Book Description

A different time...a different place...What if you were there?
If you lived at the time of Martin Luther King, you would have seen important changes brought about by the civil rights movement.

When did the civil rights movement begin?
Were children involved in civil rights protests?
What was the March on Washington?
This book tells you what it was like during the exciting era when Martin Luther King led the fight against segregation. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

''Come Learn About A Famous Man And You Will Be Number 1''
If you lived at the time of Martin Luther King J r.
By Ellen Levine

The Book is about when it was the 1950's to 1960's. A man named Martin Luther King Jr. was the leader for the blacks. White people were very mean to African-Americans. They had to use different schools, phone booths, neighborhoods, bathrooms, restaurants, hotels, and drinking fountains.

I like this book because I wonder about if I were there, would I have tried to help the black people? I know I would have.

I also think the illustrator did a great job on coloring the pages. I think the author wrote this book because it was about segregated laws. She wanted kids to know a famous leader or what it was like if the kids were there with him.

Excellent Introduction to Civil Rights for Elementary ages!
Whenever teachers in our predominantly white elementary school ask me to recommend a title pertaining to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., or to African American history, this is one of the first books I suggest for grades 4, 5 and 6.The question and answer format lends itself to reading aloud and then discussing topics that come up, like segregation, white supremacy, the Montgomery bus boycott, etc. I recently read part of this book to a fourth grade class who just had "segregation" as a vocabulary word. The students were quite attentive and asked some excellent questions.The title is a bit misleading in that some might view it as a biography of Dr. King. While many sections do draw upon personal events in Dr. King's life, such as when he was a youngster riding in the car with his father and he heard a police officer call his dad "boy." Or again, when he was young and he was told he could no longer play with his white friends. But as the title says, it's really about if you lived at the "time" of Dr. King. Therefore, it's an excellent introduction to many aspects of the Civil Rights movement.While the watercolor illustrations are an improvement over the black and white drawings in earlier editions of this "If You Lived At the Time Of" series, in this case I think the text could be more fully enhanced with actual photographs, especially since many of these illustrations are copied from well-known photographs.All in all, this is an excellent introduction to the Civil Rights Movement for upper-elementary students (and apparently for middle-school students according to another review here). This is one title that, in my opinion, should be in every elementary school in the nation. Recommended.

An easy-to-understand summary of the civil rights movement
I read this book to my middle school students every year. Levine explains the need for a civil rights movement in terms that kids can understand. This book makes students want to learn more about this important event in American history. ... Read more

Book Description

Young John F. Kennedywas a mischief maker, but he also had a serious side. He cared about people's problems and, with his words, could easily persuade others to go along with his ideas. As he grew up, Kennedy's family decided that he was meant for great things -- the presidency of the United States.

TIME For Kids® Biographies help make a connection between the lives of past heroes and the events of today. Kennedy's desire to help Americans -- and others around the world -- is as important now as it was forty years ago.

Reviews (1)

neat book
This book is all about the life of John F Kennedy.It told about when he was born, his marriage and his death. Here are some interesting facts I learned of John F. Kennedy.He was a member of the Peace Corps.He wrote 2 books.He met with Martian Luther King.In back is a helpful time line of events.

The book was not too long and not too short.It contained the right amount of information for kids.

I would recommend this book to kids who are learning about the presidents.I learned a lot from reading this book. ... Read more

Book Description

No issue is more hotly debated than how, or even if, a politician's private life affects his public competence. In A Question of Character John F. Kennedy's two lives—public and private—are examined to answer this timely question. Respected historian and biographer Thomas C. Reeves reveals discrepancies between JFK's public persona, which has reached mythic proportions, and his scandalous private behavior. Most illuminating is the constant theme or Joe Kennedy's almost total control of JFK's behavior and politics throughout most of his son's career.

"The John Kennedy who emerges from these pages was not a man of good moral character. He was reared not to be good but to win." — Los Angeles Times

Reeves has provided the most truthful and balanced assessment of John F. Kennedy to date. Written more in sorrow than in anger, A Question of Character explores the sensitive and difficult question of how people, and history itself, ought to judge the relationship between personal character and national leadership. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A Good Amount of Detail
The title of the book says it all, A Question of Character. This is one author's attempt at looking at the political life of President John F. Kennedy's, before and during his time in the White House. It details the differences in what the spin is and the private life that is described as being close to Hugh Hefner's. We also get a very detailed and for me, somewhat troubling, view of the constant controls his father, Joe Kennedy's had of JFK throughout his career. Not that comforting given the somewhat dubious reputation of Joe.

The author came close to a Kitty Kelly sex scandal tell all, but did not completely let himself drop that low. I thought the author was almost sad to be telling me, the reader, some of the less then faltering truths here. Almost if he was a firm believer in Camelot and this book and research pained him. Overall this is a well-written book that has some interesting conclusions. The author could have spent more time on the domestic policies and international issues that faced JFK to make the account better rounded. I do not think it is the one-volume definitive story of JFK, but it is a very good start.

Character Does Count
To those who want to get past the hype and drivel, Reeve's well written and researched book makes a convincing case that yes, character does matter. The argument that John Kennedy was a great, but flawed, leader is shown by Reeves to be erroneous. The seeds of the Bay of Pigs disaster was sown in Kennedy's youth. PT-109, interestingly, was the first and only PT boat ever rammed by an enemy destroyer. Not on a foggy night with the men topside, but in clear weather and daylight, with Kennedy and his men below decks sleeping and swapping war stories.

"My story about the collision is getting better all the time," Kennedy told a friend after launching his political career. "Now I've got a Jew and a Nigg-- in the story and with me being a Catholic, that's great."

Kennedy's bringing the U.S. to the brink of war was typical of the disasters he'd made in his personal and military life. The real reason the Soviets put missiles in Cuba was because of U.S. missiles in Turkey. School children are seldom taught that the U.S. had to withdraw its nukes from Turkey in exchange for the Soviets "backing down" in the Western Hemisphere.

From the Kennedys' dealings with the mob to the wiretaps of Martin Luther King, Jr., the fact that Kennedy could not remain faithful in a marital relationship is hardly a dichotomy in leadership.

So yes, Virginia, character does count. Now and in the latter part of the 1990s. Those who say it doesn't are probably also lacking in this area.

A Question of Reeve's Motives
Emotive language, ridiculous assumptions, damning with faint praise--it's all in this book. Thomas C. Reeves fancies himself a historical biographer. He couldn't be more wrong. He's a muck-racker, a false accuser, an executioner of someone who was already murdered. This is character assassination at its worst. The Kennedy estate should sue this writer's pants off.

