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The Road to Camelot: Inside JFK's Five-Year Campaign
“A must-read for fans of presidential history.” — USA TODAY
“Splendid…a gripping, authoritative campaign history.” — The Boston Globe
“Terrific…a tougher and more balanced account of the long campaign than anybody’s written yet.” — The Christian Science Monitor
A behind-the-scenes, revelatory account of John F. Kennedy’s wily campaign to the White House, beginning with his bold, failed attempt to win the vice presidential nomination in 1956. A young and undistinguished junior plots his way to the presidency and changes the way we nominate and elect presidents.
John F. Kennedy and his young warriors invented modern presidential politics. They turned over accepted wisdom that his Catholicism was a barrier to winning an election and plotted a successful course to that constituency. They hired Louis Harris—a polling entrepreneur—to become the first presidential pollster. They twisted arms and they charmed. They lined up party bosses, young enthusiasts, and fellow Catholics and turned the traditional party inside out. The last-minute invitation to Lyndon B. Johnson for vice president in 1956 surprised them only because they had failed to notice that he wanted it. They invented The Missile Gap in the Cold War and out-glamoured Richard Nixon in the TV debates.
Now acclaimed, award-winning journalists Tom Oliphant and Curtis Wilkie provide the most comprehensive account, based on a depth of personal reporting, interviews, and archives. The authors have examined more than 1,600 oral histories at the John F. Kennedy library; they’ve interviewed surviving sources, including JFK’s sister Jean Smith, and they draw on their own interviews with insiders including Ted Sorensen and Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.
From the start of the campaign in 1955 when his father tried to persuade President Johnson to run with JFK as his running mate, The Road to Camelot reveals him as a tough, shrewd political strategist who kept his eye on the prize. This is one of the great campaign stories of all time, appropriate for today’s political climate.
“Splendid…a gripping, authoritative campaign history.” — The Boston Globe
“Terrific…a tougher and more balanced account of the long campaign than anybody’s written yet.” — The Christian Science Monitor
A behind-the-scenes, revelatory account of John F. Kennedy’s wily campaign to the White House, beginning with his bold, failed attempt to win the vice presidential nomination in 1956. A young and undistinguished junior plots his way to the presidency and changes the way we nominate and elect presidents.
John F. Kennedy and his young warriors invented modern presidential politics. They turned over accepted wisdom that his Catholicism was a barrier to winning an election and plotted a successful course to that constituency. They hired Louis Harris—a polling entrepreneur—to become the first presidential pollster. They twisted arms and they charmed. They lined up party bosses, young enthusiasts, and fellow Catholics and turned the traditional party inside out. The last-minute invitation to Lyndon B. Johnson for vice president in 1956 surprised them only because they had failed to notice that he wanted it. They invented The Missile Gap in the Cold War and out-glamoured Richard Nixon in the TV debates.
Now acclaimed, award-winning journalists Tom Oliphant and Curtis Wilkie provide the most comprehensive account, based on a depth of personal reporting, interviews, and archives. The authors have examined more than 1,600 oral histories at the John F. Kennedy library; they’ve interviewed surviving sources, including JFK’s sister Jean Smith, and they draw on their own interviews with insiders including Ted Sorensen and Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.
From the start of the campaign in 1955 when his father tried to persuade President Johnson to run with JFK as his running mate, The Road to Camelot reveals him as a tough, shrewd political strategist who kept his eye on the prize. This is one of the great campaign stories of all time, appropriate for today’s political climate.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published May 9, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
July 5, 2017
The Road to Camelot is an in depth well researched look at John Kennedy's 5 year campaign for President. This book is only for hardcore politics lovers. There is no trashy gossip ( unfortunately). I learned a lot of things that I didn't know about the 1960 campaign, also several long held myths were busted.
It was a slow read at times I didn't really care about Boston politics in the 30's & 40's but I guess it was important information. I think JFK may have invented modern political campaigning. He was one of the first politicians to use the media, he was also one of the first politicians to raise a large amount of money for his campaign. Also as someone who was raised Catholic and attended Catholic school Kennedy will always be one of my fave Presidents (He's the first and only Catholic American President). He faced a lot of prejudice for his religion. Rev Billy Graham considered Kennedy a threat to the nation. Even though I knew the ending (he wins) I was still completely interested.
I would only recommend The Road to Camelot to those readers who love politics or The Kennedy's.
It was a slow read at times I didn't really care about Boston politics in the 30's & 40's but I guess it was important information. I think JFK may have invented modern political campaigning. He was one of the first politicians to use the media, he was also one of the first politicians to raise a large amount of money for his campaign. Also as someone who was raised Catholic and attended Catholic school Kennedy will always be one of my fave Presidents (He's the first and only Catholic American President). He faced a lot of prejudice for his religion. Rev Billy Graham considered Kennedy a threat to the nation. Even though I knew the ending (he wins) I was still completely interested.
I would only recommend The Road to Camelot to those readers who love politics or The Kennedy's.
November 22, 2022
This magisterial, ambitious book traces, in considerable detail, the path John F. Kennedy undertook in his quest for the Presidency between 1955 and 1960.
