Special Counsel to the Late President. New York
Why read it? To understand Kennedy’s philosophy of the Presidency. His humor. His wisdom. He could think on his feet. His ability to own up to his mistakes and to learn from them. To appreciate the vast range of responsibilities faced by the President. His style. You won’t learn any of the details of his extra-marital affairs in this book. It focuses on John Kennedy, an American who was elected President by one of the narrowest margins in history. He instilled a spirit of confidence in the American people, and his assassination destroyed that spirit.
Ideas:
“…his willingness to learn, his determination to explore and to inquire and to profit by experience.” p. 24. ………. “He hated to bore and be bored.” p. 24. ………. “More amazing was the accuracy with which he remembered and applied what he read.” p. 25. ………. “His self-confidence on the platform grew, and his ability to read—and, at the right time, to discard—a prepared text increased.” p. 26. ………. “He also grew more accustomed to disappointment in his plans and to criticism in print.” p. 27.
“JFK: We all learn…from the time you are born to the time you die…events change…conditions change, and…you would be extremely unwise…to pursue policies that are unsuccessful.” p. 27. ……….”He still refused to embrace change for the sake of change….” p. 27. ………. “Unlike those liberals who start out with all the answers, he had started out asking questions.” p. 28. ………. “…constant air of confidence no matter how great the odds or pressures.” p. 30. ………. JFK: “ ‘Although,’ the Senator told me of this successful, well-informed man [JFK’s father], ‘I’ve almost never seen him read a serious book.’ ” p.35.
To be continued.
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