He claims that JFK was a speed addict and that his doctor was shooting up both John and Jackie with 'speed-balls' to the point where they were both addicted. But they had good company, Reeves explains--because their doctor himself was an addict!

If you read carefully, you'll find that every damaging statement is carefully worded and qualified so that if he were to be sued, Reeves could claim that he only wrote that "it appeared that..." or "many believed that..." or "it was as if..." or "they were probably..." He could claim he didn't write that they *were* this way or that they *did* do this.

If you want to read an excellent book on JFK, try Robert Dallek's 'An Unfinished Life.' Immaculately researched and beautifully written, Dallek paints a realistic and accurate portrait of this country's 35th President.

But skip Reeves. This book is a waste of time and money.

If I could give it zero stars, I would have chosen that. One star is way too generous.

No hero worship, but not a chop-job either
As he cuts through the myths of Camelot, Thomas Reeves could have been content with dragging the name of JFK through the mud. That certainly would have been easy enough to do; all the affairs, the dubious origin of the family fortune, the murky ties with organized crime...it all has the makings of a wonderful chop-job, a character assassination.

However, Reeves rises above this. He acknowledges that good morals do not necessarily make for a good president, and that an effective president does not always have a scandal-free private life. This book was written before the Clinton presidency, which would have made for an interesting comparison.

Reeves is not content to throw one prurient revelation after another at the reader; that is Kitty Kelly's job. He is interested in good history. How did these moral defects apply to the man's ability to be an effective president, and how did the president's effectiveness have an impact on the course of our nation's history?

Reeves believes that important theme here isn't the questionable behavior in and of itself, but the fact that Kennedy's lack of any real commitment to anything but the acquisition and wielding of power ultimately made him an overall weak president. Despite Democratic control of Congress, Kennedy could get barely 25% of his legislation passed in Congress in 1962-63. Members of Congress had little regard for the man as a leader, and his luke-warm commitment on various issues did little to induce the Congress to act on his legislation. Compare that with LBJ, whose legislative success rate and mastery of Congress between 1963 and 1966 stands in stark contrast.

Reeves does observe that JFK was beginning to grow into the office by the time of his death, but stops short of predicting a glorious Kennedy legacy had the man lived. It was far from a given that JFK could have won re-election in 1964, and Reeves knows this.

Overall, this is an excellent example of a measured, critical biography that contributes to the scholarly dialogue, rather than simply being a "tell-all" book.

Demystifying Camelot
Reeves provides a probing analysis of the Kennedy presidency that challenges the warm and fuzzy imagery often associated with "Camelot." Reeves, an academic historian, has written a serious book that may turn off some casual readers. Yet this is the best analysis of John F. Kennedy's character and leadership style. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Two Thumbs Way, Way Down
Yet another example crops up in America's self torture over JFK Conspiracy Theories. Although some of the author's notes have proved useful to me in my own research on New Orleans Crime, I could not help but feel disapointed that he wouldn't shut his fat face about the Kennedy Assassination. What the hell is he smoking! Does he take us all for a pack of idiots?! There is so much evidence Oswald was alone, that any attempt to pin the act on a "Vast Right Wing Conspiracy" would have to make it the one that Oliver Stone described. In a word, so huge and so extensive as to be nothing but a big joke. (The FBI and the CIA working together, that's the one I really loved!) Mr Davis would have been better served if he had just stuck to the story of one of America's most notorious criminals, instead of chasing off on some drug induced conspiracy theory. That is why my only regret is that I couldn't give this book no stars. This book wasn't worth the paper it was written on.

Best Yet
I have read this book, not that I really needed to, but I'm honestly just curious as to what makes Ms. Fischer think that she has any knowledge of the the workings of the Marcello family. It's just really interesting to me what people think that they know.

Interesting, but Highly Overated
For some reason it is highly difficult to find reliable information on the New Orleans Mafia. This book remains one of the great symptoms of the disease. The story I wanted to hear, that of the rise and fall of the Mafia's "First Family," consistently takes a back seat to the author's crackhead theories about the JFK Assassination. In truth, the Marcello Crime Family was not, nor did it behave like a Colombian Drug Cartel. I look forward very much to the publication of a more realistic accout of this truly fascinating subject, possibly by George Anastasia or Jerry Capeci. I trust that I will not be forced to do this myself.

G-R-E-A-T BOOK
John H. Davis doesn't leave a stone unturned, at least as far as Carlos Marcello's complicity in the assassination. If, after reading this book, you don't think Marcello played a part in this crime, ... This book puts you right into the world of Carlos Marcello, almost as though you were experiencing it with your own eyes. Also impressive was Davis' insight into the wacky world of the U.S. Government. In the years since this book was first published, it has been even further established from numerous informants that the actual shooters were three Corsican underworld hitmen from Marseille: Lucien Sarti, Francois Chiappe, and Jean-Paul Angeletti. ...

Gripping, spell bounding .
Cross referencing info in this book would make it possible to catch the real killers, it's just that accurate. You never want to put this one down!Even after you finish, you'll read it again. I read it all the time. And everytime I do I come across another important fact. This book would help the government find the killers, if in fact the government WANTED to find them. ... Read more

Book Description

Ralph David Abernathy and Martin Luther King Jr. were inseparable and together helped to establish what would become the modern American Civil Rights Movement. They preached, marched, and were frequently jailed together. Donzaleigh Abernathy, Ralph’s youngest daughter, has written Partners to History as a testament to the courage, strength, and endurance of these men who stirred a nation with their moral fortitude. She also pays tribute to the thousands of unsung heroes—the other partners to this history—who were foot soldiers in the endless struggle for freedom, justice, and equality.This document captures in words and pictures how the dream of two visionaries changed the course of American history and inspired the world.

Partners to History is a unique look at a troubling time, and its usage of dramatic—and personal—photographs, combined with the voices of King and Abernathy, seamlessly conveys the fears, frustrations, and pain of the long days and nights spent planning the many crusades. Donzaleigh Abernathy’s recollections provide personal insight from someone who lived through the tumult and witnessed firsthand the relationship of these lifelong friends. “People didn’t know Daddy and Uncle Martin,” she writes. “They know the legends.They don’t know the fathers, the husbands, the men, the human beings. I feel obliged to tell the beautiful stories of these beautiful men I lived with and loved.”

Chronicling the crucial events of the movement, from the early strategy sessions in the homes of integrationists and the Montgomery Bus Boycott to Birmingham, the Freedom Riders, and the March on Washington, the author provides a unique insider’s perspective. With heart-wrenching precision, she lays bare the horrifying deaths of four little girls in the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church and follows the search for three murdered civil rights workers in Philadelphia, Mississippi. She goes behind the scenes to the intimate moments and reveals the determination of two families caught up in the fight for equal rights.