From the time Kennedy first ran for Congress in 1946, he faced many challenges - both professionally and personally (given the periodic precariousness of his health, which remained largely a secret during his lifetime) - in forging a career in public service. "THE ROAD TO CAMELOT" shows the reader how it was that Kennedy in 1955 (by then a freshman Senator) with the assistance of one of his top aides (Ted Sorenson), a dedicated 'band of brothers' who had played a significant and invaluable role in helping Kennedy further his career (i.e. the 'Irish Mafia', which consisted of Kenny O'Donnell, Lawrence O'Brien, Dave Powers, and Dick Donahue), his brother Robert, and several key Democrats (many of them on the state level) who recognized Kennedy's potential and devoted themselves to him - began the long and laborious task of capitalizing on the national prominence he received from his failed attempt to win the vice presidential slot on the Adlai Stevenson ticket at the 1956 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
What is significant is that Kennedy started campaigning across the country in a rather understated way considerably earlier than any of his potential rivals in the Democratic Party. Indeed, the party leadership underestimated Kennedy as did many others. His youth, Catholicism, and his lack of any significant, legislative achievements were regarded as factors that would discount him as a viable presidential candidate. What also struck me as truly remarkable and incredible is the organization that Kennedy and his supporters were able to develop in many of the states (often as a way of bypassing some of the state Democratic Party machines that were either mildly non-receptive or openly opposed to his candidacy) between 1957 and 1960. In the process, future presidential campaigns would never be the same again. For that reason, "THE ROAD TO CAMELOT" is a book that everyone should read who wants to learn how it was that John F. Kennedy overcame many obstacles and defied the odds to secure the Democratic presidential nomination and be elected President in 1960.
From the time Kennedy first ran for Congress in 1946, he faced many challenges - both professionally and personally (given the periodic precariousness of his health, which remained largely a secret during his lifetime) - in forging a career in public service. "THE ROAD TO CAMELOT" shows the reader how it was that Kennedy in 1955 (by then a freshman Senator) with the assistance of one of his top aides (Ted Sorenson), a dedicated 'band of brothers' who had played a significant and invaluable role in helping Kennedy further his career (i.e. the 'Irish Mafia', which consisted of Kenny O'Donnell, Lawrence O'Brien, Dave Powers, and Dick Donahue), his brother Robert, and several key Democrats (many of them on the state level) who recognized Kennedy's potential and devoted themselves to him - began the long and laborious task of capitalizing on the national prominence he received from his failed attempt to win the vice presidential slot on the Adlai Stevenson ticket at the 1956 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
What is significant is that Kennedy started campaigning across the country in a rather understated way considerably earlier than any of his potential rivals in the Democratic Party. Indeed, the party leadership underestimated Kennedy as did many others. His youth, Catholicism, and his lack of any significant, legislative achievements were regarded as factors that would discount him as a viable presidential candidate. What also struck me as truly remarkable and incredible is the organization that Kennedy and his supporters were able to develop in many of the states (often as a way of bypassing some of the state Democratic Party machines that were either mildly non-receptive or openly opposed to his candidacy) between 1957 and 1960. In the process, future presidential campaigns would never be the same again. For that reason, "THE ROAD TO CAMELOT" is a book that everyone should read who wants to learn how it was that John F. Kennedy overcame many obstacles and defied the odds to secure the Democratic presidential nomination and be elected President in 1960.
May 19, 2017
As a Brit with a passion for history I'm embarrassed to say my American history knowledge is pretty sparse. But I, like many others, have an avid curiosity about The Kennedys. Even now all these years later, to someone who was born years after they died JFK and RFK's charisma and star quality shines.
If you're after the usual stories this isn't the book for you. This instead really studies the political wrangling it took to get a Catholic into the White House and reveals how the Kennedys and their team subverted the perceived ideas of running for office, shaping the campaign trails of the future.
This could have been very dry and dull but it brings alive the era. An excellent informative study.
I received this from Netgalley for an honest review.
If you're after the usual stories this isn't the book for you. This instead really studies the political wrangling it took to get a Catholic into the White House and reveals how the Kennedys and their team subverted the perceived ideas of running for office, shaping the campaign trails of the future.
This could have been very dry and dull but it brings alive the era. An excellent informative study.
I received this from Netgalley for an honest review.
March 27, 2017
I received this an ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher, Simon & Schuster, in exchange for an honest review.
I'm a Kennedy buff and pretty much devour anything related so I got excited when I was allowed an early copy. Long story short I think the work that Oliphant and Wilkie put into this book is extraordinary. The level of detail goes beyond most biographies and other things I've read. This is truly a great look into Kennedy and his legacy and effort he put into his campaigns.
I'm a Kennedy buff and pretty much devour anything related so I got excited when I was allowed an early copy. Long story short I think the work that Oliphant and Wilkie put into this book is extraordinary. The level of detail goes beyond most biographies and other things I've read. This is truly a great look into Kennedy and his legacy and effort he put into his campaigns.
June 30, 2017
I opened this book thinking that there was precious little left to learn about JFK's dazzling ascent to the presidency. This brilliant book swiftly proved me wrong. Gripping and highly informative, this superbly researched history of Kennedy's relentless march to the White House is rich in revealing new detail and insight. As the authors ably and entertainingly reveal, Camelot was not the product of effortless glamor and paternal largesse, but the hard-won outcome of a iron-willed candidate's peerless organization and unstinting effort. Jack Kennedy outworked, outthought, and simply out hustled all of his competitors, and in the process, revolutionized presidential politics in the U.S. Whether you're a political junkie, a Kennedy aficionado, a U.S. history buff, or a fan of the Mad Men era, this political version of "Oceans' Eleven" will not disappoint.
July 22, 2018
This was a very strict political history of Kennedy's run for President in 1960. It covers the five years leading up to his historic election in great detail and shows how in many ways, the Kennedy campaign revolutionized the way presidential campaigns would be conducted moving forward. I learned a great deal about the ideas of favorite sons and how the primary system developed into its modern form out of this election. I would think you have to be a political junky to truly enjoy this book, so parts of it dragged a bit for me with all of the names thrown out that I did not recognize, but overall it was a good read and a good look at the Kennedy operation.
