The JFK Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Kennedy-And Why It Failed

by Brad Meltzer, Josh Mensch

From the New York Times bestselling authors of The Nazi Conspiracy and The Lincoln Conspiracy comes a true, little-known story about the first assassination attempt on John F. Kennedy, right before his inauguration.

Kennedy, the thirty-fifth president of the United States, is often ranked among Americans’ most well-liked presidents. Yet what most Americans don’t know is that JFK’s historic presidency almost ended before it began—at the hands of a disgruntled sociopathic loner armed with dynamite.

On December 11, 1960, shortly after Kennedy’s election and before his inauguration, a retired postal worker named Richard Pavlick waited in his car—a parked Buick—on a quiet street in Palm Beach, Florida. Pavlick knew the president-elect’s schedule. He knew when Kennedy would leave his house. He knew where Kennedy was going. From there, Pavlick had a simple plan—one that could’ve changed the course of history.

Written in the gripping, page-turning style that is the hallmark of Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch’s bestselling series, this is a slice of history vividly brought to life. Meltzer and Mensch are at the top of their game with this brilliant exploration of what could’ve been for one of the most compelling leaders of the 20th century.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, Biography, Audiobook, American History, Historical

444 pages, Library Binding

First published January 14, 2025

About the author

Brad Meltzer is the Emmy-nominated, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lightning Rod, The Escape Artist, and eleven other bestselling thrillers. He also writes non-fiction books like The JFK Conspiracy, about a secret plot to kill JFK before he was sworn in – and the Ordinary People Change the World kids book series, which he does with Chris Eliopoulos and inspired the PBS KIDS TV show, Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. His newest kids books are We are the Beatles, We are the Beatles, and I am Simone Biles. His newest inspirational book is Make Magic, based on his viral commencement address.

In addition to his fiction, Brad is one of the only authors to ever have books on the bestseller list for Non-Fiction (The Nazi Conspiracy), Advice (Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter), Children’s Books (I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln) and even comic books (Justice League of America), for which he won the prestigious Eisner Award.

He is also the host of Brad Meltzer’s Lost History and Brad Meltzer’s Decoded on the History Channel, and is responsible for helping find the missing 9/11 flag that the firefighters raised at Ground Zero, making national news on the 15th anniversary of 9/11. Meltzer unveiled the flag at the 9/11 Museum in New York, where it is now on display. See the video here. The Hollywood Reporter recently put him on their list of Hollywood’s 25 Most Powerful Authors.

He also recently delivered the commencement address at the University of Michigan, in front of 70,000 people, including his graduating son. Entitled Make Magic and called “one of the best commencement addresses of all time,” it’s been shared millions of times across social media. Do yourself a favor, watch it here and buy the book here.

For sure, it’s tough to find anyone being so successful in so many different mediums of the popular culture. But why does Brad thrive in all these different professions? His belief that ordinary people change the world. It is that core belief that runs through every one of his projects.

His newest thriller, The Lightning Rod, brings back characters Nola and Zig in a setting that will blow your mind (you won't believe where the government let Brad go). For now, we'll say this: What's the one secret no one knows about you? It's about to come out. Nearly 2,000 five-star reviews. Raves by everyone from the Wall Street Journal, to James Patterson, to Brad's mother-in-law. Plus that twist at the end! And yes, the new Zig & Nola thriller is coming soon!

His newest non-fiction book, The JFK Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Kennedy -- and Why It Failed, which he wrote with Josh Mensch, is a true story about a secret assassination plot to kill JFK at the start of his Presidency and, if successful, would’ve changed history.

His illustrated children’s books I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln, which he does with artist Chris Eliopoulos, were written for his own children, to give them better heroes to look up to. Try them. You won’t believe how inspired you and your family will be. Some of our favorites in the series are I am Mister Rogers and I am Dolly Parton.