King and Abernathy believed in a cause and laid their lives on the line time and time again, knowing deep in their hearts that they were working not only for their people, but for the good of all humankind. When, on April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, Ralph David Abernathy vowed to persevere and continue their dream, knowing that people could not be free until the walls came tumbling down.

Inspirational and beautifully illustrated, Partners to History reveals the remarkable relationship between two great leaders and serves as a reminder and tribute to this tumultuous era. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

An incredibly BEAUTIFUL book!!!!!!!!
This is a book that every young adult and adults should have on their coffee table!!! Never before seen pictures and told through the eyes of a child through the civil rights movement this book is a refreshing, new insight that is a fast paced read!! A book to revist again and again!!!!!

Absolutely marvelous!!!!!!
Partners to History is a beautifully written and illustrated story of the Civil Rights Movement, its unsung heroes, its celebrated heroes, and the American struggle for freedom and peace. It is imperative that educational institutions with quality American history programs have this masterful work of historical literature on its shelves.

Carla Newsome McManus
Sisters and Brothers of HotLanta Book Club
http://www.sistersbrothers.com

Absolute marvelous!!!!!!!
Partners to History is a beautifully written and illustrated story of the Civil Rights Movement, its unsung heroes, its celebrated heroes, and the struggle for freedom in America. It is imperative that any school with a quality American history program have this masterful work of historic literature on its shelves.

Carla Newsome McManus
President
Sisters and Brothers of HotLanta Book Club
http://www.sistersbrothers.com

Excellent
This book is a must have. I think it should be in all public schools. The writer tells a beautiful story about the Civil Rights Movement. The pictures are fantastic while we have all seen pictures of the Movement, these pictures tell a story. Great Job !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Extremely Powerful !!!
These images are worth more than 1 million words. They speak the truth with clarity that is rarely achieved in a discourse about race in America. This is American history in its true form. A great editing job and choice of photos.

THIS IS A CLASSIC HISTORY LESSON ... Read more

Book Description

Winner of the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for Biography and the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award, this is the most comprehensive book ever written about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Based on more than 700 interviews with all of King's surviving associates, as well as with those who opposed him, and enhanced by the author's access to King's personal papers and tens of thousands of pages of FBI documents, this is a towering portrait of a man's metamorphosis into a legend. Garrow traces King's transformation from a young, earnest pastor of a modest church into the foremost spokesperson of the black freedom struggle. The book's central unifying theme is King's growing awareness of the symbolic meaning of the cross as his sense of mission deepened, matured, and was transmuted by sometimes-reluctant degrees into acceptance of a life and a role that would end by demanding the ultimate in self-sacrifice. This is a powerful portrait of a man at the epicenter of one of the most dramatic periods in our history.

Reviews (9)

The heavy burden of being a hero
BEARING THE CROSS is a very detailed book on the life and times of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., American hero, civil rights activist, preacher and admirer of Ghandi and his nonviolent approach to social change. King came to the forefront of the mid-century civil rights movement when Rosa Parks, a seamstress, refused to move from her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. It wasn't the first time a black woman had been tossed out of her seat in the Black section of the bus when a white customer needed a seat. Along with the removal usually went insults and threats and Ms. Parks just wasn't having it that time. The local activists asked King, a new preacher at Dexter Baptist Church, if he would take on the responsibility. Reluctantly, he agreed to do so and thus began the legend of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Over the years, Dr. King has taken on an almost mythical position in the civil rights movement. Those who were present at the time find themselves wondering if the Dr. King they remember is the same man that is now raised in the American consciousness. He is frequently given a saintly aura that leads children reading about him in history books to believe there was never anyone like him before and that there can never be another like him again. David J. Garrow dispels those myths as he lets us in on the life of the man who led this country to reconsider its segregationist behavior. We see Dr. King when he is depressed and feeling unworthy of his position in the movement, when he is being a chauvinist about his wife, those moments when he smokes and drinks too much and Garrow gives credence to the rampant rumors that he had women in his life other than Coretta.

In addition to the very humanness of King, we also get to witness the foibles of the United States as it dealt with its Black citizens. We get to know the actions of three presidents of the United States, Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson, as they vacillated about the civil rights movement. None of them wanted to upset the Southern voting population so they tended to send mixed messages: on one hand they knew that Blacks were being treated unfairly but to offer help through legislation, federal troop protection for besieged nonviolent marchers or verbal support for the movement was beyond where they wanted to go. The levels to which the FBI stooped to discredit King are by themselves, phenomenal. Each of the presidents was definitely aware that King's rights as a citizen of this country were being abused as his home, his phones, his motels, hotels and friends were wiretapped. The agency also used the illegally acquired information to terrorize and blackmail Dr. King. Not one of them objected to this horrendous invasion of privacy.

BEARING THE CROSS is a definite must read for every caring citizen of the United States who has a desire to understand and appreciate the civil rights movement, the life and times of Dr. King and the role that the country has played in keeping some of its citizens in bondage. I would also recommend it as a reference book for the civil rights movement.

Reviewed by alice Holman
of the RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Very good biography on MLK
This Pulitzer Prize winning biography proves to be superbly reseached and well written (although bit dry for some) account of the great civil right leader. However, the book seem to be geared around his public life and his involvment with the Civil Rights movement of SCLC. Although this part of his life seem to be well documented and covered, the book don't tell us much about King's private life, his relationship with his family, or his sexual indiscretions and his own relationship on the personal level with so many of his fellowers, friends and rivials.

But its a superb coverage of King's Civil Rights involvement and actually tell a sad story of man who was definitely over reaching the limits of his own personal, mental and physical endurance. A good example would be how MLK's venture in the Vietnam War which definitely overextended his reach when so much still needed to be done on the Civil Rights front. This distraction also cost him friends and allies who could have helped him on that issue which should have been the main focus of MLK. I guess he lost focus in the end. I am bit surprised that the book didn't make any commentary on the legacy of MLK or anything like that. The book stopped with his death which almost sound like a blessing for MLK who seem at the end of his life, an unhappy man, totally stress out and overwhelmed by his burdens.

But as biography goes, I thought this book was honest and interesting picture of a man. And thats good in my opinion, MLK was a man with combination of greatness and flaw that the book clearly points out with a great deal of objectivity. I thought it was kind of an ironic statement when the author stated that the only people who really knew MLK were his closest friends and the FBI who wiretapped him.

I should note that this may not be an ideal chocie for first time reader of MLK since there are overwhelming amount of material in this book which may create an information overload for some people.

