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The Letters of John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald Kennedy led his nation for little more than a thousand days, yet his presidency is intensely remembered, not merely as a byproduct of his tragic fate. Kennedy steered the nation away from the brink of nuclear war, initiated the first nuclear test ban treaty, created the Peace Corps, and launched American on its mission to the moon and beyond. JFK inspired a nation, particularly the massive generation of baby boomers, injecting hope and revitalizing faith in the American project.2013 will mark the fiftieth anniversary of Kennedy's untimely death, a milestone to be marked by an avalanche of new books on his life and importance. Martin Sandler's The Letters of John F. Kennedy will stand out among them, as the only book that draws on letters from and to Kennedy, as collected at the Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Drawn from more than two million letters on file at the library--many never before published--this project presents readers with a portrait of both Kennedy the politician and Kennedy the man, as well as the times he lived in.Letters to and from the likes of Martin Luther King Jr, Clare Booth Luce, Pearl Buck, John Wayne, Albert Schweitzer, Linus Pauling, Willy Brandt, Eleanor Roosevelt, Nikita Khruschev, Harry Truman, Herbert Hoover, a young John Kerry, and Ngo Dinh Diem are complemented by letters from ordinary citizens, schoolchildren, and concerned Americans. Each letter will accompanied by lively and informative contextualization. Facsimiles of many letters will appear, along with photographs and other visual ephemera from the Kennedy Library and Museum.
385 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2013
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About the author
John Fitzgerald Kennedy
361 books442 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, also known as JFK, was the 35th president of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was the youngest person elected president. Kennedy served at the height of the Cold War, and the majority of his foreign policy concerned relations with the Soviet Union and Cuba. A Democrat, Kennedy represented Massachusetts in both houses of the United States Congress prior to his presidency.
Born into the prominent Kennedy family in Brookline, Massachusetts, Kennedy graduated from Harvard University in 1940, joining the U.S. Naval Reserve the following year. During World War II, he commanded PT boats in the Pacific theater. Kennedy's survival following the sinking of PT-109 and his rescue of his fellow sailors made him a war hero and earned the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, but left him with serious injuries. After a brief stint in journalism, Kennedy represented a working-class Boston district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1947 to 1953. He was subsequently elected to the U.S. Senate, serving as the junior senator for Massachusetts from 1953 to 1960. While in the Senate, Kennedy published his book, Profiles in Courage, which won a Pulitzer Prize. Kennedy ran in the 1960 presidential election. His campaign gained momentum after the first televised presidential debates in American history, and he was elected president, narrowly defeating Republican opponent Richard Nixon, the incumbent vice president.
Kennedy's presidency saw high tensions with communist states in the Cold War. He increased the number of American military advisers in South Vietnam, and the Strategic Hamlet Program began during his presidency. In 1961, he authorized attempts to overthrow the Cuban government of Fidel Castro in the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion and Operation Mongoose. In October 1962, U.S. spy planes discovered Soviet missile bases had been deployed in Cuba. The resulting period of tensions, termed the Cuban Missile Crisis, nearly resulted in nuclear war. In August 1961, after East German troops erected the Berlin Wall, Kennedy sent an army convoy to reassure West Berliners of U.S. support, and delivered one of his most famous speeches in West Berlin in June 1963. In 1963, Kennedy signed the first nuclear weapons treaty. He presided over the establishment of the Peace Corps, Alliance for Progress with Latin America, and the continuation of the Apollo program with the goal of landing a man on the Moon before 1970. He supported the civil rights movement but was only somewhat successful in passing his New Frontier domestic policies.