June 14, 2017
Most Kennedy history books cover the 1956 Democratic convention then jump to 1960. This is a good book, because it wasn't like that. JFK started his 1960 race much earlier. The authors also use forgotten oral history to cover the choice of LBJ as vice president. Well done.
February 8, 2017
An extremely detailed, well-researched look inside the path of JFK.
Disclaimer: Advance Reader Copy
Disclaimer: Advance Reader Copy
May 6, 2017
Thomas Oliphant and Curtis Wilkie’s ‘The Road to Camelot’ begins in 1955, with both Senate majority leader Lyndon Johnson and President Eisenhower suffering heart attacks – events which led Joseph Kennedy to plant the seed of significant presidential ambition in his second son, John Fitzgerald Kennedy who, at that time and despite nearly ten years in Congress, was still better known as a war hero and socialite then as a serious politician. The book then charts the following five years in which JFK defied considerable odds first to win the Democratic nomination and then to defeat Richard Nixon to become the 35th President of the United States in 1960.
This story is told in considerable detail and with both style and pace. As well as reminding the reader of many things they may have forgotten the authors shed light on certain mysteries. For example, there is no definitive explanation why Robert Kennedy’s dislike of LBJ was quite so intense but Oliphant and Wilkie plausibly suggest that it may have had its origins in the anger Robert felt on behalf of his father and older sibling when Johnson summarily dismissed Joseph Kennedy’s offer, at the time of Eisenhower’s 1955 hospitalisation, that LBJ put JFK on the ticket as his vice presidential running mate in 1956, in return for lavish campaign funding.
Oliphant and Wilkie’s central claim that JFK’s campaigning transformed US politics is not original. Hugh Brogan, for example, in his 1996 biography of Kennedy, had already drawn attention to the fact that the 1960 race occurred at a time of transition from one political system to another, of which Kennedy was the beneficiary, not least because of his expert use of the primaries, which alone could demonstrate his ability to overcome the handicap represented by his Catholicism. Kennedy did not, at this time, need to enter more than a sample of the primaries but he did need to show that he could overcome substantial opposition, and succeeded in doing so by besting Hubert Humphrey in the West Virginia primary. Indeed, by taking 61% of the vote there he all but guaranteed the nomination.
It is in connection with the West Virginia primary that Oliphant and Wilkie devote most space to the alleged links between JFK’s campaigning and organized crime, although they also have something to say on the “controversies that would engulf the integrity” of the 1960 count in Illinois, in which Kennedy crucially came out ahead by 8,800 out of 4.6 million votes cast. The 1960 result was so close that any number of factors, such as Robert Kennedy’s courting of the black vote or Nixon’s refusal of make up for the televised debate, could have made all the difference and Oliphant and Wilkie judiciously explore all of these what-ifs and might-have-beens.
The impression that Kennedy ‘stole the election’ may not have been definitively laid to rest by Oliphant and Wilkie but their enjoyable account of JFK’s road to Camelot certainly offers much for both expert and general reader to savour.
This story is told in considerable detail and with both style and pace. As well as reminding the reader of many things they may have forgotten the authors shed light on certain mysteries. For example, there is no definitive explanation why Robert Kennedy’s dislike of LBJ was quite so intense but Oliphant and Wilkie plausibly suggest that it may have had its origins in the anger Robert felt on behalf of his father and older sibling when Johnson summarily dismissed Joseph Kennedy’s offer, at the time of Eisenhower’s 1955 hospitalisation, that LBJ put JFK on the ticket as his vice presidential running mate in 1956, in return for lavish campaign funding.
Oliphant and Wilkie’s central claim that JFK’s campaigning transformed US politics is not original. Hugh Brogan, for example, in his 1996 biography of Kennedy, had already drawn attention to the fact that the 1960 race occurred at a time of transition from one political system to another, of which Kennedy was the beneficiary, not least because of his expert use of the primaries, which alone could demonstrate his ability to overcome the handicap represented by his Catholicism. Kennedy did not, at this time, need to enter more than a sample of the primaries but he did need to show that he could overcome substantial opposition, and succeeded in doing so by besting Hubert Humphrey in the West Virginia primary. Indeed, by taking 61% of the vote there he all but guaranteed the nomination.
It is in connection with the West Virginia primary that Oliphant and Wilkie devote most space to the alleged links between JFK’s campaigning and organized crime, although they also have something to say on the “controversies that would engulf the integrity” of the 1960 count in Illinois, in which Kennedy crucially came out ahead by 8,800 out of 4.6 million votes cast. The 1960 result was so close that any number of factors, such as Robert Kennedy’s courting of the black vote or Nixon’s refusal of make up for the televised debate, could have made all the difference and Oliphant and Wilkie judiciously explore all of these what-ifs and might-have-beens.
The impression that Kennedy ‘stole the election’ may not have been definitively laid to rest by Oliphant and Wilkie but their enjoyable account of JFK’s road to Camelot certainly offers much for both expert and general reader to savour.
September 18, 2017
The Road to Camelot tells gives an indepth account of JFK’s five year campaign. I first found out about this book through Amazon. I was looking at the new releases and upcoming releases and then I spied.
I was super excited because this is not the first book I have read on Kennedy’s campaign. The last book that I read was the “Irish Brotherhood by Helen O’Donnell, which I enjoyed alot.
I think that I was being unfair to this books because I was having expectations for it that it couldn’t possibly meet. I wanted this book to be more like the Irish Brotherhood. But after thinking about it I am glad that it’s not.
The Road to Camelot was well written and very detailed, which I liked. I have to admit that it took me longer to get through this and absorb the information. I do recommend that if you get this book plan on trying to re-read it again.
The book gives a fair account of JFK. I get the sense that they admired him and his accomplishments but they were not afraid to point out some of his faults either. Like his extramarital affairs that could and sometimes did put his campaign at risk.
The writers wanted to debunk the myth that the only reason JFK ran for President was due to his father. The writers state that the only reason that JFK was for him, and from the sounds of it he would listen to his father but if he disagreed he go and do his own thing regardless of what his father said.
This book covers the five year Kennedy campaign.
The main thing I liked about this book was that we got more detailed account on certain events.
Like the events that took place during the 1956 Democratic convention. Which Kennedy was setting his sites on the VP position, but things fell through with that and it was during this time that Kennedy decided that he was going to run for President himself.
I can’t help but wonder how things would be different had Kennedy had gotten the VP Position with Adlai Stevenson.
I also liked how they covered Johnson in this as well. We see him from the perspective of the Kennedy Camp and then we see the Kennedy camp from Johnson and his supporters viewpoints. Which I loved, because it gives a broader view. Plus it don’t make it seem like the writers are bias to one side.
I highly recommend this book if you're interested in reading about the Kennedy campaign. I also recommend the Irish Brotherhood by Helen O’Donnell as well.
May 15, 2020
I really enjoyed this book! It is well written and incredibly informative. I’ve read several books that focus on the Kennedy’s personal lives, but I didn’t know much about JFK’s public and political life. This book helped me gain a more well-rounded view of him as a person (keeping his personal life in mind). He was definitely a complex character. I am not an avid fan of political books, but I found this one to be engaging and easy to understand. I highly recommend for anyone interested in a fascinating presidential campaign or politics at the end of the 50s into the 60s. It’s interest to compare to the current times we live in...
July 28, 2018
Couldn't finish Nothing new. Anyone with access to newspaper clippings could have written the same book
April 2, 2025
Highly recommend to folks interested in the nuts and bolts of electioneering. Really enjoyed seeing the snapshot of American politics in the 1950s and 1960s and how it is similar, yet so different than today. All political nerd must consider reading this!
December 31, 2017
This book transports us to a not so distant time when politics and political conventions were real and not stage managed. This is a rousing account of JFK on the make; a young senator anxiously feeling his time for the ultimate political power has arrived. But his situation is precarious, despite good looks and a Pulitzer Prize-disputed by some-and money in the person of a very wealthy and equally ambitious father. We are also reminded of a time when the Democratic Party was the home of powerful Southern segregationists and racists. The road to JFK's political future runs through Dixie, and even involves appeals to a young George Wallace and a not yet nationally infamous Bull Connor. That he is an opportunist and fence straddler is evidenced by his threading through appeal to segregationist politicians at a time of growing civil rights movement. A hostile Eleanor Roosevelt tells him to show less profile and more courage; she could not forget his failure to vote for censure of Joseph McCarthy. Kennedy must appeal to ethnic blocs and political bosses in a time when primaries were growing in importance. He trusts his gut against his father's and Brother Bobby's instincts and enters hostile primary territory. He eliminates Hubert Humphrey in West Virginia; a Humphrey supporter observes that Kennedy has looks and money and Hubert...well he is accompanied by a banjo player. The chapter dealing with the LA convention and controversial pick of Senate Leader Lyndon Johnson for Vice-Presidency is a roller coaster of clashing accounts and dizzying political intrigue, after LBJ has loomed over JFK's run throughout the book. The author's make the point that his pick will lead to the tragedies of Dallas and Vietnam. The authors fight the romanticized standard account of the first debate with Richard Nixon; Kennedy was not the knockout winner still often presented. Also during the campaign the looming disaster of the Bay of Pigs emerges as the CIA plots regardless of the electoral outcome. Race and Catholicism hang heavy over this election, and the authors provide new political evidence of the impacts of JFK's involvement in the release of Martin Luther King Jr. from a Georgia jail, and the positive and negative effects of Kennedy's Catholicism among the electorate in a razor thin margin. There is much color in the book; at a post convention bury the hatchet Hyde Park lunch with Mrs. Roosevelt that strong Stevenson backer (finally) declares that Adlai is not the man to be President in those times. In his car later JFK says that remark almost caused him to pee in his pants. Also, living in Georgia in the 1990's I met former Gov. Ernest Vandiver several times and his role in the King case and the campaign underscore the complexity of racial politics in 1960. This is a valuable addition to JFK literature in his 100th. year and can proudly stand alongside White's classic The Making of the President 1960.
June 22, 2017
Having been in elementary school in Massachusetts when Kennedy had been elected president, I had little recollection or understanding of what went into planning and winning an election. This book not only exposed who Kennedy --the man and legend -- truly was all about, but told the underlying story behind the methods he employed to gain the office he so desired which revolutionized the whole process of running for the White House! Couldn't put the book down and expect most readers will feel the same way.