My paperback book didn't have any photos which I thought to be bit strange. Book like this need photos. But overall, this is the best biography I have read on MLK regarding his public life. Will there ever be one of his private life??

Marked Black History
This is the most comprehensive MLK book you can get and it helped me through the 20th century as I wrote a short-short on Black history entitled "Who is We?" available @ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/singinsagg. The book spans black history and the agonizing period of slavery from 1441, all across the Americas. It brings you to the period of segregation and tell of the arts that blacks are known for and traces the life of MLK, blacks in film, musical emerges such as gospel, blues, jazz, rhythm and blues, reggae, and hip-hop (rap).

required reading
Although not completed I already have the idea that it should be required reading for Seniors in High School and/or a Freshman College requirement. After all it is a most significant event of modern day history along with the civil war and both world wars. David Garrow simultaneously celebrates and condemns human nature by revealing the courage and strength of Dr. King and his followers even as his wife and daughter are attacked with fire bombs by the hateful white mobs. A very compelling beginning story of Rosa Parks... the injustices and inhumane treatment she suffered at the hands of a hate filled people...sets the stage for a work that could begin a lesson in tolerance and unity for our next generations. I unfortunately believe we are still condemned to live our hateful existence in America and the world until works like this can get the attention they deserve.

A Thorough History
I knew very little about MLK and the civil rights movement before reading this book. It was a very detailed account of MLK's involvement in civil rights and his personal life. From the late 50's to his death the author tells you practically everything about his life. Though it would be easy for an author to be bias toward or against King, I felt that Garrow did a good job of just telling the story and leaving conclusions to the reader. ... Read more

Reviews (53)

Scant Account of JFK Jr.'s life
As has been stated in the other reviews, "The Day John Died" is not so much about the day JFK Jr. died, though there is a whole chapter dedicated to it, as it is about his entire life. However, half the book concerns his parents' lives more so than JFK Jr.'s. I realize that is is impossible to talk about JFK Jr. without talking about his father, the President, or his mother, the glamorous first lady, because that context is needed in order to understand John Jr.'s life. Yet this book somehow feels like a retread of Andersen's other book, "Jackie After Jack." Intimate details of Jackie's marriage to Onassis are inexplicably included in "The Day John Died" and do not help shed any light on what John Jr. was like.

When Andersen finally gets around to JFK Jr.'s story in the last third of the book, the portrait of a genial, sexy, if somewhat dim man emerges. Andersen shows that because JFK Jr. was unfazed by his celebrity and sought to be ordinary like those around him, these traits made him even more popular. There is the requisite list of all the women JFK Jr. dated, including Madonna, but there is only a sketchy description of the woman he finally settled down with, Carolyn Bessette. When Carolyn was alive, she was enigmatic and she remains so after reading this book. Andersen vaguely refers to Carolyn and JFK Jr. having problems, mainly concerning starting a family and the media's effect on their marriage. But no new information is given as to exactly how these two met, what kept them together, and ultimately, would JFK Jr. and Carolyn have stayed together.

This book was a bit of a letdown after Andersen's excellent "The Day Diana Died", which gave more insight and detail into its story. However, this book gives some insight into the private life of JFK Jr. as well, although it is nothing you could not have read in People magazine.

JFKs Children
John Jr. was known as the "Master of Disaster" to his friends because of his willingness to accept physical challenges and daredevil nature.

Chapter 1 focuses on the day John died giving his, his wife's and her sister's itineraries then proceeds to takeoff followed by a fictionalized account of what probably went wrong during their flight. Andersen interviewed other pilots who'd flown that day and some who knew John's abilities in order to put that part together. The scene is so gripping that I felt was flying with them!

Chapters 2 opens in 1960 chronicling Jackie's first pregnancy, which ended in a miscarriage and goes through John's early life. Chapter 3 begins in 1963 with the assassination and gives a lot of background at what was happening to the children at this time. It's a very poignant chapter guaranteed to move the reader to tears. Chapter 4 deals with RFK's assassination and Jackie's fear for his children's safety. She always believed that they were primary targets.

Chapter 5 discusses Jackie's marriage to Aristotle Onasis and the world's reaction to the destruction of the Camelot mystique. It seemed that people believed that the love between Jack and Jackie was perfect and they felt Jackie should remain America's dowager queen. Jackie was a compulsive shopper, which irritated Ari to the point where he cut her allowance. After his only son Alexander died in a plane crash, Ari made it clear he wanted nothing to do with the Kennedys. He referred to her as "The Widow"and his friends and family referred to her as "The Black Widow" blaming the Kennedy Curse for all Ari's misfortunes. When Onasis died, Jackie had to battle his daughter Christina to get her inheritance.

Jackie overshadowed John controlling much of his life and tried to force him into politics to carry on his father's legacy. Consequently, John held a series of different positions before starting George Magazine. In an interview with Fidel Castro, Fidel disclosed that he admired John's father and apologized for not giving Lee Harvey Oswald an entry visa in October 1963.

John's relationship with Carolyn was stormy but it would seem that there was true passion behind it. John was not forced to marry Carolyn, as his father had been to marry his mother purely for political expediency so he had the option to get a divorce but never sought one out. A lot of their troubles were caused by the constant intrusion into their private life by the media and the public. Carolyn simply was not used to this; but John took it in stride since he'd grown up with it.

The text takes John's life from Chapter 2 onward right up to Chapter 9, which covers the search and recovery effort for his plane.

A great companion book to this is by All Too Human The Love Story of Jack and Jackie by Edward Klein, which focuses on Jack and Jackie's relationship. I simply could not put either book down!

The Tragic End of an American Era and an American Family
Christopher Andersen, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller "The Day Diana Died" tells the story of American's son, John F. Kennedy, Jr. It's the bittersweet tale of the American Icon and sadly the unfulfilled fate of his tragic death.

If anyone would hear the name of John Kennedy, Jr. knew he was destined for greatness. He once quoted of himself saying: "People keep telling me I can be a great man. I'd rather be a good one." On the day John died that July 16, 1999 it seemed known only to God of his father's assassination and the death of Princess Diana was the most distinct moment to affect our lives. The world would never be the same. On the day President John Kennedy died, I was a little girl of 5 years. On the morning of Nov. 22, 1963, I walked into the living room. My mom sat on the couch motionless in front of the TV in tears. I asked her what was the matter. She said, "They assassinated President Kennedy." From that day, thirty some years later since little John, Jr. saluted his father's casket in that famous snapshot to the present time in 1999. It is something that we all live with for the rest of our lives. Where were you on July 16, 1999? When a nation's grief would be buried in the ocean along with John, Jr., his wife, Carolyn Bessette and her sister Lauren where they died and where they are at rest.

