Conversations with JFK: A Fictional Dialogue Based on Biographical Facts

by Michael Brown, Gore Vidal (Foreword)

Imagined by one of the world's foremost JFK scholars, this fictionalised conversation presents the essential biography of America's most glamorous and mythologised president.

For many, the presidency of John F. Kennedy was a magic interlude in American history. His admirers saw him as a leader of intelligence and imagination, who wielded power with grace, courage and verve - although detractors have questioned the depth of his convictions and drawn attention to his serial philandering.

Kennedy's rise also marked the beginning of modern "celebrity" politics - a politician with film star charisma who proved ideally suited to the new age of television. Meet the man himself and he'll tell you how it felt to have his finger on the red button when the world teetered on the brink of nuclear war.

The book is divided into two a biographical essay that provides a concise overview of JFK's life, achievements, scandals and controversies; and a Q&A dialogue based on rigorous research and incorporating JFK's actual spoken or written words whenever possible, along with rigorously researched biographical interpretations of his various views and positions.

Here you will find all the key moments in JFK's life and his early days at Harvard and the US Navy; his family background and the importance of his Catholic faith; running for office against Richard Nixon; his clashes with communist power in Berlin and Cuba; the Civil Rights movement; Vietnam; and the president's often scandalous personal life that was carefully concealed from an adoring public. Kennedy's assassination on 22 November 1963 marked the beginning of a tumultuous and bitterly divided decade, and birthed countless conspiracy theories that thrive to this day. These legacies of polarisation and suspicion of established authority have assumed particular salience in the 21st century.

128 pages, Hardcover

Published June 11, 2019

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Reviews

[KOMET · Rating 5 out of 5]

Conversations with JFK: A Fictional Dialogue Based on Biographical Facts certainly lives up to its billing. At 112 pages, it is a slim, concise book which provides a biographical profile of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, along with a fictional interview sometime in November 1963 between JFK and a non-descript interlocutor. The reader is given access to what JFK really thought and felt about matters such as: his wartime service with the Navy in the South Pacific during WWII, his stint in the House of Representatives (1947-1953), the issue of his Catholicism in the 1960 presidential campaign, his relationship with the Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, his policies on Cuba and Vietnam, civil rights, the influence of his wife Jacqueline Kennedy on himself and his administration, his June 1963 visit to his ancestral home of Ireland, and his quest for peace as reflected in his June 10th, 1963 "Peace Speech" at the American University in Washington DC.

I very much enjoyed reading this book and recommend it to anyone with an interest in John Fitzgerald Kennedy the person.

[Karschtl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book should not be mistaken for a biography, it does not aim to be one and the "biographical essay" included here really is rather short. However, I truly feel that I got to know John F. Kennedy better by reading this fictional interview with him. And I actually didn't know very much about him beforehand, besides the most basic facts.

The interviewer covers some major areas, from politics (Cuban Crisis, Vietnam, Krushchev) over family (his Irish ancestry, his dad, his brother Robert, Jackie and his kids) and even religion. For each topic there are several Q&As, and to me at least JFKs answers sound very plausible (meaning I can imagine him answering like that). Some are indeed his own words, the rest is derivied from various sources the author (who already wrote a biography on John F. Kennedy in 2005!) consulted.

Thus I can recommend this book to JFK fans as well as to people who don't have time for long biographies but still want to get to know a historical figure a bit better. Only the price is a bit high for this rather short book.

[L A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Watkins Publishing and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.

A foreword by Gore Vidal? What a treat! Similar to the other books in this series, this is an imagined interview with John F. Kennedy that imagines what his responses would be to a variety of questions relating to his life and career.

I'd say I have a pretty good grasp on this period of American and World History but there were still fascinating little nuggets of information covered. These books are short and engaging reads so I think they would be a great resource for students studying Citizenship/History/Modern Studies etc, I'll be passing on the recommendation to my school's Faculty Head.

I didn't feel that JFK's voice always shone through in his supposed answers. Although you will definitely read his responses in his unmistakable voice in your mind, I didn't always get the strong force of his personality shining through.

Overall, an interesting read just missing that inimitable Kennedy charisma.

[Cristie Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very unique way to educate and entertain the reader! I enjoyed the conversational element of this book. Very well-written!

[Trina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Conversations with JFK by Michael O'Brien provides an interesting way to show history. This book is formatted like an interview, just like one you would read in a zine. This format makes it an easy read. Also, it is well researched. Though the words of "JFK" in the book are missing that certain charisma and comfortable certainty of the actual JFK, it is still interesting. I would recommend it to anyone with even the smallest interest in history or changing our current repetitions of it.
I received this book through Netgalley for free in exchange for my feedback.

[Dawn Wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, coming of age after the 1960’s and reading so many things about that era this added to my what if thoughts. The fictional interview helps us to relook at history the things we know for sure and some not so much. All and all a good read. Very well written.

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great series of ‘conversations’ thoroughly entertaining and interesting, whilst educational. Another great read.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion