The Kennedy Obsession: The American Myth of JFK

by John Hellmann

John F. Kennedy was not only a president, but also a symbol for America's most cherished ideas. In The Kennedy Obsession, John Hellmann takes a thoroughly original approach to understanding Kennedy's star power and his carefully crafted public image. Tracing Kennedy's self-creation as diligent scholar, bashful hero, and sensitive rebel-cued by cultural figures such as Lord Byron, Ernest Hemingway, and Cary Grant-and the images of Kennedy in the aftermath of his assassination, Hellmann reveals the painstaking transformation of private life into public persona, of a man into perhaps the major American myth of our time.

Genres: American History

Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[judeiscariot · Rating 2 out of 5]

good until the last chapter. was expecting there to be some kind of conclusion tying together hellman’s many disjointed points, but instead got freudian psychoanalysis of fictional characters from historical fiction novels.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the more interesting history books I have read, if only because the style was so unique. The author is an English professor, so instead of restating facts and interviews, or doing investigative writing, Hellman analyzes Kennedy's life from a literary stand point. His main focus is the construction of Kennedy's image, including his pre-presidential years, his years in office, and the Camelot myth he left behind after death. It's an interesting take on history, one that illuminates the public relations aspect of public office.