October 28, 2017
The Road to Camelot is the first book I’ve ever read in entirety dealing with politics. It is expertly written by award winning reporters Thomas Oliphant and Curtis Wilkie. I was able to immerse myself and understand politics like never before. From the very beginning, I was pulled into the behind the scenes workings of politics and I knew something was in the works to happen. I wanted to know more and then I began to see names I've become familiar with. Names such as Nixon, Eisenhower, Johnson, etc. The story begins with John F Kennedy's audacious but failed attempt to win the vice presidential nomination in 1956. This only fueled his passion to later make the most aggressive moves to advance his political career forward. Kennedy is young and relatively unknown; he begins with a blank slate and has no foreign policy and no legislative achievement. Not only that, he was young and didn’t identify with any issue or cause. He faced a lot of opposition but he was well financed by his father Joseph Kennedy. In 1955, his father even tried to persuade Lyndon B. Johnson (President Johnson), a leading Senator, to run for president with Kennedy as his running mate. That was a revelation to me because we all know how the tables turned and Johnson became Kennedy's running mate. Two major nuances were race and religion during his campaign. He didn’t want to upset the Southern States by being openly supportive of Martin Luther King or the civil rights agenda and his Catholic religion could cost him the election. As his campaign progressed, he was a major supporter of the civil rights movement. The Road to Camelot reveals him as young, smart, willing to take chances, and sharp political strategist who wanted to become president. It took five long years and countless hours of strategizing. Given today’s political climate, this book gives a comprehensive account of exactly what it took for John F Kennedy to become 35th President of the United States from January 1961 until his assassination in November 1963. This is the book for anyone that loves politics. It gets down to the nitty gritty of one of the best campaigns in United States History.
June 14, 2017
This is for political junkies like me.....JFK admirers.....followers of American history and anyone who is just fascinated by the political process, but not necessarily a junkie.
John F. Kennedy did not suddenly decide in 1959 he was going to run for the Presidency in 1960 - he decided that in 1956 after (fortunately) losing out on the Vice Presidential nomination. Oliphant and co-author Curtis Wilkie give an in-depth look at how JFK plotted and worked tirelessly towards achieving the 1960 nomination beginning after the 1956 election. The authors have interviewed over the years countless people who were part of the process, listened to oral histories from those who are no longer alive and gone through countless reams of paper and documents, even notes that people saved to put together a comprehensive look at just what took place over 5 years, with Kennedy eventually achieving what many said was impossible - winning the Presidency and defeating the Republican Party's supposedly unbeatable candidate, Vice President Richard Nixon.
This is one of the better books on Kennedy which doesn't focus on the assassination and in these days where everything the President does seems to wind up with a Congressional investigation and witch hunt which reeks of the McCarthy days of the mid-'50's, is a refreshing look at a time when politics were much more exciting. It's a must-read for political junkies and those who are interested in seeing what it used to be like when politics were a lot more fun and interesting.
John F. Kennedy did not suddenly decide in 1959 he was going to run for the Presidency in 1960 - he decided that in 1956 after (fortunately) losing out on the Vice Presidential nomination. Oliphant and co-author Curtis Wilkie give an in-depth look at how JFK plotted and worked tirelessly towards achieving the 1960 nomination beginning after the 1956 election. The authors have interviewed over the years countless people who were part of the process, listened to oral histories from those who are no longer alive and gone through countless reams of paper and documents, even notes that people saved to put together a comprehensive look at just what took place over 5 years, with Kennedy eventually achieving what many said was impossible - winning the Presidency and defeating the Republican Party's supposedly unbeatable candidate, Vice President Richard Nixon.
This is one of the better books on Kennedy which doesn't focus on the assassination and in these days where everything the President does seems to wind up with a Congressional investigation and witch hunt which reeks of the McCarthy days of the mid-'50's, is a refreshing look at a time when politics were much more exciting. It's a must-read for political junkies and those who are interested in seeing what it used to be like when politics were a lot more fun and interesting.
October 15, 2017
Very interesting and thorough telling of Kennedy’s route from Congressman to president. The most interesting part was up to the race between him and Nixon as it dealt with all the political machinations and strategy; particularly the time from trying to become the vice-presidential nominee for Stevenson through the presidential primaries.
June 2, 2019
This is a book about politics; politics is about people - thus the blizzard of names the reader encounters in the early going should not have been surprising. Still, it was remarkable enough that I made a point of writing down each and every name in the early going: from the JFK's brother RFK through Congressmen, State and national Democratic party officials, staffers, columnists, rivals and their advisors, and on and on. I gave up the name-writing project on page 66, by which time I had amassed 118 names. Simple extrapolation to all 364 pages yields an estimate of 200 names, which (given my own quantitative sampling) I take as quite plausible.
I take the name-blizzard as a sign of the impeccable research by the authors, who are award-winning journalists. They delved through troves of original material, including oral histories recorded by main and peripheral actors in the JFK election saga. Thus, when reading, one is tangibly not reading an author's interpretation of what happened; practically every single thing you read is attributed and based on some form of primary source. That it is readable at all is evidence of fine craftsmanship in the construction of narrative out of a welter of facts. In the Acknowledgements, the authors cite The Making of the President 1960, being implicitly characterized by them as the definitive book in the field. They quote White as calling on later writers to "tell the story of the quest for power in 1960 in more precise terms with a greater wealth of established fact." Thus, established fact is the touchstone for this book: an OK read, and valuable for learning, but challenging to the reader.
It follows that this is not a book of ideas. The following reflections in the idea domain are my own.
Civil Rights: the Kennedy campaign was five years in length, founded in a purely political calculus where the name of the game was to win over supporters all over the country through personal connections and demonstrations of engagement with the issues that mattered to local constituencies. Despite that the DNC campaign policy contained unprecedented support for civil rights, it was only late in the game, by 1960, that the candidate and his advisers came to appreciate an opportunity to win votes via unambiguous support for civil rights. Although the candidate and the bulk of his advisers were squeamish about embracing MLK, his civil rights team maneuvered events such that JFK and his brother used their influence to get MLK out of jail. While the mainstream press barely noticed this, the campaign subsequently widely distributed a leaflet (the "blue bomb") in black communities that made sure folks knew. This was quite probably a winning factor in some big northern city districts like Chicago.