Andersen writes in detailed form the beginnings of the Kennedy legacy and the legend that John, Jr. would live with. It was a time not far in the past that two lives paralleled between Britain's Princess Di and America's John Kennedy, Jr.. Both of their persona of power and elegance inspired the dreams of their generation. Whatever these two did in their lives whether it was weaknesses and failures they were more loved by the public. The public follows John's life as he failed his bar exam twice, his romances with Christina Haag, Madonna and long time love Daryl Hannah, dodging the paparazzi, the famous fight in the park with his future wife, his struggle to find his own career path in the shadow of his legendary parents and the unveiling of his magazine, GEORGE.

In the coming few years up to the time of his fated future. John enjoyed time flying. It was the only chance he could get away from the demands of his busy life and the paparazzi. It was such a shame that on the day of his tragic end. It had to go so quickly. As one would put it 'Gone Too Soon.' The lives John, Jr. touched while he was here with his remarkable legacy of a family that endured both triumph and heartbreaking tragedy. His sister Caroline stands alone. The only sole survivor of America's American family. Everyone took solace along with her in her sorrow. In this life that John Kennedy, Jr. lived he never follow in the footsteps of his father's career. Never did he write a book, do any great heroics or discover anything. Just because simply he existed. Everyone knew him. He belonged to all of us. From that beginning John Kennedy, Jr. was America's son. You'll have to read the book to know what I mean.

NOTE: The book includes photographs that chronographs his life from his youth to his death with sources, chapter notes and selected bibliography.

Fluff and Gossip
This book is not a detailed account of the plane crash that took JFK JR's life, the book is an attempt at a biography of his life. If you have looked at the book then you know that this is a bio that is going to fall more in the Kitty Kelly area then a deep historical work. I was looking for more of an account of the forces within his life pushing into politics and his thoughts that lead him away from politics. We did get a little of these types of details, but the main focus of the book was to get the more tabloid type facts to the front of the chapters - sell more books. The author does give us some of the highlights of the Kennedy family history, but he does not connect how the events may have affected JFK JR's thoughts on a public life.

I was interested in some of the insight on Jackie relationship with him. It did seem like she held a bit of power over his life, but that could have been the author tying to sell more books. There are also lots of details about how many incidents he got into growing up that could have been physically dangerous. As I said we do get a broad overview of the Kennedy family over the past 100 years but it almost came off as filler, like there may not have been enough on JFK JR. for the full book.

This is a light, gossipy book that touches the surface of his and his family's life. If that is what you are looking for then this book is a good one. The writing is good; easy to read and fast paced. Overall, I felt that this book was just too light.

Don't waste your money, get the library copy
Maybe I am not in enough awe of the son of a dead president, but then I don't understand where the glamor of being hired by the American people makes a person glamorous or even smart.

JFK, Jr. died, and killed 2 women with him.

It's worth maybe an hour's reading, since it's mostly invented dialogue and gossip, this is literally a page turner. ... Read more

Book Description

Hugh Aynesworth, four-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, was the only reporter to witness the assassination of President Kennedy, the arrest of Lee Harvey Oswald, and the murder of Oswald. Famous among his fellow investigative journalists, he now breaks new stories in the book reporters have asked him to release for decades.

If you thought you knew everything interesting to know about the Kennedy assassination, then think again. Breaking the News is the definitive story of the assassination and its aftermath.

- Eager to appear on top of the JFK sotry, which DAllas newspaper fooled its readers with a bogus interview with J. Edgar Hoover?
- How did defense attorney Melvin Belli concoct the famous epilepsy defense for Jack Ruby?
- Why didn't the FBI tell the Dallas police that Lee Harvey Oswald worked in a building directly in the path of JFK's motorcade?
- What was New Orleans DA Jim Garrison's secret code and how did his investigators bribe a witness?

The first print reporter to interview Marina Oswald and first to establish her husband's escape route, Aynesworth also uncovered Oswald's Russian diary and was involved in first reporting how the high-profile defector paid a threatening visit to the FBI office in Dallas only days before the assassination.

Breaking the News provides over 200 photographs and artifacts from Aynesworth's peronal archive, including: his notes the day of the assassination, letters from British philospher Bertrand Russell, then Congressman Gerald Ford, and the Jack Ruby family. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

An inspired retelling of heartbreaking events.
This book is an emotional experience. You cannot read it without finding yourself back there in 1963 hearing about the shooting, re-living the cascade of events that followed. Hugh Aynesworth's and Stephen Michaud's direct reportorial style creates immediacy. Reading their pages, I was instantly back in the library at Duke law school, forcing myself through a civil procedure case book, when a ripple swept across the big reading room. The library practically emptied over the next few minutes as everyone sought a TV. As things went from bad to worse over the next 72 hours, I remember having a hunger for hard, specific details--as though to understand exactly what was happening might stop it, reverse it, erase it. The appetite for reliable details about the tragedy, oddly, has never gone away, and this excellently substantive book answers to it. It is a worthy addition to the national canon. It will help our kids understand why Kennedy's killing still moves and grieves us all so many years later.

Amazing Journalism
This is not just another JFK book. The author doesn't offer any conspiracy theories or apologies for investigations less than perfect. But what IS here is the most comprehensive book ever written about the people involved...from the Oswalds to the Rubys, the Warren Commission members, the cops, the Dallas kooks and the charlatans who have made a living out of fooling a saddened world.
This book is an amazing product of a journalist who has been in the front lines for 40 years -- covering every aspect of the case. It's the most human story every told about those 40 years and an honest search for the truth.
And though I thought there could be nothing new about the JFK case, I was surprised at how much really IS told for the first time here.

At Last, the Definitive JFK Assassination Book!!
If you want the unvarnished truth of what REALLY occurred in Dallas that November weekend in 1963, as well as the astonishing true story of the assassination's aftermath, you'll find plainly-written, documented answers in Breaking The News. This is a personal, hard-hitting but even-handed treatment by the single most knowledgeable assassination expert there is, Hugh Aynesworth. Teamed once again with his old writing partner, Stephen Michaud (The Only Living Witness, etc.) Aynesworth not only sets the record straight, once and for all, (and totally vanquishes the hordes of conspiracy theorists in the process) but also unveils a long list of fascinating insider tidbits, such as the outrageous way that Melvin Belli hit on the epilepsy defense for Jack Ruby, and how Lee Harvey Oswald's widow, Mariana, briefly found comfort in the arms of another man. More significantly, he reports for the first time the FBI's lame excuse for not telling the Dallas Police Department that someone potentially dangerous as Oswald would enjoy a sniper's-eye seat to Kennedy's motorcade. It wasn't a plot, but sheer laziness and stupidity that made the assassination possible. The material on bizarre New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison alone is worth the cover price.
Historians, journalists, criminal justice experts and all other intelligent students of the assassination have been waiting decades for this book. Thank goodness that Aynesworth finally got around to writing it. ... Read more

Book Description

Ben Bradlee, legendary editor of the Washington Post, forged a relationship with John F. Kennedy in the late fifties when they were neighbors in Washington. At that time Bradlee was covering the capital for Newsweek. They remained intimate friends and off-the-record confidants until the president's assassination.