On November 22, 1963, Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. His vice president, Lyndon B. Johnson, assumed the presidency. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for the assassination, but he was shot and killed by Jack Ruby two days later. The FBI and the Warren Commission both concluded Oswald had acted alone, but conspiracy theories about the assassination persist. After Kennedy's death, Congress enacted many of his proposals, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Revenue Act of 1964. Kennedy ranks highly in polls of U.S. presidents with historians and the general public. His personal life has been the focus of considerable sustained interest following public revelations in the 1970s of his chronic health ailments and extramarital affairs. Kennedy is the most recent U.S. president to have died in office.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, also known as JFK, was the 35th president of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was the youngest person elected president. Kennedy served at the height of the Cold War, and the majority of his foreign policy concerned relations with the Soviet Union and Cuba. A Democrat, Kennedy represented Massachusetts in both houses of the United States Congress prior to his presidency.
Born into the prominent Kennedy family in Brookline, Massachusetts, Kennedy graduated from Harvard University in 1940, joining the U.S. Naval Reserve the following year. During World War II, he commanded PT boats in the Pacific theater. Kennedy's survival following the sinking of PT-109 and his rescue of his fellow sailors made him a war hero and earned the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, but left him with serious injuries. After a brief stint in journalism, Kennedy represented a working-class Boston district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1947 to 1953. He was subsequently elected to the U.S. Senate, serving as the junior senator for Massachusetts from 1953 to 1960. While in the Senate, Kennedy published his book, Profiles in Courage, which won a Pulitzer Prize. Kennedy ran in the 1960 presidential election. His campaign gained momentum after the first televised presidential debates in American history, and he was elected president, narrowly defeating Republican opponent Richard Nixon, the incumbent vice president.
Kennedy's presidency saw high tensions with communist states in the Cold War. He increased the number of American military advisers in South Vietnam, and the Strategic Hamlet Program began during his presidency. In 1961, he authorized attempts to overthrow the Cuban government of Fidel Castro in the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion and Operation Mongoose. In October 1962, U.S. spy planes discovered Soviet missile bases had been deployed in Cuba. The resulting period of tensions, termed the Cuban Missile Crisis, nearly resulted in nuclear war. In August 1961, after East German troops erected the Berlin Wall, Kennedy sent an army convoy to reassure West Berliners of U.S. support, and delivered one of his most famous speeches in West Berlin in June 1963. In 1963, Kennedy signed the first nuclear weapons treaty. He presided over the establishment of the Peace Corps, Alliance for Progress with Latin America, and the continuation of the Apollo program with the goal of landing a man on the Moon before 1970. He supported the civil rights movement but was only somewhat successful in passing his New Frontier domestic policies.
On November 22, 1963, Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. His vice president, Lyndon B. Johnson, assumed the presidency. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for the assassination, but he was shot and killed by Jack Ruby two days later. The FBI and the Warren Commission both concluded Oswald had acted alone, but conspiracy theories about the assassination persist. After Kennedy's death, Congress enacted many of his proposals, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Revenue Act of 1964. Kennedy ranks highly in polls of U.S. presidents with historians and the general public. His personal life has been the focus of considerable sustained interest following public revelations in the 1970s of his chronic health ailments and extramarital affairs. Kennedy is the most recent U.S. president to have died in office.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
October 13, 2018
From BBC Radio 4 - Book of the week:
JFK's early letters, including his correspondence with his brother Joe during the Second World War when both were in combat. Read by Colin Stinton.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/play/b03g...
JFK's early letters, including his correspondence with his brother Joe during the Second World War when both were in combat. Read by Colin Stinton.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/play/b03g...
May 27, 2014
For me, reading letters is one of the most interesting ways to learn about history. Martin W. Sandler does a fantastic job of organizing JFK's letters in a way that makes sense, with summaries at the beginning of each section to put them all in context. I think this section of his summary of the last chapter sums it up well:
"Some fifty years after he (Kennedy) envisioned it, the Peace Corps can boast of having had more than 210,000 volunteers working in 139 countries, and it is still growing. Although he did not live to see an American step on the moon, it was his vision and determination that led to the stars. By attaining the historic Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, he took the first steps toward steering the world away from self-destruction. Ultimately, he initiated the most meaningful civil rights legislation in the nation's history. And he helped elevated the arts to a position they had never held in America.
For a president who served little more than three years, for a man with considerable physical and moral chinks in his armor, it is an enormous achievement."