His other non-fiction books, Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter, are collections of heroes – from Jim Henson to Sally Ride — that he’s been working on since the day his kids were born and is on sale now, as well as History Decoded: The 10 Greatest Conspiracies of All Time.

He’s also one of the co-creators of the TV show, Jack & Bobby.

Raised in Brooklyn and Miami, Brad is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Columbia Law School. The Tenth Justice was his first published work and became an instant New York Times bestseller. Dead Even followed a year later and also hit the New York Times bestseller list, as have all thirteen of his novels. The First Counsel came next, which was about a White House lawyer dating the President’s daughter, then The Millionaires, which was about two brothers who

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Brad Meltzer. While I'm unfamiliar with John Mensch, that I like Meltzer was enough for me to read this book. I thought it was going to be about the assassination, but turns out, it's about another assassination attempt that I'd never heard of before. Meltzer and Mensch consider it a pivotal event because it was targeted before JFK was actually inaugurated.

JFK was a terrible husband, and to me, his tenure was too short for him to enjoy the popularity ratings that he still has. But I have to admit that he seems to have been the kind of president I would've liked, never mind the philandering. A lot of people looked the other way for Clinton and the current one's affairs, but I do think personal character matters in such leadership positions, and a person who's unable to honor sacred marriage vows has some serious challenges to their character - by this, I'm only talking about people who consider marriage vows sacred, which he, as a serious Catholic, should've. It is a holy sacrament, after all. Plus, if he'd been a woman, for sure, she would've been eviscerated.

All that aside, as short as his presidency was, JFK made an impact during a time in the country's history when the Civil Rights Movement was gaining a lot of attention and momentum, as was its opposition. I'd like to think he would've used his position to bring about change for the better.

Like other Meltzer books, it's seemingly well-researched, well-written, engaging, informative, and enjoyable enough to read. I preferred reading about Jackie Kennedy more than her husband, and my favorite part was the relationship between her and her Secret Service agent Clint Hill. Pictures were also a nice touch. I thought the Kennedy winter compound especially impressive. I had no idea how big it was and also had no idea what 33,000 square feet could look like!

Rounding up to 4

[Alan Chrisman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Misleading title: "conspiracy" means not just alone angry postal worker who wanted to kill JFK in Fla, soon after 1960 election. Seems anti-climatic after Dallas tragedy 3 years later. These icons who die young and violently; hard to separate myth from the human reality. One of most interesting parts shows how Jackie Kennedy shortly after assassination, herself helped perpetuate this by tying it to a mythical Camelot image. Surprisingly, overly simply written by two veteran journalists-read it only 2 days.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Brad Meltzer, Josh Mensch, and Macmillan Audio for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch return to deliver a great piece of non-fiction about a true, yet little-known, event surrounding the first assassination attempt on John F. Kennedy, in the days before his inauguration. The authors depict the events well and provide page-turning excitement to their storytelling as they reveal truths buried in history books and only now coming out for all to read with ease. Another stellar piece of history has life breathed into it with this book!

Many will know a great deal about John F. Kennedy, one of the most popular US presidents ever and who died at the hands of an assassin’s bullet in 1963. While that mystery continues to play out in books and by historians that want to resurrect old reports, few talk about the original assassination attempt on the president-elect in 1960, at the hands of a deranged man who had a truck of dynamite. Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch address this attempt, a little known even from just after the election and before Kennedy was sworn into office.

Using the first portion of the book to explore Kennedy as a war hero and son of an American businessman, the authors depict young Jack as a man who sought to help others before himself and wanted nothing more than to be a team player. While this might have changed when he gained notoriety as a US senator, Kennedy was always willing to see that others could prevail. His efforts to ensure equal rights for all and to fight for it on the Senate floor would earn him a reputation in many Democratic circles and help propel his way into winning the nomination for his party during the 1960 primaries.