Bradlee kept extensive notes of their conversations, with President Kennedy's permission. They convey all the conflicting elements that created the JFK personality. We see him as a public figure during the most critical moments of his presidency and as a private man, wrestling with the legacy of his powerful father and encompassing family, yet abounding in energy and appreciation for life: a man who harbored few illusions, but maintained his idealism nonetheless.

The synergy between two such remarkable figures adds up to an unforgettable reading experience. Perhaps only Ben Bradlee could provide so riveting a portrait of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the president and the man. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

great book
conversations with kennedy is a very interesting book because we can learn about jfk the man.
the annecdotes are very interesting and never boring.
there are a few pictures too.
moreover,the book is written by a jfk's friend so infirmations are true.
I highly recommend it

One of the best books I've ever read
This book was truly a page turner. I was facinated by the intimate details and facts revealed by the author. It allowed me to see Kennedy as a man and not only as a legend. I would recomend this book whole heartedly to anyone interested in JFK. It is a book that is worth being read.

A little more of the Man
This is a book I will have,I have been a J F K fan for a very long time, the chance to learn more of the private person should not be missed, this looks like it will provide an insight into the real J F K, the one I have been searching for.

What Was He Really Like? Read This and Find Out
President Kennedy once said that his favorite form of reading was biography, because it attempted to answer the question: what was he really like?

John F. Kennedy has been a hero of mine ever since I was a child, and this book, more than most, answers that question is a manner that is consistent with the historical record. Bradlee reveals a very human JFK in some of his more private moments, and helps us to better grasp what is, admittedly, beyond our grasp: the magic of the man.

Perfect he was certainly not; indeed, Kennedy probably had more foibles than most men. But he also had more gifts, and these he used to ultimately make the world a better place. While his actual accomplishments as president are rather meager, his most lasting legacy was a summons to excellence in the service of others, a conviction in the hearts of his countrymen that we can indeed do better, and the argument -- which has never been refuted -- that in reaching for the moon and the stars, and in setting sail on new seas, we find in the midst of a common human endeavor, the best of ourselves.

He was that kind of a president. This book makes it clear that he was a special, but flawed, kind of man.

JFK, the man.
It's important to read books written by a JFK's friend. Here you can see JFK as a person and I feel that now I know better JFK than if I had bought ten books about the assassination or about his 1000 days in the White HOuse. ... Read more

Book Description

Letitia Baldrige is well known for her bestselling books onetiquette and is a much sought-after commentator on American style. Now, shewrites of her life as a tenacious and successful woman who worked behind thescenes in some of the most exciting places after World War II and at the heightof America's international glory.

The romance of Baldrige's first job in Paris with American Ambassador DavidBruce's wife, Evangeline, is only the beginning of her lively tale. From workingwith Clare Booth Luce in Rome in the early 1950s to becoming the first womanexecutive for Tiffany & Co. to being the social secretary in the Kennedy WhiteHouse, Baldrige has led a glamorous, high-spirited life, and A Lady,First shares a wonderful vicarious experience of her adventures.

Letitia Baldrige is a joy to read—she is stylish, chic, and always polite, andshe manages to be a feminist and a lady at the same time. Like Katharine Grahamand Liz Smith, she has lived her life among celebrities and history makers andhas the stories to prove it. She continues to be an inspiration as the founderof Letitia Baldrige Enterprises, one of the first companies in the world to befounded and run by a female CEO. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

The Wind Beneath Their Wings
I have always been a fan of Miss Baldrige, and I have several of her books, but I really enjoyed this one. I feel it gives a more personal glimpse into the HOW behind the WOW. She really was (is) the wind beneath the wings of her glamorous employers, Evangeline Bruce, Clare Boothe Luce, Jacqueline Kennedy. Creative mind behind the clever Tiffany campaigns, and later of her own company Letitia Baldrige Enterprises.

I particularly enjoyed her telling of early life, and then of life on her own. I have always found her quite as interesting as her illustrious employers, and delight to catch her on television.

I think her chouce of "A lady, First:" says it all.
She is indeed a lady, and a very interesting one.

I recommend this book heartily.

An Interesting and Amazing Woman
Tish Baldridge has led an interesting and amazing life. She wasn't blessed with great wealth or beauty yet she managed to live and work on the upper echelons of American political and social society in the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, and onward.
Baldridge takes you through her beginnings in the midwest, her education at Miss Porter's and Vassar as one of the less financially advantaged students, her life in Paris and Rome working for such trend setters as Clare Booth Luce, her days at Tiffany, her years in the White House with Jackie Kennedy, and her life after.

Here's what is great about this book and her story: her life didn't begin and it didn't end with her association with Jackie Kennedy. Camelot fans will get great glimpses into those years from her vantage point. But there is a lot more to this book...

I would highly recommend this book to women who love biographies on the Jackie Kennedy, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn set. I also would recommend this book to women who enjoy the story of a self-made woman and a survivor and anyone interested in the social history of this era. I would not recommend this book to most men and I would caution all readers to note that this is a book filled with details of food, flowers, gowns, and jewels and not policy making or congressional bills. You learn about the parties that Jackie Kennedy went to in the year of the Cuban Missile Crisis not about the policy nuances behind the crisis.

I gave this book as a present to several female friends and they loved it.

Class from the past!
Oh! how I wish I had a life like Tish Baldridge's! She is a gutsy and classy lady and I admire her for that. I loved to read that book because it goes to show that dreams come true when we put the energy and efforts for them to materialize.

Classy!
I just couldn't put this book down! Mrs. Baldridge has led a wonderful and exciting life.

Strong women with great manners are always in style ...
I thoroughly enjoyed this book as my first glimpse into the life of Letitia Baldridge ... I was consistently intrigued as to what intimate political and social disclosure the next page would bring, all the while appreciating her honest and often self-deprecating narrative. She has in fact led an extraordinary life which she often acknowledged in reflection of each experience, always seemingly thankful for the opportunity to have played small, yet significant roles in our nation's history. She also represented the classic female struggle more commonly found for today's woman ... unafraid to admit her conventional desire for an all-American red-blooded husband, while also refusing to compromise all of her intelligence, skill and experience by stopping anywhere short of being an accomplished business executive, saleswoman, philanthropist and lecturer.