"Some fifty years after he (Kennedy) envisioned it, the Peace Corps can boast of having had more than 210,000 volunteers working in 139 countries, and it is still growing. Although he did not live to see an American step on the moon, it was his vision and determination that led to the stars. By attaining the historic Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, he took the first steps toward steering the world away from self-destruction. Ultimately, he initiated the most meaningful civil rights legislation in the nation's history. And he helped elevated the arts to a position they had never held in America.
For a president who served little more than three years, for a man with considerable physical and moral chinks in his armor, it is an enormous achievement."
June 19, 2014
Excellent. This book of selected letters provides behind-the-scenes insight into some of the most significant events in our country's history, as well as the multiple facets of the man.
Without omitting Kennedy's faults, Sandler includes letters and context notes that add to the stature of this remarkable president. The extremity of Kennedy's health problems,unknown to the public at the time, and his determination to overcome them, and his secret personal correspondence with Khrushchev and its impact on the Cuban Missile Crises are two notable instances. His compassion is clearly evident from his many letters of condolence to his reassurance to a young girl during the Cold War that Santa was in no danger of being bombed by the Russians at the North Pole. "I talked with him yesterday and he is fine," he wrote.
In spite of the formality of most letters, this is a quick read, easily digested, but highly informative collection.
Without omitting Kennedy's faults, Sandler includes letters and context notes that add to the stature of this remarkable president. The extremity of Kennedy's health problems,unknown to the public at the time, and his determination to overcome them, and his secret personal correspondence with Khrushchev and its impact on the Cuban Missile Crises are two notable instances. His compassion is clearly evident from his many letters of condolence to his reassurance to a young girl during the Cold War that Santa was in no danger of being bombed by the Russians at the North Pole. "I talked with him yesterday and he is fine," he wrote.
In spite of the formality of most letters, this is a quick read, easily digested, but highly informative collection.
October 29, 2018
JFK's intelligence, wit, command of language, and talent for writing are all present in this well-worth-the-read book of our 35th President's writings.
April 28, 2018
“He was among the best-read and most articulate presidents the US has ever had. Kennedy could read more than twelve hundred words a minute.”
The Letters of John F. Kennedy compiles a large number of written communications by and to Kennedy spanning from early ’30s to late ’63 edited by Martin Sandler. In this collection one learns a great deal about the man; it offers an interesting insight into his complex yet exciting personality. Not only does it answer many questions, it invokes important ones, as well.
Perhaps one of the most vital part that the author added is the letters between Kennedy and the Israeli prime ministers. In one of the letters, Kennedy wrote to Ben-Gurion explaining why he was convinced that Israel's pursuit of nuclear weapons capability was a serious threat to world peace. In another letter to Ben-Gurion's successor, Levi Eshkol, Kennedy left no doubt as to what the U.S. response would be if “we were unable to obtain reliable information” about the intent of the Dimona project. Kennedy's last letter clarifies an aspect that is rarely discussed. Sandler suggests the readers to read Final Judgment: The Missing Link in the JFK Assassination Conspiracy and I was quite surprised that this is the first time I heard of book banned book!
The Letters of John F. Kennedy demonstrates the intelligence and thoughtfulness of John F. Kennedy. The letters are informative, and at times Kennedy's sense of humor shines brightly. I rarely put the book down, I just wanted to keep on reading it all day long. I was carrying it with me everywhere I went even had a hard time letting go of it and putting it back on the shelf once I've finished it.
Highly recommended.
March 6, 2014
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2015
This book was excellent in its simplicity. Actual letters throughout the time of John F. Kennedy's presidency. It's a chance to review history without traveling to the presidential library.
February 22, 2018
JFK had some amazing relationships with a broad range of leaders across the world. He also received endless correspondence from the general public, of which many of these letters he personally responded did to.
Back in his life, before the introduction of technology to an extensive degree in my life, he treated letter writing with a respect that is to be admired. How grateful anyone would have been to receive correspondence from a man of his stature and responsibility.
