was corrupt his family was benefiting directly from their contacts in the mob, whether it was selling alcohol during prohibition or bringing out people to vote who otherwise would not be able to exercise their citizenry duty. An important message of the book is that what brought the family up is also what took it down. I consider this book a must read for anyone with an interest in history.

I have just finished this book and while I have read many books on the Kennedy Presidency this one certainly stands out as one of the few that accurately describes the socio political climate which prevailed during his three year term. While many will no doubt concentrate on the story in terms of its conclusions relating to the JFK assasination, I have to say that it was the author's description of the day to day handling of one crisis after another. Starting with the Bay of Pigs invasion which lead to increased soviet pressure in terms of West Berlin and on ultimately to the 1962 missile crisis, you really get a feel for the era in which the Kennedy's prevailed. Another interesting theme in the book was John Kennedy's total disdain for his military advisors and commanders who he described as brass hats. This attitude reached its climax at the height of the Missile crisis where he adopted a very tactical and de-escalated approach to the problem. Standing tough publicly in terms of his resolve but leaving just enough room for the soviets to get off their own hook, he faced an on going battle with his Generals who would have gone to war. I don't wish to give the impression that the book is all JFK, Bobby Kennedy is an important aspect to the book particularly his tough, constant and uncompromising defense of his brother. This book is definitely worth a read.

It is interesting to go through those turbulent years of the 1960's and get a clearer understanding of what took place. The author shows how vulnerable a country can be when people in high places such as President Kennedy and F.B.I. Director J. Edgar Hoover place themselves in compromising positions subject to possible blackmail from others. President Kennedy wouldn't get away with his extramarital relations now as he did in the '60's. I was especially impressed with Robert Kennedy in this book. This man was a doer who showed a genuine concern for the improvished in this country (the blacks, Indians, Mexicans, and poor whites) when he could have chosen not to get involved. His attacks on the mafia may have led to his brother's death, but he had the courage to face up to the problem rather than pretend it didn't exist. Leaders always have someone who don't like them, and the Kennedys, along with Dr. Martin Luther King, paid the ultimate price for this. It's too bad that there was such friction between the Kennedys, King, Johnson, and Hoover. Working together, they could have accomplished more for the country. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and it was interesting to revisit this turbulent period in history.

This is an amazing read. I believe it may be the best on the Kennedy's so far. Written in brillant historical novel form, Mahoney has clearly reached the pinacle of his field. There is no doubt Sons and Brothers would make for an amazing film. There has never been a book written quite like this about the Kennedys. I recommend it highly.

I thought I knew everything there is to know about the Kennedys but this book took me to a new place. Other versions tell one of two stories: the Kennedy brothers were great or they were terrible. This tells a different story, a clasic tragedy. Because they did terrible things to achieve wealth and power, the Kennedys had to pay the price just when they (particularly Bobby) were on the brink of doing good things for the country and the world. The anguish of Bobby is right out of literature. He (and old man Joe) were the Kennedys most guilty of making deals with the devil -- and JFK may have paid for his dad's and Bobby's sins with his life -- and he was also the one determined to do good after 11/22/63. Tortured by guilt, he reached out to heal those hurting, rather than inflict hurt as he had in the past. But the past caught up with him and killed him.Terribly sad.An incredibly good book: the best on the Kennedys.