Jack Kennedy: The Education of a Statesman

by Barbara Leaming, Barbara M. Bachman (Designed by)

The enthralling, previously untold story of the friendships and forces that shaped the Kennedy presidency.

In the summer of 1938 a tall, raw-boned Harvard student arrived in London, where his father was the American ambassador and his favorite sister, Kick, had gained entree to a closed group of young aristocrats. In the run-up to World War II, as Winston Churchill called on a reluctant Britain to resist Adolf Hitler before it was too late, Jack Kennedy formed bonds of friendship and family that would forever change his life and the course of American history.

Drawing on many new primary sources, this book is the first to trace the dramatic arc of Kennedy's intellectual and political formation, and to detail the goals of his presidency as he saw them. For the first time we get an intimate picture of a leader torn between politics and principle, a president wrestling with private demons and unresolved conflicts dating back to the 1930s, when Churchill and Ambassador Joseph Kennedy were adversaries on the public stage. 24 pages of photographs.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, History, Politics

448 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Barbara Leaming is the author of “Kick Kennedy: The Charmed Life and Tragic Death of the Favorite Kennedy Daughter” (Thomas Dunne Books, April 12, 2016). She has written three New York Times bestsellers, including her recent book “Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis”. Leaming’s book “Churchill Defiant” received The Emery Reves Award from the International Churchill Centre. Her groundbreaking biography of America's 35th President, “Jack Kennedy: The Education of a Statesman” was the first to detail the lifelong influence of British history and culture and especially of Winston Churchill on JFK. Her articles have appeared in the New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, the Times of London and other periodicals. She lives in Connecticut.

www.facebook.com/barbara.leaming1

Reviews

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kind of separated this book out into two parts.
The first part is the historical aspects of the book as viewed through the lens of Kennedy's life. I thought that part was definitely a four or five star read. It was SUPER interesting to view WWII, the beginnings of the Cold War, and then the early 60s through Kennedy, his family, and friends. I learned a lot about that time period (mid 1930s to early 1960s) through this book and the people involved.
The part I found less interesting was the part about Kennedy's thought process and evolution. It didn't seem super filled out, which probably stems from the fact he is no longer with us and we cannot be inside his head to know exactly what he thought and felt. I also thought that the affairs and other things tossed in were not really in line with the theme of the book as much.

I'd actually recommend this book more to enthusiasts of the time period than those who want to learn about Kennedy. People who only have a basic knowledge or passing interest in this time period would probably be better served by other books. It kind of assumes that the reader already knows quite a bit about WWII and surrounding events, and skips to more detailed accounts.

[Katherine Baud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible storytelling! It felt more like an on the edge of your seat movie than a biography. I learned so many little details that I never knew before. I feel like I have so much more insight into the man who would become one of the most famous men in history. I'll definitely be reading more biographys from Barbara Leaming in the future.

[Dryan1066 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific. Great to read a book with a different angle on Kennedy.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

JFK's experience in England, as the son of the Ambassador to St. James Court, informs JFK's future thinking and influences him, as President, to think more as a statesman than a politician.

[Gregg Jamback · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in the second grade when Kennedy was murdered. This book gave me a wonderful insight to the man and the events of my childhood.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Camelot Kennedy was as rotten at the core as the original. A shocking book.

[Leoctso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although little dry in a few chapters in between for my taste, overall an enthralling study of the president in a new perspective.

[Don Heiman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I now understand Kennedy in a new perspective. The authoress give a rich treatment of foreign affairs, but hardly mentions domestic matters.

[Luisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great view of JFK's political development. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about his life in England and the friends and readings that helped shaped his thinking.