Back in his life, before the introduction of technology to an extensive degree in my life, he treated letter writing with a respect that is to be admired. How grateful anyone would have been to receive correspondence from a man of his stature and responsibility.
May 24, 2018
A glimpse into not just Kennedy’s presidency, but his whole life. This book dealt with almost every subject imaginable, from trivial matters to war.
October 13, 2018
Some were interesting to me but not all, hence the OK rating.
March 25, 2019
JFK is one of my favorite presidents. I learned so much about him among these letters. It took me quite awhile to get through but it was definitely worth it.
Read
June 18, 2019The letters gave insight to the historical events I learned about.
November 7, 2021
Happy reading !
September 18, 2024
I would've liked for it to have had more letters. Interesting read.
August 3, 2025
appreciated the Khrushchev bits but these are not the letters I’d have included…………
January 20, 2014
Sandler's volume of Kennedy letters is diverse and very broad including JFK's own writings as as well as those of family and all manner of colleagues. It comes off as a bit of a defense of the "Kennedy as great man" theory and consequently likely leaves blank some aspects of his more controversial exchanges - civil rights come to mind as well as exchanges with some foreign leaders.
As a piece of writing it is a bit scattered and rangy tottering from one topic to another without a clear or complete line of thought in many places. That communicates poorly particularly as the reader is left wanting more completion in subjects than the author provides.
I was attracted to this book after finding an excerpt of a letter it includes from Jacqueline Kennedy to Nikita Khrushchev immediately after JFK's assassination in 1963. In it she affirms that LBJ will continue to purse the same line of foreign relations and private communication with Khrushchev as JFK had founded. I found this very enlightening that a First Lady would take a moment so quickly out of her mourning period to establish a foundational expectation with a foreign leader as influential as Khrushchev. Its very interesting to me who and how the mechanics of state work behind the scenes. For that capture alone this becomes an important book.
There are of course many other important letters to other leaders like Churchill and Eleanor Roosevelt that establish the kind of leader JFK was as well as his priorities and approaches, but this puts us back on the "great-man" platform and I think that's been amply established. I'm now interested in more of the former - understanding how JFK envisioned a president should engage globally to effect the outcome of events.
As a piece of writing it is a bit scattered and rangy tottering from one topic to another without a clear or complete line of thought in many places. That communicates poorly particularly as the reader is left wanting more completion in subjects than the author provides.
I was attracted to this book after finding an excerpt of a letter it includes from Jacqueline Kennedy to Nikita Khrushchev immediately after JFK's assassination in 1963. In it she affirms that LBJ will continue to purse the same line of foreign relations and private communication with Khrushchev as JFK had founded. I found this very enlightening that a First Lady would take a moment so quickly out of her mourning period to establish a foundational expectation with a foreign leader as influential as Khrushchev. Its very interesting to me who and how the mechanics of state work behind the scenes. For that capture alone this becomes an important book.
There are of course many other important letters to other leaders like Churchill and Eleanor Roosevelt that establish the kind of leader JFK was as well as his priorities and approaches, but this puts us back on the "great-man" platform and I think that's been amply established. I'm now interested in more of the former - understanding how JFK envisioned a president should engage globally to effect the outcome of events.
August 14, 2014
I can't remember the last time I've received a handwritten letter, never mind the last time that I wrote one. It makes me wonder if one day I'll be reading a book called "The E-Mails of Barack H. Obama" but I digress.
The Letters of John F. Kennedy by Martin W. Sandler is an interesting book that contains a variety of letters that President Kennedy wrote and received throughout his life. The individuals from whom he receive letters from include former Presidents, former rivals, Heads of State, Civil Rights Leaders, children, and numerous others. This book gives a different look at Kennedy, giving more of a first-hand account throughout letters with accompanying context at the start of each chapter and each letter. The letters in this book humanize Kennedy, showing him being humorous and empathic.