Anyone who has enjoyed biographies from other great woman of the last century (i.e. Eleanor Roosevelt, Katherine Graham) would definitely enjoy this one as well ... ... Read more

Book Description

A private citizen who transformed the world around him, Martin Luther King, Jr., was arguably the greatest American who ever lived. Now, after more than thirty years, few people understand how truly radical he was. In this groundbreaking examination of the man and his legacy, provocative author, lecturer, and professor Michael Eric Dyson restores King's true vitality and complexity and challenges us to embrace the very contradictions that make King relevant in today's world. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

This book is too fat
Rev. Dyson dissects the great black man of the last century and attempts to get some insight into how his image translates to modern America. I found the chapter concerning Dr. King's embrace of democratic socialism to be enlightening, but I found the Rev. Dyson handing out alibis for King's adultery disappointing. Equally mind blowing is Dyson's using overblown language to assail the King family's efforts to control their loved one's image. I wonder why there are hard feelings, since Dexter and Coretta King talked to him for this book. This is an interesting character study that does draw some modern parallels, but would have been better if it were about 3 chapters shorter.

Fascinating
I have always been fascinated with Dr. King as one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century. I love the work that Dr. Dyson did in writing this book, because he is authentic in talking about Dr. King the man - strengths, weaknesses and all - while exposing the myths about him. Being African-American, I can understand why many within our community woud want to scold Dr. Dyson for exposing Dr. King's dirty laundry. I, however, consider it not only essential, but relevant that we talk about the true humanity of our leaders (espcially one as esteemed as Dr. King) to avoid the danger of us elevating them as idols. It is a great reminder that God uses people (albeit flawed people) for magnificent works in a fallen world. This is a great book that I highly recommed!!

libelous work written by pseudo-intellectual
I picked up this book expecting a fresh approach and analysis of Dr. King apart from the obligatory images we're force-fed each new year. Instead, I was disappointed to find that Eric Dyson made heavy use of speculation with the intent to scandalize more than to inform and enlighten. One such example includes Dyson conveying the idea that Dr. King may have engaged in orgies with many different women along with his right-hand man Ralph Abernathy. He then goes on to infer that there was talk of King and Abernathy engaging in sexual acts with each other! The author had no commentary to either support or dispel this "theory" making Dyson's retelling of the alleged incident totally irresponsible and even libelous. He just dropped the information, true or untrue, in the readers lap to do with as the reader pleased. To that end, it is my opinion that Dyson's intent in writing this book was in no way honorable or truth-seeking, rather it was a means to convey his baseless ideas to anyone who would listen. I'm reminded of something my grandmother and mother would always say to me, "an empty wagon makes the loudest noise." Eric Dyson makes a lot of noise in this book but totally lacks substance. This was an expensive tabloid.

be ready for analysis, not simply historical biography
This book was not what I expected, but enjoyed regardless. I particularly liked his idea of banning the 'I Have a Dream' speech from public media. The stories about his philandering were a bit shocking to me, but I have never read any biography of King before, so I wasn't prepared. The ocassional tangents might irk some, but understand Dyson has to take some risks and expand on ideas to make the book worth his time. Realize the civil right movement is not over. Dialogue needs to continue in written forms such as this book to make progress.
- logan square yuppie

whoa
Much is made of dyson's intellectual prowess; this just goes to show you that all things are relative. There are organisms shuffling down the street to whom dyson's intellect would, one assumes, seem impressive. But that don't necessarily make it so. You may, at some point, have heard the term pinhead. The term signifies that the owner of such a head has a tiny little brain, a "peabrain" if you will. This, in a nutshell, is dyson. He meanders around offering weak commentary and observation that appeals chiefly to the MTV and BET crowd. This is to say, he offers nothing of value other than allowing Penn to make their quota. Do yourself a favor and avoid at all costs. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Season on the Brink: Journey to the Edge
During "A Season on the Brink", the author, John Feinstein, did a tremendous job of keeping the facts straight and asking people close to Bob Knight what they thought of coach Knight. Feinstein started the book with a brief history of coach Knight's past coaching experiences and the season previous to the one Feinstein wrote about. Feinstein's flashback to previous games and events helped me to follow the story more closely. In the book, Feinstein depicts a man with a dynamic personality that is often overlooked and thought to be non-existent. Feinstein describes coach Knight as a ruthless and brutal dictator of basketball while on the basketball court, but a kinder and gentler teacher of the players while off the basketball court. Feinstein tells how after practice Bob Knight would talk to and explain his actions to the players that Knight had just cussed out and kicked out of practice.
Feinstein also does a great job of describing the reasons behind Knight's frequent spouts of rage and the results. The only shortcomings in this book where the authors tendency to wonder in what he would talk about and, on occasion, to jump ahead in his telling of the story after mentioning minor details. One example of Feinstein's ability to wonder is at the beginning of the book, where Feinstein goes from talking about the year he spent with the Hoosiers to talking about his past coaching experiences in no particular order. The jump in what he was discussing was a little confusing at first.
Overall, I enjoyed reading "A Season on the Brink". Feinstein took one of the greatest coaches of all time and wrote about him in a way to make me think he was the greatest of all time. "A Season on the Brink" had a lot of information I never knew and the book, for the most part, was easy to understand and follow. I would definitely suggest reading "A Season on the Brink". ... Read more

Book Description

This historical compilation of Martin Luther King, Jr.features live recordings of "The Great March To Freedom," "The GreatMarch To Washington" and the immortal "Free At Last" speech. Plus, apoignant eulogy by Robert F. Kennedy. Run time: 70:02 ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Being one with history...
MLK: The Martin Luther King tapes is the first Audio CD I've ever purchased. I am a new student of our great orators, and Martin, from what I've read, is the best. One of my only regrets concerning Dr. King's speeches is that I haven't been able to hear them all as spoken by his eloquent, yet powerful oratory style. This Audio CD has eliminated my concern. I can now hear Dr. King anytime I want to at work. I feel like I'm right there, listening with his audience. If this product is any indication of what to expect from future Audio CD's by other great orators such as JFK, FDR, and even Winston Churchill, then count me in! The only reason for the four stars as opposed to five stars is due to the rudely shortened eulogy of Robert Kennedy during Dr. King's funeral. There should have been more of it. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Quality comparison
The late Louis E. Lomax (1922-1970) wrote this book shortly after Dr. King's assassination. He traces the path of both leaders. He shows the forces that brought the 2 leaders together on many issues. He also show the opposition forces to these men that materialized into assassins. I recommend that you read this book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Part biography, part cultural retrospective, Michael Beran's work is a somewhat controversial reassessment of Robert Kennedy's public and private life. Thirty years after Kennedy was murdered, he is still remembered, along with other great liberal contemporaries such as Martin Luther King Jr. and John F.Kennedy, as a tragic crusader for liberalism. To liberals, Bobby Kennedy was their last champion of social reform and civil rights; when he died, their pursuit of these aims took a mortal blow. So when Beran intimates that on the day Kennedy was killed, it wasn't a Rooseveltian idealist who died, but rather a man who was essentially a conservative practitioner of liberal politics, it is bound to create controversy amongst his staunchest supporters.

