Kennedy literature thread

[RogueBeaver]

I'm posting, on behalf of the Kexperts, various works of Kennedy literature to help those who may want to join our ranks in the future.

Jack Kennedy

An Unfinished Life by Robert Dallek (2003): The definitive one-volume biography of JFK by a leading Kennedy historian. Includes previously sealed medical records and documents from the JFKL in Boston.

JFK: Reckless Youth by Nigel Hamilton: Hamilton, a Brit, writes an excellent account of JFK's youth.

President Kennedy: Exercise in Power: by Richard Reeves (1991). An excellent account of JFK's presidency, one of the first authors to have partial access to medical records.


Bobby Kennedy

Robert Kennedy: His Life by Evan Thomas (2000): the definitive RFK biography, under 500 pages, fast-paced but objective. Examines RFK through his personality, and does an excellent job of doing so.

To Seek a Newer World: by Robert Kennedy (1967). This is a collection of speeches that lays out his 1968 campaign platform.

85 Days: (1969)An eyewitness account of RFK's 1968 campaign by Jules Witcover, who was a member of both the Kennedy and Nixon press corps that year.
The Last Campaign: (2008)by Thurston Clarke: same as 85 Days but written four decades later, praised by former RFK staffers for its accuracy.


Ted Kennedy

Edward M. Kennedy: A Biography by Adam Clymer (2000): the authorized biography of Ted Kennedy, a good read and well-written.

True Compass by Ted Kennedy (2009): EMK's memoir, which focuses a lot on his family as much as his career. Gives short shrift to the Bush presidency.


General Kennedy literature

The Kennedys and the Fitzgeralds by Doris Kearns Goodwin (1987): Goodwin, a leading Kennedy historian, writes a history of both families from their immigration to the US until the 1960 election. A superb family backgrounder.

The Kennedys by Peter Collier and Jason Horowitz: a general family biography, whose best parts discuss the preventable fall of the current Kennedy generation after 1968.

[RogueBeaver]

Now, on what to avoid.

The Dark Side of Camelot: Seymour Hersh (1991): Hersh is Hersh, and much of what he says comes from 'anonymous' sources who never spoke to anyone else over the previous 30 years.

Women of Camelot: While seemingly enticing, the author does not do his own research but almost openly plagiarizes others, and is clearly poorly written, in addition to being factually inaccurate.

Anything by C. David Heymann, specifically Bobby and Jackie: A Love Story. He gives absolutely no corroborating evidence and knows almost nothing about his subjects, just rehashing old, untrue gossip.

In general, a good idea is to go on Amazon and read the 1 or 2-star reviews for the most 'popular' books. If they say 'poorly researched' or comment on factual inaccuracies, DO NOT BUY IT.

Now, you might wonder why I have not included Arthur Schlesinger or Ted Sorensen in either list. The answer is simple: they are not objective and Schlesinger in particular has a tendency for hero-worship and vomit-inducing hagiography. Nor will you find all the answers that a modern historian with access to previously sealed records will find. Read them for what they are: an insider's memoir disguised as a biography.

[RogueBeaver]

As Friday approaches, I will update everyone on JFK Jr. literature. Littel & Huber (personal friends) write good memoirs but do not buy any of the biographies that are available. They are simply lacking in quality, not to mention the notorious hack David Heymann of "Bobby and Jackie" fame. There is a book about the crash by a pilot and NTSB expert released last year for the 10th anniversary- more of an interest to those of us interested in aviation.

The film to buy is America's Prince. I have it & it is excellent value for the money. Also the only time in my experience where a Kennedy film is infinitely better than the available literature. Unfortunately it is a film, not a documentary. Still, buy it if you're interested.

Also A Life in Pictures is excellent- 250-odd pages. I will be getting this soon myself.