Despite his flaws, it is readily apparent that the author likes Kennedy but that's not a bad thing. Sandler does a good job of giving enough context around the series of letters involving JFK's Presidential Run, Foreign Policy, and Civil Rights without giving an overabundance of information. It certainly helps that Kennedy was a man who could immerse himself in many circles, allowing the reader to see letters from individuals ranging from Harpo Marx to Martin Luther King Jr. to Nikita Krushchev and others. It also makes for a far more interesting book.
Overall, fans of Kennedy and history alike will get something interesting out of this book. At the very least, I was interested in the letters between Kennedy and former Presidents.
The Letters of John F. Kennedy by Martin W. Sandler is an interesting book that contains a variety of letters that President Kennedy wrote and received throughout his life. The individuals from whom he receive letters from include former Presidents, former rivals, Heads of State, Civil Rights Leaders, children, and numerous others. This book gives a different look at Kennedy, giving more of a first-hand account throughout letters with accompanying context at the start of each chapter and each letter. The letters in this book humanize Kennedy, showing him being humorous and empathic.
Despite his flaws, it is readily apparent that the author likes Kennedy but that's not a bad thing. Sandler does a good job of giving enough context around the series of letters involving JFK's Presidential Run, Foreign Policy, and Civil Rights without giving an overabundance of information. It certainly helps that Kennedy was a man who could immerse himself in many circles, allowing the reader to see letters from individuals ranging from Harpo Marx to Martin Luther King Jr. to Nikita Krushchev and others. It also makes for a far more interesting book.
Overall, fans of Kennedy and history alike will get something interesting out of this book. At the very least, I was interested in the letters between Kennedy and former Presidents.
January 24, 2020
The Letters of John F. Kennedy is a good collection of personal letters and official correspondence between known and celebrated individuals and world leaders. You receive a brief overview into the Cuban missile crisis and the exchange of letters from Chairman Khrushchev, but also Kennedy’s view on the civil rights movement and the on-going every day issues that his Administration dealt with.
I was quite astounded as to how close and real nuclear war was and how that affected ordinary Americans in their day-to-day lives. The letter of September 7, 1961 to the nation comes to mind.
I would have liked to have seen more letters by European leaders and by the Queen, Elizabeth II, but I assume as this book has been targeted towards the US market rather than the U.K. that would not include such. You are left with a want for more images/scans of the original letters and a further back story of the aftermath would have been wonderful if included. Nevertheless, you see another side of JFK in these letters that is quite inspiring to see. His quick wit, intelligence, and charm makes me want to learn more about him and it’s admirable to see that he had achieved so much in less than three years in office.
In all, I quite enjoyed reading this collection, though as mentioned above, I did feel left with a want, an emptiness for more information as you conclude reading the letters, and ask yourself: ‘what then?'
https://www.theslipcase.net/the-lette...
I was quite astounded as to how close and real nuclear war was and how that affected ordinary Americans in their day-to-day lives. The letter of September 7, 1961 to the nation comes to mind.
I would have liked to have seen more letters by European leaders and by the Queen, Elizabeth II, but I assume as this book has been targeted towards the US market rather than the U.K. that would not include such. You are left with a want for more images/scans of the original letters and a further back story of the aftermath would have been wonderful if included. Nevertheless, you see another side of JFK in these letters that is quite inspiring to see. His quick wit, intelligence, and charm makes me want to learn more about him and it’s admirable to see that he had achieved so much in less than three years in office.
In all, I quite enjoyed reading this collection, though as mentioned above, I did feel left with a want, an emptiness for more information as you conclude reading the letters, and ask yourself: ‘what then?'
https://www.theslipcase.net/the-lette...
February 13, 2014
Published in 2013, I was first made aware of this collection when it was featured as the B.B.C. Radio 4 'Book of the Week', at the approach to the fiftieth anniversary of JFK's death last November.
Martin W. Sandler, a fellow 'son of Massachusetts', has brought together and edited a very important historical selection of letters written by, and to John Kennedy, spanning from the early 1930's through to November '63.