The myth of the TV debates: there were actually four televised debates between JFK and Nixon. It was only the first one of these that Nixon looked like crap. And the thing about radio listeners taking Nixon as the winner versus TV listeners taking Kennedy is based on a single poll of a few hundred radio listeners - who, being mostly rural, could have been expected to lean towards Nixon in any case. Without getting into the arcane analyses of different population segments, the totality of contemporaneous polling data indicates pretty close to a 50-50 split between those who perceived Kennedy or Nixon as debate "winners". The biggest reason that the TV debates were a big win for Kennedy was that it strongly bolstered his credibility to be on the same stage as the Vice President talking about issues such as foreign policy towards China, Cuba, and the Soviet Union. Whereas Nixon had over-confidently expected a smack-down of JFK on these topics, Kennedy held the field, committed no gaffes, and therefore "won".
JFK's women: he was playing with political disaster the whole duration of his candidacy and presidency. In today's media climate he would have been exposed and ruined. It's worth reflecting on which world is a better one to live in. In one world, leaders are expected to embody high moral standards and any hypocrisy is relentlessly exposed by hostile media and even putative allies. In the other, one of the perks of power and privilege is a tacit acceptance by the intelligentsia that certain facts are simply irrelevant and off-limits for public discussion.
I take the name-blizzard as a sign of the impeccable research by the authors, who are award-winning journalists. They delved through troves of original material, including oral histories recorded by main and peripheral actors in the JFK election saga. Thus, when reading, one is tangibly not reading an author's interpretation of what happened; practically every single thing you read is attributed and based on some form of primary source. That it is readable at all is evidence of fine craftsmanship in the construction of narrative out of a welter of facts. In the Acknowledgements, the authors cite The Making of the President 1960, being implicitly characterized by them as the definitive book in the field. They quote White as calling on later writers to "tell the story of the quest for power in 1960 in more precise terms with a greater wealth of established fact." Thus, established fact is the touchstone for this book: an OK read, and valuable for learning, but challenging to the reader.
It follows that this is not a book of ideas. The following reflections in the idea domain are my own.
Civil Rights: the Kennedy campaign was five years in length, founded in a purely political calculus where the name of the game was to win over supporters all over the country through personal connections and demonstrations of engagement with the issues that mattered to local constituencies. Despite that the DNC campaign policy contained unprecedented support for civil rights, it was only late in the game, by 1960, that the candidate and his advisers came to appreciate an opportunity to win votes via unambiguous support for civil rights. Although the candidate and the bulk of his advisers were squeamish about embracing MLK, his civil rights team maneuvered events such that JFK and his brother used their influence to get MLK out of jail. While the mainstream press barely noticed this, the campaign subsequently widely distributed a leaflet (the "blue bomb") in black communities that made sure folks knew. This was quite probably a winning factor in some big northern city districts like Chicago.
The myth of the TV debates: there were actually four televised debates between JFK and Nixon. It was only the first one of these that Nixon looked like crap. And the thing about radio listeners taking Nixon as the winner versus TV listeners taking Kennedy is based on a single poll of a few hundred radio listeners - who, being mostly rural, could have been expected to lean towards Nixon in any case. Without getting into the arcane analyses of different population segments, the totality of contemporaneous polling data indicates pretty close to a 50-50 split between those who perceived Kennedy or Nixon as debate "winners". The biggest reason that the TV debates were a big win for Kennedy was that it strongly bolstered his credibility to be on the same stage as the Vice President talking about issues such as foreign policy towards China, Cuba, and the Soviet Union. Whereas Nixon had over-confidently expected a smack-down of JFK on these topics, Kennedy held the field, committed no gaffes, and therefore "won".
JFK's women: he was playing with political disaster the whole duration of his candidacy and presidency. In today's media climate he would have been exposed and ruined. It's worth reflecting on which world is a better one to live in. In one world, leaders are expected to embody high moral standards and any hypocrisy is relentlessly exposed by hostile media and even putative allies. In the other, one of the perks of power and privilege is a tacit acceptance by the intelligentsia that certain facts are simply irrelevant and off-limits for public discussion.
October 5, 2017
A meticulous breakdown of the 5-year campaign from shortly before JFK announced his desire to become President to when he squeaked by Nixon for the nomination.
The authors are clearly more interested in the mechanics of power than any moral, philosophical, or ideological right of JFK to hold that office. They gloss-over his marital infidelities, noting cogently how remarkable it was that he avoided political ruin in light of these open secrets. They speak more about JFK's "coming-around" on civil rights, but mostly to provide context on his victory in the 1960 election.
Along the way I was bombarded with poll data, demographics, survey results, the intricacies of national Democratic primary races, and a brief synopsis of the electoral college. These parts, lengthy in places, were neither light nor enjoyable reading for this political layman, though polysci majors might think differently.
As promised on the dust jacket, I was convinced that JFK's campaign launched the advent of modern political campaigns: they start earlier; they leverage television and video presentation; they are obsessed with poll data and early survey results, which help dictate where to focus campaign presence. There is no commentary in this book about the rightness or wrongness of these changes, they simply are; again, the authors focus on the mechanics of power rather than its effects on the health or harm of society.
Much was made about JFK's religion, how it hurt and helped his rise to power. Reading this book, I couldn't help but ponder a question that was never brought up, yet this book provided a disturbing answer to. The question: Could a practicing Muslim ever rise to the status of President of the United States? The answer this book points to? Only if the candidate or his family had stupendous bags of cash to fuel the campaign. The overwhelming truth I came away with was that The Road to Camelot is paved with gold.