As the authors explore, Kennedy used his youthful and ‘easy on the eyes’ nature to win the hearts of many, alongside his movie star appearance wife, Jackie. However, there was an underlying issue that Kennedy could not shake, that being that he was Catholic. Kennedy’s connection to the Church could not be dressed up or purchased out of being, though many would say it was a reason not to cast a vote for him. Facing sitting Vice-President Richard Nixon in the 1960 campaign, Kennedy somehow eked out a victory, much to the chagrin of the ‘establishment’. However, it ushered in a new and youthful appearance to the White House and ensured new views would be heard in the Oval Office.

Not everyone was prepared to let this happen, including a man who was set in his ways and knew that a Catholic was only a mouthpiece for the Vatican. Richard Pavlick had his sights on ending the Kennedy dynasty before it began, hoping to create an explosion outside a Palm Beach, Florida building where president-elect Kennedy would be on December 11th. He hoped to use dynamite to kill Kennedy and anyone else around him, thereby making a name for himself in the history books and ending an era sure to usher in needless change for a country that relied on tradition. Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch tackle this and other issues around that time in this well-paced book sure to pique the interest of the Kennedy fan.

I have long enjoyed the work of Brad Meltzer, whose thrillers have never failed to impress. His collaborative work with Josh Mensch has also been highly entertaining, as they tackle lesser-known events in history that could have had a significant difference in how America progressed. The premise is pure genius and that it is told in short chapters propels the reader forward, hoping that they will delve deeply into all that is taking place and flip pages well into the night. Well-developed and paced in an easy to digest format, Meltzer and Mensch keep the reader on their toes as history unfolds before them. I enjoyed the piece and its nuggets of information throughout, told to educate the layperson so as not to drown the reader with all the information on offer. I look forward to more collaborations between these two, as well a Meltzer’s own writing, which always packs a punch.

Kudos, Messrs. Meltzer and Mensch, for breathing life into this piece of history.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[cyd⭐️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was genuinely so nicely written it’s shocking.
i felt like i learned so much but it didn’t feel like a classroom kinda learning.
i’m not sure what else to say.

(4/5)⭐️🛟

[Jackie Sunday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historians bring us the past so we can learn not to make the same mistakes.

This book was absolutely absorbing with a profound sense of the beauty and darkness detailing the lives of Jacqueline and John F. Kennedy. Two people wanted to bring Americans together for the love of our country.

We know what happened. The question for years was: “Where were you when you heard that President Kennedy was shot?” I was in third grade watching my teacher cry; she was heartbroken in front of the class. For a week, we watched on our black and white TV --the tears, the darkness, the funeral with Jackie covering her face with the black veil with her two children next to her. There were only three channels all showing the same footage. Everyone was in shock.

Jacqueline Kennedy wanted us to remember her life with John F. Kennedy as if they were playing the leading parts of the popular movie, Camelot, where there was great love and tragedy. We know about the Dallas incident that is replayed over and over again. But there was another assassination attempt and this book told the story that was buried in the news.

The writing helps you to understand the key points that happened during this time that are rarely told. It makes the reader remember this period when President Kennedy was hoping to get support for the Civil Rights Movement. He was leading the way for the younger generation to get involved with the Peace Corps.

It’s very well written and one that stays with you. You’d think with all the books over the years that every piece of the Kennedy story has been told. Yet, this provided readers with a renewed sense of what lead up to the day the President was shot

Why now? Why are we reading the JFK story again? Are people paying attention? This is the first book that I’ve read by Brad Meltzer and won’t be the last. I’m now listening to “The Nazi Conspiracy” which is also excellent.

My thanks to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of January 14, 2025.

[Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the first 50 chapters, I call this history-lite. It felt like encyclopedia writing.

Then the chapters that were about Richard Pavlick’s up close and personal with JFK in Palm Beach, I was moving the dial to 5 stars.

How a man with 10 sticks of dynamite gets this close to the Man on Sunday morning on his way to church but fails to make the top of the fold of the newspaper amazes me.

Richard Pavlick said the only thing that stopped him was that Jackie and Caroline came out the door to say goodbye to JFK just before he gets in the car to go.

Of course, the midair collision of 2 commercial planes over New York on the same day with 1 survivor out of 127 definitely has much to do with it I am sure.

Although I’m not born yet, in December 1960, I mostly wonder why I know nothing about any of this. Yet it’s on record that it ranks with the “closest calls any president ever had.”

When JFK was told about this close call he pretty much laughed it off and no one is even certain whether Jackie was even told.

So on the weekend just before an inauguration I end with this:

“Let the word go forth from this time and place…that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans—born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage—and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.”

[Ian Bennett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not Much Meat

Too much filler to pad details only rich enough for a long magazine article. Don’t spend any money to buy it, get it from the library.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining.

[Nancy Yager · Rating 3 out of 5]

The JFK Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Kennedy―and Why it Failed by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch is a nonfiction narrative history that blends political history with a true-crime setup: the failed 1960 assassination attempt on President-elect John F. Kennedy by Richard Pavlick. On paper, it sounds like a deep dive into a little-known plot and the man behind it. In reality, I was somewhat disappointed, because the book ended up feeling more like a broad history lesson on JFK and Jackie than an in-depth exploration of Pavlick or the conspiracy itself. I kept wanting more psychological insight into who Pavlick was and what made him tick. That said, I did appreciate the authors’ honesty about both the positives and the negatives of Jack and Jackie—they don’t treat either one as a flawless icon.

The person who intrigued me most going in was Richard Pavlick, this lone white supremacist who came close to changing history before Kennedy was even inaugurated. The book does cover his actions, movements, and the basics of his life, but for me the treatment felt a bit shallow. The authors offer a hypothesis about what drove him, but it never really gets under his skin. I kept wondering, What made him that way? What in his past shaped this level of hatred and obsession? If you’re looking for a deep psychological profile of Pavlick, this may not fully scratch that itch.

Where the book spends a lot more time is on JFK and Jackie themselves: their backgrounds, family, politics, and the world they were stepping into. It often reads less like a focused true-crime narrative and more like a compact Kennedy biography, with the assassination plot threaded through it. That wasn’t exactly what I expected, but if you enjoy Kennedy history, there is plenty here—campaign details, public image versus private life, and the early days of their marriage in the spotlight.

One thing I did like was the authors’ candor. They’re willing to show both the glamour and the mess. They don’t shy away from Jack’s flaws or Jackie’s more complicated sides, and that balanced approach made them feel more human and less like polished myths. I also found the storytelling style easy to follow—very readable, almost like a thriller in spots—so the book never felt dry, even when it veered away from Pavlick.

Overall, I’d probably land around 3 stars. If you’re picking this up expecting a tightly focused, in-depth study of Richard Pavlick and his motivations, you may come away a bit let down, like I did.

But if you’re interested in a fast, accessible slice of JFK/Jackie history with a failed assassination plot woven through it—and you don’t mind that the Kennedy story often takes center stage—this could still be a worthwhile read.

[Ali Thomson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, easy read about a thwarted assassination attempt on JFK while he was still president-elect. History is not my favorite thing but this narrative non-fiction made it compelling and I enjoyed learning about a little-known piece of American history.

[Deanna (she_reads_truth_365) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to @macmillian.audio for the gifted audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Bookish thoughts: I am not sure how many books and television documentaries have been made on the life and death of former President John F. Kennedy but I assume many. I was reluctant at first to read yet another book on this topic. I have not read anything by the two authors either. So I took a chance that maybe I might learn something new, which I did. This audiobook was super interesting and informative. In the beginning it feels like information overload but it got better. The narration was good. I listened at 1.75x speed. If you like history, politics and conspiracies, then you might enjoy this one!


#macaudio2024

[Mike Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone knows of JFK’s assassination in Dallas in November 1963. The JFK Conspiracy is a fascinating look into a lesser known assassination attempt on then President Elect Kennedy in Florida. The plot was thought up by a former postal worker who was going to use dynamite and his car to set off a bomb that would take the President Elect from us before he could have his inauguration.