The book includes hundreds of communications composed by the schoolboy, Naval Officer, Senator and President, along with many letters written to him. Here is a great view back to a golden time, particularly those thousand days in the White House. Controversial issues in the Cold War that cover Berlin, Cuba and Viet Nam as well as troubles at home with the issue of Civil Rights are highlights in 'The Letters of John F. Kennedy' with examples of the Foggy Bottom mailbox from Nikita Khrushchev, Martin Luther King Jr, Macmillan, Churchill, Ben-Gurion and John Wayne. Such were those days, perhaps my favourite is the young girl's letter to the president, worried about nuclear testing over the North Pole and it's danger to Santa Claus, and JFK's reply.
Poignant, nostalgic and greatly historic.
Martin W. Sandler, a fellow 'son of Massachusetts', has brought together and edited a very important historical selection of letters written by, and to John Kennedy, spanning from the early 1930's through to November '63.
The book includes hundreds of communications composed by the schoolboy, Naval Officer, Senator and President, along with many letters written to him. Here is a great view back to a golden time, particularly those thousand days in the White House. Controversial issues in the Cold War that cover Berlin, Cuba and Viet Nam as well as troubles at home with the issue of Civil Rights are highlights in 'The Letters of John F. Kennedy' with examples of the Foggy Bottom mailbox from Nikita Khrushchev, Martin Luther King Jr, Macmillan, Churchill, Ben-Gurion and John Wayne. Such were those days, perhaps my favourite is the young girl's letter to the president, worried about nuclear testing over the North Pole and it's danger to Santa Claus, and JFK's reply.
Poignant, nostalgic and greatly historic.
January 25, 2016
It is with disappointment that I must say the parts of this book which I liked best are those to which Mr. Sandler can lay no claim--the letters themselves.
Make no mistake, for a student of history, familiar with the times and circumstances, this collection of letters, consolidated as they are, is a fine resource. As with all letters, they breath life into the names of the past, rounding historical figures into real people, and giving insight into the struggles and emotions of the writers and their times.
This collection, however, is chronologically disjointed, and grouped only loosely by topic. Several times I found myself confirming the dates of letters relative to each other, so that I could accurately track the sequence of events. In the same vein, some letters are abbreviated (an editorial choice of presentation that I accept only grudgingly). More reprehensibly, only half of the Cuban Missile Crisis letters are present, the others loosely alluded to in the contextual notes, but not presented to the reader, a choice that I simply cannot fathom.
So, 2/5 seems about right. The letters make for good reading, if you know the times, but this is neither a complete collection nor an unbiased biography. Your Mileage May Vary.
Make no mistake, for a student of history, familiar with the times and circumstances, this collection of letters, consolidated as they are, is a fine resource. As with all letters, they breath life into the names of the past, rounding historical figures into real people, and giving insight into the struggles and emotions of the writers and their times.
This collection, however, is chronologically disjointed, and grouped only loosely by topic. Several times I found myself confirming the dates of letters relative to each other, so that I could accurately track the sequence of events. In the same vein, some letters are abbreviated (an editorial choice of presentation that I accept only grudgingly). More reprehensibly, only half of the Cuban Missile Crisis letters are present, the others loosely alluded to in the contextual notes, but not presented to the reader, a choice that I simply cannot fathom.
So, 2/5 seems about right. The letters make for good reading, if you know the times, but this is neither a complete collection nor an unbiased biography. Your Mileage May Vary.
March 15, 2024
Book 1 - John F. Kennedy - JFK Letters
Been trying to read a book a week since lockdown started, used to listen to audiobooks on my travels round the country to visit schools. Our house is coming down with books I haven’t read.
Finished The letters of JFK a few weeks back, great read, a true insight into the political relationships he had with Khrushchev, the Queen, former presidents and so many more.
If you want to know a little about the background to the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis as well as how the ‘offstage’ relationship between Khrushchev and Kennedy that developed after their confrontation at the UN, this is a must read. Easy to dip into and devastatingly brilliant, even dealing with the aftermath of his assassination as his widow and the true depth of the East/ West friendship that had developed behind the political machinations of the early 60s.