The authors are clearly more interested in the mechanics of power than any moral, philosophical, or ideological right of JFK to hold that office. They gloss-over his marital infidelities, noting cogently how remarkable it was that he avoided political ruin in light of these open secrets. They speak more about JFK's "coming-around" on civil rights, but mostly to provide context on his victory in the 1960 election.
Along the way I was bombarded with poll data, demographics, survey results, the intricacies of national Democratic primary races, and a brief synopsis of the electoral college. These parts, lengthy in places, were neither light nor enjoyable reading for this political layman, though polysci majors might think differently.
As promised on the dust jacket, I was convinced that JFK's campaign launched the advent of modern political campaigns: they start earlier; they leverage television and video presentation; they are obsessed with poll data and early survey results, which help dictate where to focus campaign presence. There is no commentary in this book about the rightness or wrongness of these changes, they simply are; again, the authors focus on the mechanics of power rather than its effects on the health or harm of society.
Much was made about JFK's religion, how it hurt and helped his rise to power. Reading this book, I couldn't help but ponder a question that was never brought up, yet this book provided a disturbing answer to. The question: Could a practicing Muslim ever rise to the status of President of the United States? The answer this book points to? Only if the candidate or his family had stupendous bags of cash to fuel the campaign. The overwhelming truth I came away with was that The Road to Camelot is paved with gold.
September 26, 2018
This detailed look at JFK's presidential campaign is a fascinating study of the Kennedy family at the dawn of the most tumultuous decade in American politics since the Great Depression. Although the portraits of JFK and RFK are illuminating, it's their supporting cast and political rivals that really make the story great. Men who were movers and shakers then, like Stuart Symington, Richard Russell and Robert Wagner, are names that would draw only a blank look from a reporter today. It shows how short and fickle our political memory is. JFK's struggle to get support from the Liberal wing of his party and the nascent civil rights movement without alienating the Dixiecrats shows that the middle ground in politics has always been elusive. The nomination process and convention show a party system in the throes of transition from a tame process controlled by party bosses to the wide-open one we have today. This leads to an election with all the drama of our most recent one: religious bigotry, rogue electors, media bashing, debate controversies, inaccurate polls, recounts and lawsuits. It should have shaped the political landscape for a decade, but instead became act one of a tragedy that ended in LA eight years later. Over the whole story looms the larger-than-life figure of LBJ who would reap the political whirlwind of the coming decade.
February 14, 2021
Do we really need another JFK book? Probably not - so much has been written about the man. But, if you have to read one more, The Road to Camelot is a pretty-good choice.
The Road to Camelot is a well-researched, entertaining book about John F. Kennedy’s long struggle to win the 1960 election. I particularly enjoyed the early sections of the book, which cover JFK’s first maneuvers to get the Democratic Party’s nomination. Another positive aspect is that the book details the members of JFK’s campaign team and the critical roles that they played in the campaign. The Road to Camelot is filled with interesting characters - many of them largely forgotten by history.
But, the book suffers from a few drawbacks. First, the authors are big JFK fans. They aren’t quite advocacy journalists, but they find it hard to stay neutral about a man they clearly admire. Also, the book’s close is disappointing. The sections up through the Democratic convention are consistently fascinating. But the story of the 1960 general election has been told so many times that it’s not that compelling.
Despite its imperfections, The Road to Camelot will appeal to politics junkies.
The Road to Camelot is a well-researched, entertaining book about John F. Kennedy’s long struggle to win the 1960 election. I particularly enjoyed the early sections of the book, which cover JFK’s first maneuvers to get the Democratic Party’s nomination. Another positive aspect is that the book details the members of JFK’s campaign team and the critical roles that they played in the campaign. The Road to Camelot is filled with interesting characters - many of them largely forgotten by history.
But, the book suffers from a few drawbacks. First, the authors are big JFK fans. They aren’t quite advocacy journalists, but they find it hard to stay neutral about a man they clearly admire. Also, the book’s close is disappointing. The sections up through the Democratic convention are consistently fascinating. But the story of the 1960 general election has been told so many times that it’s not that compelling.
Despite its imperfections, The Road to Camelot will appeal to politics junkies.
March 7, 2019
This is an exceptional inside look at the campaign that propelled JFK to the presidency. Oliphant and Wilkie utilize recently released documents and interviews that show how the Kennedy machine built and incredible campaign over a 4-5 year period. They show how the Kennedy team, led by brother Bobby, took Kennedy from his failed bid for the 1956 VP to the pinnacle of American politics. Oliphant and Wilkie explain how JFK overcame his two greatest perceived weaknesses: his relative youth and lack of congressional record and his Catholicism. They also explain how the moderate Kennedy overcame the liberal challenge from Hubert Humphrey, the conservative Southern Jim Crow Democrats, the manipulation of LBJ and finally the ups and downs of one of the closest presidential campaigns in American history. Even though this is an historical account....one of the absolute best I have ever read about this period of US history....the book reads more like a novel in the hands of former journalists Oliphant and Wilkie.
September 10, 2020
Arguably the first "modern" presidential campaign, JFK's run began after failing to be nominated as VP on the 1956 Democratic ticket. Soon after the '56 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, JFK began exploring a presidential bid for 1960.
This required capturing Massachusetts's delegates. At the time (pre-McGovern/Fraser reform era) the state party chair picked the delegates to attend national conventions...so JFK had to replace the Massachusetts Democratic state party chairman. Coincidentally, the chairman had wronged JFK's grandfather in politics, so this is also also a story of revenge. But that's all contained in a single chapter.
The rest of the book is equally fast-paced but thoroughly documented with fresh material. I would recommend this to anyone really interested in the history of presidential elections.