The story mostly follows a couple different paths. The first being the President himself. The authors give you a brief history of JFK’s life from his harrowing time on a PT boat in World War II to his womanizing ways. They also spend a lot time on Jackie Kennedy and her secret agent. Finally they focus on Richard Pavlick, the would be assassin. The three story lines focus mostly on the end of the election and the days leading up to the attempt before the inauguration.

This is the fourth book from the authors that I have read. All surrounding assassination attempts on famous Presidents. Previous books covered FDR, Washington, and Lincoln. I have enjoyed all four book. Mr. Meltzer and Mr. Mensch know how to make these non-fiction books read like a novel. If you are a fan of conspiracies, Presidents, or history, you won’t regret picking up this book.

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scott Brick is forever the greatest narrator of our lifetimes. Meltzer and Mensch knocked it out of the park with this. I was new to the history of JFK beyond the bare facts, and they swept me right up into the world. By the end of it I cared so much for these historical people I will never actually meet. They gave an excellent history lesson on a lesser known moment in the JFK whirlwind, and I loved every second of it.

[Matthew · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was...fine. There wasn't really a conspiracy, just a guy who put some dynamite in his car but then got cold feet. I feel like this whole book could have been a paragraph on Wikipedia.

[Rachel(notsorryimbooked) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two stories about a lesser known assassination attempt against at the President elect Kennedy and an untold story of friendship between secret service agents and Jackie Kennedy.
I did find it unusual that these stories were told together but it’s because Jackie is the reason the assassination was unsuccessful.

[britt_brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wouldn’t necessarily call it an “attempt”so much as a plan that was, thankfully, foiled. I will say with all the Kennedy books I read last year, I don’t recall this piece of his story which happened after the election, but prior to inauguration. This would’ve been better without the rudimentary recap of his life before and after it, but I guess they needed word count. This wasn’t great.

[Gary Parkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The JFK Conspiracy was a fast moving page turner! I knew almost none of the story and the research was impeccable. I highly recommend this nonfiction read! It is perfect for teenagers and adults of all ages.

[Deity World · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for sure and a page turner you won’t be disappointed with the amount of detail

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It makes me want to deep dive into more presidential history to continue learning about how America has been shaped over hundreds of years. I tend to lean towards history a lot more when I travel, particularly when I leave the country….🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

There are so many messages in this book that people need to hear. We are humans. We have flaws.But we can do good and have hope for America.

Thanks for getting me out of my comfort zone GG’s Book Club. I can’t wait to discuss this with you all.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scott Brick is one of my all-time favorite narrators and it was a real joy listening to him weave this barely known story about an assassination attempt on JFK's life BEFORE he was even sworn in as President [if this story interests you, there are several books about this happening to Lincoln, including one by the authors of this book that are worth looking into].

Filled with interesting history [some I knew, some I did not and it was really interesting learning about JFK and his military service and other things he accomplished], a detailed look at Jackie Kennedy and how she struggled [the personal input from her former secret service man was VERY interesting] with the idea of being First Lady, with the public [and in private; who knew Mamie Eisenhower would be so...not nice] and within her own marriage, and a brief glimpse into that awful day in 1963 [again, some of this comes from Jackie's secret service man], this was a pretty good listen [I DID dislike the jumping around they did and was ready to throw my phone at one point when we'd just get fully into the story and then they'd toss us back in time and break up the flow - VERY frustrating] and found this to be an excellent jumping off point for any research or deep dive into JFK and his legacy. This part of his history is important and should not be ignored or missed

Thank you to NetGalley, Brad Meltzer, Josh Mensch, and Macmillan Audio for providing this audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so good. SO GOOD. These guys do narrative nonfiction so well. I read it in a day. A foiled plot to assassinate JFK that you’ve likely never heard about. I enjoyed this book immensely.

[Frances Gonzalez-Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great book (I gave it a 4.5)! I loved how the author weaved the ins and outs of JKFs and Jackie’s life (the good, the bad and the ugly). When I thought I knew everything about JFK, I was surprised to find out about his Pulitzer Prize, his war efforts and so forth. Jackie, for me, though was the light of this book. How she managed to do what she did with grace is beyond me.

Book club review can be found here:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DGg6n2EPh...

[Claire P · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I realize that younger generations may not be familiar with JFK and Camelot, and it may be helpful to provide some background into his rise to prominence and presidency, this book is all background and very little information about the assassination attempt in Florida. I suspect there simply wasn’t a lot of information regarding the assassin. This book would be a wonderful magazine article.

[Maddie Orton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a JFK girlie so I had to read this. I was very impressed by the way it was written. Didn’t feel like a textbook but more of a mystery novel, a classic who done it. It was not about the actual assassination at all but a previous attempt but some creepo weirdo who planned to suicide bomb JFK. Read this in like 2 days!

[WM D. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a very hard time getting into this book. I think the reason why is that I already knew so much about this topic and I just decided not to read about it again

[Matthew Mattingly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Should've known it would suck when I realized that the authors were calling a plot made by one man a "conspiracy." Use a dictionary.

[Moonkiszt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The JFK Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Kennedy - and Why It Failed was a surprise to this human who lived out the JFK days as a grade-schooler still in the family nest. I remember the elections with grownups 'round the TV. Brothers in different camps arguing over candidates until the families had to finally agree that this wasn't sports and they wouldn't be watching together anymore - at least not politics. I remember the day JFK died, my mother crying, so we three kids cried - and it felt like the world would end if just anyone could kill our president.

Kudos to these collaborating authors who have authored this book on Richard Pavlick's attempt on JFK. Because it was years before, I was toddling and so was new to me. I appreciated all the contextual info, and focusing on the people and lives involved behind the celebrities. I especially appreciated learning about Secret Service Special Agent Clint Hill and his work with the Kennedys and service to the US with other presidents. His observation of Chief Baughman's office decor when he is called into that space to learn his next assignment is so true:

YOU AIN'T LEARNING NOTHING WHEN YOU'RE TALKING.

Great notes, complete with an index and endpapers giving credit where credit is due, for the reader that wants to further explore. All the stars, for taking me back to Camelot.

*A sincere thank you to Brad Meltzer, Josh Mensch, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* 25|52:36f

[Sam Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before JFK became the 35th president, there was an assassination attempt.

This was a snapshot of back in time. Between the words written and the narrator, I could see different events play out. I felt as if I was there, in real time walking through the different situations. I understand more of Jackie and the stress she was under at that time.

The narrator gave us a good balance of interest and factual tone. He was not boring but intriguing.

I highly recommend reading or listening to the audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this short nonfiction account of a near attempted assassination on JFK almost three years before the real tragedy happened. I especially liked the ability of the authors to authentically paint the political culture of the early 1960's. The tidbits about both President Eisenhower and his First Lady Mamie Eisenhower were interesting. I didn't know about this little known assassination attempt on JFK, so it was enlightening and presented in thriller fashion. If you don't know much about the future first lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, there are some interesting facts here, as well. A good introduction to JFK and his first lady, Jackie.

[Dodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brad Meltzer's writing is a little over-the-top (or "page-turning" in the publisher's blurb) for me; nonetheless, I enjoyed reading The JFK Conspiracy. I don't remember reading about this episode in JFK's presidency before. A retired postal worker, Richard Pavlick, nearly succeeded in assassinating the president before his inauguration. The book shows the Kennedys' personal struggles getting to the White House and the changes that govern their lives afterwards. Meltzer doesn't sugarcoat JFK's womanizing or absence from family life. This easy-to-read account conveys the stress of presidential life and the importance of the secret service.