Portrait of a President: John F. Kennedy in Profile

by William Manchester

This is an inside look at the man who was our 35th president, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Manchester was his friend, so he gives him to us close up, life size, warts and all. In an epilogue in this revised edition, the author discusses the man, his time, and his place in history.

Genres: Biography, History, Politics, Nonfiction, Presidents

266 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1962

About the author

William Raymond Manchester was an American author and biographer, notable as the bestselling author of 18 books that have been translated into 20 languages.He was awarded the National Humanities Medal and the Abraham Lincoln Literary Award.

Reviews

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the only book I have read about JFK that was published while he was alive. It was eerily poignant to hear him referenced in the present tense. In 1967, the book was revised to add an epilogue that included his death and some reflections on President Kennedy’s legacy. The biographer, William Manchester, had an office in the White House and thus a front-row seat to the Kennedy Administration during 1960-1961. I found the book fascinating.

[Gerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first edition of this book arrives in the fall of 1962; this revised edition appears in 1967 in a post-assassination period of within a few years of the tragic event. Technically this book covers the period of time from April 1961 to April 1962; but it is a portrait work of words that encompasses a peripheral of events both leading up to and including the President Kennedy’s time in office. Exceptionally touching are the post-assassination Kennedy family activities that Mr. Manchester is careful to address by not divulging too much intimacy within; however, just enough for the reader to take somber notice of the loss that was felt for a very long time to come afterwards. This revised edition includes both the original and new inset (dated 1967) introduction with an epilogue dated of the same.

The work within is simply fascinating. Mr. Manchester takes special steps to maintain the dignity of the Kennedy family legacy by not referencing the “Ambassador’s” resignation from his post in London (November 1940) and other areas of potential embarrassment. The JFK Administration is still marked with mixed results to this day; in the era and generations that followed the untimely death of the President, emotions have referenced more than facts while he served in office. Mr. Manchester provides us one good reference of the so called “conservative” view point of the time in reference to President Kennedy – the quote came from Mr. Arthur Krock (aka “Dean of Washington Newsmen”) who was a longtime friend of the Kennedy Family. In the brief quote as referenced Mr. Krock stated that “…everything President Kennedy accused President Eisenhower of is now guilty of the same…” The quote was intended to reflect the many “gaps” that were campaign efforts during the run up to the 1960 election cycle. President Kennedy himself is quoted as saying “…the American Voter fails to see the issues clearly”; and, “…importance in the independent press to use voluntary restraint.”

There are many good reflections of this (then) young President and his family. We read and understand (for those of us outside of the Kennedy family) how the character of Joe Jr. and JFK rivaled one another during the formidable childhood years. We get a better understanding of the effort JFK laid forth in the 1946 election to run as a House Representative for a District in Massachusetts. We read of the energy he employed to become a US Senator, and gain an appreciation of the effort that was needed still to run for the highest office in the USA. Placing this book to the specific time frame (pre-assassination) it tells the story not only “well” but provides the reader with an insight to the Kennedy Family activities. President Kennedy is identical to President Eisenhower in that both despised being pigeon holed and labeled either “conservative” or “liberal”; President Kennedy considered himself to “responsible.” The comparisons as written in this book in 1962 of President Lincoln to President Kennedy (though short versed) are quite astounding knowing what we know today.

Since the untimely account of President Kennedy’s assassination there have been many events that have surfaced (“restraint” being removed from the independent press) about the Kennedy family. For some reason the American public has had a fascination with the misgivings and actions that have come to light – it could be argued that in a democracy the free speech over rides any boundary and when it came to the late 1960’s and 1970’s and beyond we have all read or heard of matters many Kennedy family members have done over the years.

The book is simply a terrific read – I would suggest that any person interested in reading this title read the “Revised Edition” and do this only after you have read “Death of a President.” It will make many more things in “Portrait of a President” personal and most human along the way.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not an indepth look or a bio, but that is not what Manchester promises. He offers a portrait; a single look at a singular man which affords a glimpse beyond the myth, into the person behind it. Manchester's writing was always refreshingly honest, and he allows his own views to unabashedly come through in this little book, which is what provides the book with it's most interesting narrative style.

[Dayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most interesting vignettes was about Jackie’s athleticism. The summer after her husband was killed, Jackie Kennedy went with the author, William Manchester, and other friends on a boat where Jackie showed off her water skiing skills. Apparently, she was so good, that she chose to ski on one water ski where she performed pirouettes like a ballerina.

[John Foley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful Description of an Iconic President

Well-written account of the author’s experience, in his interviews and interactions with John F, Kennedy and the issues of his presidency.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A reminder of the times of JFK - the Soviets, Vietnam, etc. and an interesting look at the man.

[Julz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable but not as insightful as I’d hoped. I enjoyed ‘Death of a President’ much more than this one. This one lacked something.

[S.L. Berry · Rating 3 out of 5]

William Manchester's biographical account of President John F. Kennedy (1967 edition) was illuminating and fascinating, in an anecdotal way. If you're familiar with West Wing or any other series that feature the daily lives of presidents, officials, and staffers inside the White House, Portrait of a President is sort of like that. There are snippets of the administration as it was then occurring. It is eerily in a way as there are telling quotes that unknowingly and unwittingly foreshadowed the assassination of the president. A cold chill ran down my spine on one of Joe P. Kennedy's comments late in the book. I had a similar reaction to JFK's comment that essentially asked what else could happen. Tempting fate is what it seemed to me (Remember the Chiffon butter commercial -- It's not nice to fool Mother Nature?) Manchester was a family friend so the account is not unbiased and the author made no bones about this. He was a staunch defender of the Kennedy's, JFK in particular. What I learned about JFK made me want to learn more, given that I was more than a year in the making when JFK was killed in Dallas, Texas. It was truly a loss to the nation; one of the last presidents to truly try to bridge the partisan gulf.

JFK was intelligent, always learning, and on the go. Manchester recounted typical scenes at the Kennedy dinner table when JFK's father was in his prime--discussions on high levels, not of business but world affairs; thinking times that made JFK the adroit articulate leader with a command of facts at the ready to support him, astonish his audience, and humble the recalcitrant. Those dinner discussions reminded me of ones at the Whittaker dinner table in novel The Signature of All Things. He did not let his personal infirmities or those of others hold him back. And, a lesson that today's society could takeaway: personal responsibility, the buck has to stop, somewhere. This is the essence of Manchester's account and if he had ended it there, without adding the epilogue the book in my estimation would have been none the worse. It is a ranting set of pages that dds nothing of substance that is not already covered before. JFK according to Manchester did not want to be seen as a victim, either due to his infirmities which plagued him most of his adult life, or from the losses he sustained at the hands of an opposition Congress or others. JFK did not want pity. Unfortunately, the epilogue does just that.

[Jane Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kennedy Story

This is a personal book z written by a friend of Kennedy's . However it does a great deal to tell (remind?)is of how much he was admired and loved. It is worth reading and I reccomend, especially to those who are too young to remember him.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dated somewhat, but in a good way. Reminds us how much we lost that day in Dallas 50 years ago.

[Joshua Blair · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sort of a dense book, despite its size, but has some good insights.