Good night time reading, each chapter tells one "story" in about 18 pages or so.
This required capturing Massachusetts's delegates. At the time (pre-McGovern/Fraser reform era) the state party chair picked the delegates to attend national conventions...so JFK had to replace the Massachusetts Democratic state party chairman. Coincidentally, the chairman had wronged JFK's grandfather in politics, so this is also also a story of revenge. But that's all contained in a single chapter.
The rest of the book is equally fast-paced but thoroughly documented with fresh material. I would recommend this to anyone really interested in the history of presidential elections.
Good night time reading, each chapter tells one "story" in about 18 pages or so.
May 6, 2022
Of the content, there's no question: top-notch coverage by Oliphant and Wilkie, covering what essentially was JFK's presidential campaign from 1956 to 1960. My only gripe is the narrative: there were so many local names and events around the middle of the book that I had a hard time keeping up, and caused a bit of boredom even. Now I should have expected this out of a narrative that features the Democratic nomination phase, but still, maybe the presentation could have been more entertaining? I definitely enjoyed the interludes of foreign policy and civil rights, which at least got me through the discussions of who was pivotal for a certain state, then how the pivot was convinced, then on to the next state.
Nonetheless, I would still recommend the book for those who wish to see the changing electoral landscape of the late 50s. Also amusing is the parallels between how tight the 1960 contest was vs the 2020 elections, a great ending to an overall nice book.
Nonetheless, I would still recommend the book for those who wish to see the changing electoral landscape of the late 50s. Also amusing is the parallels between how tight the 1960 contest was vs the 2020 elections, a great ending to an overall nice book.
September 23, 2017
This is the background of a political reality; that democracy is really about power and money. Our concerns that this is something new are poorly considered. John F Kennedy is regarded as the paragon of a young leader who guided the country to new horizons through virtue and integrity, yet he carefully balanced his rise to power between the old guard segregationist Southern Democrats and the new vanguard of activist African Americans. He did this through a well orchestrated plan of money well spent. These politics date all the way back to Andrew Jackson, and JFK honed the tactics he learned from history to pull off an upset victory.
I did find it interesting that the Urban Legend about Kennedy vs. Nixon debates making THE difference was overstated.
The reading of Mr. Oliphant's writings here was certainly worth the investment of my time.
I did find it interesting that the Urban Legend about Kennedy vs. Nixon debates making THE difference was overstated.
The reading of Mr. Oliphant's writings here was certainly worth the investment of my time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2019
As a JFK fan I have read a number of books about him. This book provides a new angle on his life and his political career. When we think about JFK, besides the assassination, immediately the Cuban Missile Crisis, is what usually jumps out. However, this book shows the long process that JFK, Bobby and staff endured to get him to the office of the Presidency and the different challenges they faced. The author does a great job of showing the political calculations and the hard work that was shown by JFK and company as they identified primaries and delegates nationwide and figured out which ones to contest and which ones to let slide. It’s illustrated well here that the common notion of Joe Kennedy simply buying elections for JFK, is simply not true; although Joe’s money was helpful at times. If you are interested in another aspect of JFK’s career this a wonderful book to experience.
May 15, 2024
Great book on JFKs run for the White House
As a big fan of President Kennedy, I picked this book up on sale as soon as I saw it. I have read alot of President Kennedys time in office, his assassination, and his life. This book was the first that went into a small but important period of time that most gloss over - his unofficial campaign from the start. I learned alot of details I had not known before, how Kennedy brilliantly circumvented everyone and won the nomination while everyone else was not paying attention and how he closed the gap from nominee to President. Also interesting were the last week's with Eisenhower entering the fight as well as post election with recounts and fights to overturn it that all failed. This was a great book and I highly recommend it to any Kennedy fan.
As a big fan of President Kennedy, I picked this book up on sale as soon as I saw it. I have read alot of President Kennedys time in office, his assassination, and his life. This book was the first that went into a small but important period of time that most gloss over - his unofficial campaign from the start. I learned alot of details I had not known before, how Kennedy brilliantly circumvented everyone and won the nomination while everyone else was not paying attention and how he closed the gap from nominee to President. Also interesting were the last week's with Eisenhower entering the fight as well as post election with recounts and fights to overturn it that all failed. This was a great book and I highly recommend it to any Kennedy fan.
July 11, 2017
I first became fascinated by politics when I was watching the 1956 Democratic Convention at the age of 10 years. The high point of that convention was the open race for vice-president. I was extremely disappointed that John F. Kennedy was not nominated, but that was probably for the best. From that time on, I was fascinated by Kennedy. I read everything that I could find about him, and even kept copies of the articles that were in the magazines that we subscribed to--like Time, Life, and the Saturday Evening Post. This book covers Kennedy's campaign for presedent, and the many unique aspects of that "modern" campaign. It was wonderful to me to fill out that picture. This is an excellent account.
July 2, 2017
The Road to Camelot takes an often overlooked part of John F. Kennedy's career, the period after he lost the nomination for Vice President in 1956, and shines an entirely new light on it. The authors provide not just a well-researched or well-written story but also a look at a more serious and political JFK than what the history books typically give credit for overall.
JFK's actions in the wake of losing the 1956 Vice President nomination at the convention (in retrospect, a fantastic move for his career) reinvented the wheel of Presidential politics, even if no one at the time was aware of it.
Definitely worth reading.
JFK's actions in the wake of losing the 1956 Vice President nomination at the convention (in retrospect, a fantastic move for his career) reinvented the wheel of Presidential politics, even if no one at the time was aware of it.
Definitely worth reading.
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