To them, Kennedy was "a rare example of a liberal icon," which is why political liberals might be antagonized by Beran's argument. It is to Beran's credit that he persuasively and passionately backs up his points, carefully illustrating popular misconceptions about Kennedy. He explores the so-called liberal policies instigated by Kennedy, and concludes that these were really little more than timely suggestions and tentative actions, rather than bold policy moves. He chronicles Kennedy's drive toward conservative statesmanship, epitomized by his understanding of public service. Kennedy seemed to understand that success in the modern political arena meant blending liberal policies with a conservative support system, a vision of politics that can be seen in modern-day politicians such as Bill Clinton.

In tracing this evolution of thought, Beran illustrates Kennedy's maturation from arrogant aristocrat to responsible, benevolent crusader whose compassionate actions were driven more by his own misfortunes than by liberal morals. At a time when other books are revising public opinion of the Kennedy compound, focusing on the darker side of their affairs, this is a respectful and thoughtful work that subtly reminds us just how much was lost the day Robert Kennedy was shot down in his prime. --Jeremy Storey ... Read more

Reviews (16)

New book has interesting thesis but needs an editor
I liked this book in general and found the arguments interesting. I have read Kennedy's speeches and have generally agreed with the author's theories. The book is also a fast read and reasonably well written/organized.

However there are a couple of problems with the book. First,as was said, it needs a good editor. There are a couple of repetitions which are not needed in a book of this length. Second, how many times can one use the word Stimsonian in one sentence? 10 or 20? Maybe the author should have developed a synonym for the word. Finally, often the author makes an argument without quoting from Kennedy. Unsubstantiated arguments become just one guys opinion and not a great theory to work form.

Still, a good book and an interesting thesis.

Extremely Intelligent Book
The premise alone of The Last Patrician is enough to make it a must read for any serious student of, to borrow from Arthur Schlesinger, Robert Kennedy and his times. Beran, a Groton and Ivy League educated lawyer, hypothesizes that Bobby Kennedy, in his efforts to find his own identity, was in the process of shedding his favorable opinions of the welfare state when he was killed. It's a pretty controversial claim. I mean, who would think that Bobby Kennedy might have had more in common with Bill Clinton or even Ronald Reagan than he would with Franklin Roosevelt, or his own bother Edward.
He describes the political and social world in which the Kennedys were brought up, which was at the peak of what could be called "the new American aristocracy." This new patrician class stressed athletic prowess, as well as intellectual pursuits. RFK became the epitome of this class, and through it saw how the welfare state was affecting American society. When he came to the realization, according to Beran, he broke with traditional liberal thought, and was heading toward what might best be described as a compassionate conservatism, when he was killed in Los Angeles.
Beran makes his arguments convincingly, using analogies from all varieties of literature. His bibliography alone is something to marvel at, ranging from the typical RFK biographies to the diaries of Edward Gibbon and the poetry of T.S. Eliot. In the end, despite making a strong case, Beran does little convincing. The main thing that a reader can glean from this truly impressive work, as well as any others on Robert Kennedy, is a heartfelt sense of loss upon thinking of what might have been.

History Buffs Need Not Apply
Beran's premise is an an intriguing one - that RFK was really a conservative liberal; but, in the end, his position is unconvincing. His entire argument is hung on Kennedy's attempt to reform welfare and empower neglected communities to overcome hardship. Although Beran sees him as a conservative trying to break free of the liberal shakles that bind him, I see it as the true effort of a man to seek a lasting solution. Perhaps it is a conservative notion, but the true story is not that he was a liberal or conservative but a free thinker. Furthermore, Mr. Beran's interjection that "faith-based initiatives" are clearly the true path to urban renewal is inappropriate and a view that is not shared by this reader nor the framers of our constitution.

The author further belittles Kennedy's opposition to the Vietnam war as shameless pandering for votes which is a view that I strongly disagree with. I believe that RFK "opposed the war" simply because he "opposed the war" and to suggest that he truly believed otherwise is baseless conjecture. It's as if the author is trying to recreate Kennedy into the man he wishes he could have been.

Although the author's assesments of the 20th century liberal, politically active, aristocracy are astute; and, his obvious respect for the character of Mr. Kennedy is appreciated, his attempt to jam a proverbial square box into a round hole simply does not work. Beran demonstrates clearly that he is well read but does not present an argument that is in the end logical.

Not for everyone
This is a book best suited for academic types. It is more about the author's description of the "end of the American aristocracy" than it is about Bobby Kennedy. The writing feels overblown, using five dollar words when fifty cent words would have sufficed. And as other reveiwers here have noted, the use of the word "Stimsonian" over and over, without adequetely describing what a "Stimsonian" is(or was, or might be)got pretty annoying by the end of the book. Still, if ones interest in the Kennedy's is deep enough, the book does provide yet another take on the mystique surrounding one of America's most loved-and despised-families.

Claptrap
This book starts well, but by the end it's a shambles. Beran invents a concept - "Stimsonianism" - as a paper tiger against which to contrast RFK. It's an interesting idea, and even an enlightening one; it shows how revolutionary RFK was in terms of the politics that came before him. But, labor mightily though he does, Beran can't sustain a whole book on this. It's notable that Beran apparently did no independent research of any kind for this book - he looked at none of RFK's papers, he interviewed none of his friends or relatives. His source material is all widely-published secondhand stuff. He also apparently has no particular credentials as a writer or historian; his bio in the book simply says that Beran is an attorney. As the book goes along, Beran begins pouring all his conservative views into into RFK. By the end, Beran is close to outright trashing the idea of communitarianism - a trashing that anyone who's read Robert Kennedy's speeches would know that RFK would have disagreed with vehemently. Beran's attempt to "reclaim" RFK as the First Neocon is ahistorical. None of RFK's family has ever suggested that RFK is even remotely as conservative as Beran tries to make him. By the end, reading this book is like listening to someone who's desparately trying to see a vision of the Virgin Mary in their dirty second-floor house window. You have to admire their passion, but wishing doesn't make it so. ... Read more