For any true West Wing fan, this is a must.
Been trying to read a book a week since lockdown started, used to listen to audiobooks on my travels round the country to visit schools. Our house is coming down with books I haven’t read.
Finished The letters of JFK a few weeks back, great read, a true insight into the political relationships he had with Khrushchev, the Queen, former presidents and so many more.
If you want to know a little about the background to the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis as well as how the ‘offstage’ relationship between Khrushchev and Kennedy that developed after their confrontation at the UN, this is a must read. Easy to dip into and devastatingly brilliant, even dealing with the aftermath of his assassination as his widow and the true depth of the East/ West friendship that had developed behind the political machinations of the early 60s.
For any true West Wing fan, this is a must.
January 22, 2014
Letters from childhood on. The ones I found most interesting is when Eleanor Roosevelt repeated what she had heard (from multiple sources) that Kennedy's father was buying him the Presidency and would pay anything to have his son win. There was a back and forth on this, and she very cleverly sidestepped giving him what he wanted..a complete reversal of her position. No love letters between JFK and Jackie, but letters from his Danish journalist lover (who was a journalist) and she wrote him some beautiful letters he should have been proud of, and I believe she truly loved him (despite being married and accused of being a German spy (by Hoover.)
February 14, 2014
This book makes the reader appreciate the nearly obsolete art of letter-writing. I say nearly because I do know of only one person who still writes letters with similar tone and wording to the ones written by JFK.
I found this book extremely informative and interesting. I wouldn't recommend it as your first book if you are wanting to learn about JFK because a pretty thorough background on the events covered in the book is very helpful while reading. For people with a strong knowledge of the JKF era, I think you would find that this book gives you a different, more personal insight into the president than other books. The letters show, rather than tell who JFK was as a leader.
I found this book extremely informative and interesting. I wouldn't recommend it as your first book if you are wanting to learn about JFK because a pretty thorough background on the events covered in the book is very helpful while reading. For people with a strong knowledge of the JKF era, I think you would find that this book gives you a different, more personal insight into the president than other books. The letters show, rather than tell who JFK was as a leader.
November 20, 2013
While the title of this book makes you think it would include only letters from Kennedy, I was pleasantly surprised with the variety of people and subjects it included. There were letters from Kennedy and to Kennedy, from everyone to schoolchildren to Kruschev. They encompassed fairly trivial matters to nuclear war, which I think made the collection even better.
This book is a glimpse into the presidency of JFK. I dare anyone not to admire him after reading this book.
This book is a glimpse into the presidency of JFK. I dare anyone not to admire him after reading this book.
January 17, 2014
This collection of letters, both to and from JFK over the course of his political career, offers a precious glimpse into the depth of his character, his keen intellect, his eloquence and his hopefulness. While the experience of reading his words was a poignant reminder of the deep tragedy that his assassination brought to this country, the overarching experience was one of continuing admiration and respect.
July 8, 2023
A great book which adds dimension to the events Kennedy was involved in during his life. The chronological order of the letters shows his thinking and helps explain the reasoning behind his decisions, taking account of the hawks in his administration. Altogether a recommended and useful addition to any Kennedy library.
June 17, 2015
Interesting read but chronologically disjointed
The historical value of President Kennedy's letters made for thoughtful reading. The sidenotes were beneficial. However, the author jumped back and forth between years and for this reason, I found it hard to follow.
The historical value of President Kennedy's letters made for thoughtful reading. The sidenotes were beneficial. However, the author jumped back and forth between years and for this reason, I found it hard to follow.
December 31, 2019
As the title suggests, a collection of very important secret state letters, semi-important family letters and the most fun of all the informal letters to friends and voters (a reply to a little girl asking whether the Soviets would nuke the North Pole at Christmastime being a very sweet one).
December 9, 2013
Great book. Very interesting letters and information.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews