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JFK: Coming Of Age In The American Century, 1917-1956
By the time of his assassination in 1963, John F. Kennedy stood at the helm of the greatest power the world had ever seen, a booming American nation that he had steered through some of the most perilous diplomatic standoffs of the Cold War. Born in 1917 to a striving Irish American family that had become among Boston’s wealthiest, Kennedy knew political ambition from an early age, and his meteoric rise to become the youngest elected president cemented his status as one of the most mythologized figures in American history. And while hagiographic portrayals of his dazzling charisma, reports of his extramarital affairs, and disagreements over his political legacy have come and gone in the decades since his untimely death, these accounts all fail to capture the full person.
Beckoned by this gap in our historical knowledge, Fredrik Logevall has spent much of the last decade searching for the “real” JFK. The result of this prodigious effort is a sweeping two-volume biography that properly contextualizes Kennedy amidst the roiling American Century. This volume spans the first thirty-nine years of JFK’s life—from birth through his decision to run for president—to reveal his early relationships, his formative experiences during World War II, his ideas, his writings, his political aspirations. In examining these pre–White House years, Logevall shows us a more serious, independently minded Kennedy than we’ve previously known, whose distinct international sensibility would prepare him to enter national politics at a critical moment in modern U.S. history.
Along the way, Logevall tells the parallel story of America’s midcentury rise. As Kennedy comes of age, we see the charged debate between isolationists and interventionists in the years before Pearl Harbor; the tumult of the Second World War, through which the United States emerged as a global colossus; the outbreak and spread of the Cold War; the domestic politics of anti-Communism and the attendant scourge of McCarthyism; the growth of television’s influence on politics; and more.
Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917–1956 is a sweeping history of the United States in the middle decades of the twentieth century, as well as the clearest portrait we have of this enigmatic American icon.
Beckoned by this gap in our historical knowledge, Fredrik Logevall has spent much of the last decade searching for the “real” JFK. The result of this prodigious effort is a sweeping two-volume biography that properly contextualizes Kennedy amidst the roiling American Century. This volume spans the first thirty-nine years of JFK’s life—from birth through his decision to run for president—to reveal his early relationships, his formative experiences during World War II, his ideas, his writings, his political aspirations. In examining these pre–White House years, Logevall shows us a more serious, independently minded Kennedy than we’ve previously known, whose distinct international sensibility would prepare him to enter national politics at a critical moment in modern U.S. history.
Along the way, Logevall tells the parallel story of America’s midcentury rise. As Kennedy comes of age, we see the charged debate between isolationists and interventionists in the years before Pearl Harbor; the tumult of the Second World War, through which the United States emerged as a global colossus; the outbreak and spread of the Cold War; the domestic politics of anti-Communism and the attendant scourge of McCarthyism; the growth of television’s influence on politics; and more.
Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917–1956 is a sweeping history of the United States in the middle decades of the twentieth century, as well as the clearest portrait we have of this enigmatic American icon.
757 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2020
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About the author
Fredrik Logevall
43 books267 followersFredrik Logevall is a Swedish-American historian and educator at Harvard University, where he is the Laurence D. Belfer Professor of International Affairs at the John F. Kennedy School of Government and professor of history in the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences. He is a specialist in U.S. politics and foreign policy. Logevall was previously the Stephen and Madeline Anbinder Professor of History at Cornell University, where he also served as vice provost and as director of the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies. He won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for History for his book Embers of War: The Fall of an Empire and the Making of America’s Vietnam. His most recent book, JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-1956 (2020), won the Elizabeth Longford Prize for Historical Biography and was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.
Logevall’s essays and reviews have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Politico, Daily Beast, and Foreign Affairs, among other publications.
Logevall’s essays and reviews have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Politico, Daily Beast, and Foreign Affairs, among other publications.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 411 reviews
October 1, 2023
I am an unapologetic Kennedyphile. In 1961 when he was inaugurated as President of the United States I was 14 years old. I entered high school with a president who was intelligent, articulate, attractive and young. His speeches inspired people. He helped us believe we could solve some of the big problems facing America. So yes, it was Camelot.
This book is the first volume of a planned two-volume biography of John Kennedy. It follows his life from his birth in 1917 and his family’s background until the 1956 Democratic presidential convention where he lost a bid to become Adlai Stevenson’s running mate.
Kennedy’s senior thesis at Harvard is explored at length. This thesis would eventually be developed in the book Why England Slept. While his father was the U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain he had the opportunity to visit Britain and Europe during the 1930s and observe first hand the coming of WWII. After his travels in Europe he became fascinated with the Twentieth Century “isms”: communism, fascism, socialism, capitalism, nationalism, imperialism, and militarism. His advisors during his senior year at Harvard suggested that he use this experience to write his senior thesis. His thesis examined the origins of Britain’s appeasement policy and its failure to rearm. Only twenty years after England’s last experience with a destructive war, it now faced another devastating conflict. Kennedy’s conclusion was that Chamberlain’s accommodation of Hitler was necessary due to England’s lackluster rearmament efforts and opposition among the public to another war. Kennedy explains this by saying that Neville Chamberlain, and Stanley Baldwin before him, operated in a democratic system and had to contend with an electorate that favored collective security but were unwilling to pay for it. “Britain’s existential crisis was primarily the result of societal forces.”
(Page 255)
Some of Kennedy’s analysis was quite insightful. He held that dictatorships could dictate a mobilization of resources, whereas in a democracy people had to be won over to the policy, which doesn’t happen quickly. He states that although a democratic system is best in that it allows for the “full development of man as an individual”, and thus is a more pleasant way of government, it is not necessarily the best form of government for meeting world problems. “If Americans wished for their democratic system to succeed, it would be imperative … for them to look at situations more realistically.” (I would suggest thinking of Climate Change in this context.)
This thesis was similar to what Alexis de Tocqueville had asked a century before:
I have concentrated on this because it represents Kennedy’s transition from the young, dashing playboy into a serious student of geopolitical policy. This also is an example of the author’s historical analysis of the biography of Kennedy.
Another example is a 1951 trip Kennedy made that included a visit to Vietnam. He makes several observations from this trip that foretells the eventual involvement of America with the conflict in Vietnam. His first observation was regarding the Communist threat of conquering the world. Kennedy asks “how would they cope with ruling over all these people.” (Page 485). Democracies needed to offer a compelling alternative to communism in those countries that were in the midst of an anti-colonial rebellion. The U.S. policy then and later was to rush assistance to anyone who professed to be anti-communist. “That puts us in a partnership with the corrupt and reactionary groups whose policies breed the discontent on which Soviet Communism feeds.” (Page 487) Communism offered the people something to believe in whereas the West only promised to maintained the status quo. Here Kennedy observed that the enemy was not communism but was “poverty and want,” “sickness and disease,” and “injustice and inequality.” The support that the United States was giving to these regimes was viewed as making the U.S. colonialists.
However, Kennedy had grasped that any success as an politician required a firm anti-Communism posture. That “preaching the need for accommodation with Moscow or Beijing might make intellectual sense, might be shrewd geopolitics, but is posed grave risks for one’s career.” (Page 554)
Kennedy examined this conflict in his book Profiles in Courage. Similar to his view in Why England Slept once again he describes leaders who advocate a course of action that differs from what his constituents or party may hold. “Politics is a jungle,” Kennedy said, “torn between doing the right things and staying in office.” (Page 594) In that book he uses the example of Robert Taft’s criticism of the Nuremberg Trials of Nazi war criminals where people were held guilty of laws made retroactively. Taft had effectively jeopardized his chances for the nomination as the Republican presidential candidate in 1948.
I do have a caveat to the praise I gave above. There was too much about Jack Kennedy and his girlfriends and his sexual magnetism, and especially his womanizing after his marriage. And I failed to see any historical significance in finding out the when, where, and to whom Jackie lost her virginity. (Page 543)
That said I am eagerly awaiting the publication of the second volume of this biography. Despite the low ranking of John Kennedy in presidential rankings, he remains an attractive president for me.
CORRECTION
Per the comment by Sonny above I have corrected the last paragraph. I did check and Kennedy is ranked in the top 10—currently number 8. I neglected to actually check these rankings before finishing my review.
This book is the first volume of a planned two-volume biography of John Kennedy. It follows his life from his birth in 1917 and his family’s background until the 1956 Democratic presidential convention where he lost a bid to become Adlai Stevenson’s running mate.
Kennedy’s senior thesis at Harvard is explored at length. This thesis would eventually be developed in the book Why England Slept. While his father was the U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain he had the opportunity to visit Britain and Europe during the 1930s and observe first hand the coming of WWII. After his travels in Europe he became fascinated with the Twentieth Century “isms”: communism, fascism, socialism, capitalism, nationalism, imperialism, and militarism. His advisors during his senior year at Harvard suggested that he use this experience to write his senior thesis. His thesis examined the origins of Britain’s appeasement policy and its failure to rearm. Only twenty years after England’s last experience with a destructive war, it now faced another devastating conflict. Kennedy’s conclusion was that Chamberlain’s accommodation of Hitler was necessary due to England’s lackluster rearmament efforts and opposition among the public to another war. Kennedy explains this by saying that Neville Chamberlain, and Stanley Baldwin before him, operated in a democratic system and had to contend with an electorate that favored collective security but were unwilling to pay for it. “Britain’s existential crisis was primarily the result of societal forces.”
(Page 255)
Some of Kennedy’s analysis was quite insightful. He held that dictatorships could dictate a mobilization of resources, whereas in a democracy people had to be won over to the policy, which doesn’t happen quickly. He states that although a democratic system is best in that it allows for the “full development of man as an individual”, and thus is a more pleasant way of government, it is not necessarily the best form of government for meeting world problems. “If Americans wished for their democratic system to succeed, it would be imperative … for them to look at situations more realistically.” (I would suggest thinking of Climate Change in this context.)
This thesis was similar to what Alexis de Tocqueville had asked a century before:
Can popular rule readily lend itself to the making of effective foreign policy? And can democracy, geared for a time of peace, respond effectively in a time of war? Jack’s answers: Yes and yes, but the task would not be easy. It required intelligent and committed leadership at the highest levels, able to articulate effectively to the public why fighting was necessary, and it required a capacity and willingness to plan for the long term. In the near run, totalitarianism had notable advantages.
(Page 254)
I have concentrated on this because it represents Kennedy’s transition from the young, dashing playboy into a serious student of geopolitical policy. This also is an example of the author’s historical analysis of the biography of Kennedy.
Another example is a 1951 trip Kennedy made that included a visit to Vietnam. He makes several observations from this trip that foretells the eventual involvement of America with the conflict in Vietnam. His first observation was regarding the Communist threat of conquering the world. Kennedy asks “how would they cope with ruling over all these people.” (Page 485). Democracies needed to offer a compelling alternative to communism in those countries that were in the midst of an anti-colonial rebellion. The U.S. policy then and later was to rush assistance to anyone who professed to be anti-communist. “That puts us in a partnership with the corrupt and reactionary groups whose policies breed the discontent on which Soviet Communism feeds.” (Page 487) Communism offered the people something to believe in whereas the West only promised to maintained the status quo. Here Kennedy observed that the enemy was not communism but was “poverty and want,” “sickness and disease,” and “injustice and inequality.” The support that the United States was giving to these regimes was viewed as making the U.S. colonialists.
However, Kennedy had grasped that any success as an politician required a firm anti-Communism posture. That “preaching the need for accommodation with Moscow or Beijing might make intellectual sense, might be shrewd geopolitics, but is posed grave risks for one’s career.” (Page 554)
Kennedy examined this conflict in his book Profiles in Courage. Similar to his view in Why England Slept once again he describes leaders who advocate a course of action that differs from what his constituents or party may hold. “Politics is a jungle,” Kennedy said, “torn between doing the right things and staying in office.” (Page 594) In that book he uses the example of Robert Taft’s criticism of the Nuremberg Trials of Nazi war criminals where people were held guilty of laws made retroactively. Taft had effectively jeopardized his chances for the nomination as the Republican presidential candidate in 1948.
I do have a caveat to the praise I gave above. There was too much about Jack Kennedy and his girlfriends and his sexual magnetism, and especially his womanizing after his marriage. And I failed to see any historical significance in finding out the when, where, and to whom Jackie lost her virginity. (Page 543)
That said I am eagerly awaiting the publication of the second volume of this biography. Despite the low ranking of John Kennedy in presidential rankings, he remains an attractive president for me.
CORRECTION
Per the comment by Sonny above I have corrected the last paragraph. I did check and Kennedy is ranked in the top 10—currently number 8. I neglected to actually check these rankings before finishing my review.
October 3, 2020
It's probably more like 4.5 because JFK is one of the few areas in which my scattered reading tends to converge so often that I'm developing something between familiarity and expertise. This means I've heard a good bit of what the author says before, but that's not his fault.
Still, JFK jumps off the page. The author seems careful not to render him simply as a means to what he will become. The reader really gets to know the boy, the adolescent, the young man as he is without overly obtrusive links to what's coming.
As promised, we get to know him as he connects to the cultural influences around him. I could have experienced some more of this, but the author lived up to the title. Decidedly worth reading.
Still, JFK jumps off the page. The author seems careful not to render him simply as a means to what he will become. The reader really gets to know the boy, the adolescent, the young man as he is without overly obtrusive links to what's coming.
As promised, we get to know him as he connects to the cultural influences around him. I could have experienced some more of this, but the author lived up to the title. Decidedly worth reading.
March 12, 2021
I've read a lot about John Kennedy, most of it by gushing authors, and I've managed to form my own opinion of the man, filtered through my own cynical view. In other words, I did not need to read another biography of Kennedy, I didn't think. Still, I would have got to this eventually, because that's what I do. But I jumped on this book quicker than I might have, so enamored was I of Fredrik Logevall's Embers of War, which I just recently read.
This, too, was a great read: well-researched, fair assessments, and very well-paced. It almost reads as a thriller, even as I knew all the salient facts and the plot's unyielding course.
I was wary there'd be gushing, though. Perhaps there was, but it was passive adulation, let's call it. In fact, the author couldn't go but a few pages without bringing up Kennedy's charm, his wit, his intellectual curiosity. Which is true and not unimportant. But there was a seeming obsession with it.
-- "Everybody that you introduced him to liked him as a person, liked him as an individual . . ."
-- "To meet him was to vote for him . . .
-- "Suddenly, swarms of women hurried up to the platform . . ."
-- "I turned and found myself staring into the most perfect blue eyes I have ever seen on a man. . . . He smiled at me. My reaction was right out of the ladies' romance novel. Literally, my heart skipped . . ." -- Gene Tierney
Which brings us to Sex. John Kennedy wasn't a womanizer. He was a sex addict. All with his father's encouragement. He lost his virginity on a quick trip to Harlem. (So there's that.) He had a steady stream of women thereafter, and bragged about it. (So that, too.) And pretty much right away after he married Jackie he began a series of affairs, some carry-overs but also new conquests. When Jackie in the eighth month of a pregnancy delivered a stillborn baby girl, Jack was on a boat in the Mediterranean with two friends and some beauties in bikinis. (So, that, that and that).
The author did not flinch in giving every sordid detail. And occasionally condemned the behavior.
Still and overall, the Kennedy of whom the author writes is a positive character. But you probably know the story too.
As I said at the start, this was a great read. But it is not unflawed.
For one, there are many repetitions. Just one example would be the closeness between John Kennedy and his sister Kathleen (Kick). So close, he wrote three separate times, that they finished each other's sentences. But the same applied to his relationship with his father, his father's influence, Kennedy's slovenliness, etc.
Second, when it came to Kennedy's "authorship" of Profiles in Courage, the author went way out of his way to defend Kennedy for accepting the Pulitzer Prize when he really didn't write the book, a claim this author says was "largely baseless." Which is like being a little pregnant. He says, friends of Kennedy saw him hard at work on it. Which is hardly convincing. But, no matter, he writes; it was "standard practice" for politicians then to have ghostwriters do the work. "Sorenson contributed mightily to the senator's speeches and articles; why should he not help write a book?" And, yes, the author writes, "Kennedy should have refused the Pulitzer" but that "would have amounted to a self-declaration of fraudulence and possibly done lasting damage to his reputation." It's hard to believe this author re-read that last sentence and didn't just crumble up the whole page. I found this "defense" disappointing.
Lastly, there was the sentence. It comes after the stated fact that Jackie did not get pregnant in the first year of their marriage. What the author calls "the difficulties." Then he writes this: If, as a result of her husband's gonorrhea, Jackie contracted chlamydia, that would help explain her childbearing problems. Gonorrhea, proudly having its own bacteria, does not cause chlamydia. At least I don't think. Nor does he state any evidence that Jackie ever had chlamydia. Nor does he explain how after having these "childbearing problems" Jackie was nevertheless able to conceive in year two of their marriage.
Other than that . . .
This, too, was a great read: well-researched, fair assessments, and very well-paced. It almost reads as a thriller, even as I knew all the salient facts and the plot's unyielding course.
I was wary there'd be gushing, though. Perhaps there was, but it was passive adulation, let's call it. In fact, the author couldn't go but a few pages without bringing up Kennedy's charm, his wit, his intellectual curiosity. Which is true and not unimportant. But there was a seeming obsession with it.
-- "Everybody that you introduced him to liked him as a person, liked him as an individual . . ."
-- "To meet him was to vote for him . . .
-- "Suddenly, swarms of women hurried up to the platform . . ."
-- "I turned and found myself staring into the most perfect blue eyes I have ever seen on a man. . . . He smiled at me. My reaction was right out of the ladies' romance novel. Literally, my heart skipped . . ." -- Gene Tierney
Which brings us to Sex. John Kennedy wasn't a womanizer. He was a sex addict. All with his father's encouragement. He lost his virginity on a quick trip to Harlem. (So there's that.) He had a steady stream of women thereafter, and bragged about it. (So that, too.) And pretty much right away after he married Jackie he began a series of affairs, some carry-overs but also new conquests. When Jackie in the eighth month of a pregnancy delivered a stillborn baby girl, Jack was on a boat in the Mediterranean with two friends and some beauties in bikinis. (So, that, that and that).
The author did not flinch in giving every sordid detail. And occasionally condemned the behavior.
Still and overall, the Kennedy of whom the author writes is a positive character. But you probably know the story too.
As I said at the start, this was a great read. But it is not unflawed.
For one, there are many repetitions. Just one example would be the closeness between John Kennedy and his sister Kathleen (Kick). So close, he wrote three separate times, that they finished each other's sentences. But the same applied to his relationship with his father, his father's influence, Kennedy's slovenliness, etc.
Second, when it came to Kennedy's "authorship" of Profiles in Courage, the author went way out of his way to defend Kennedy for accepting the Pulitzer Prize when he really didn't write the book, a claim this author says was "largely baseless." Which is like being a little pregnant. He says, friends of Kennedy saw him hard at work on it. Which is hardly convincing. But, no matter, he writes; it was "standard practice" for politicians then to have ghostwriters do the work. "Sorenson contributed mightily to the senator's speeches and articles; why should he not help write a book?" And, yes, the author writes, "Kennedy should have refused the Pulitzer" but that "would have amounted to a self-declaration of fraudulence and possibly done lasting damage to his reputation." It's hard to believe this author re-read that last sentence and didn't just crumble up the whole page. I found this "defense" disappointing.
Lastly, there was the sentence. It comes after the stated fact that Jackie did not get pregnant in the first year of their marriage. What the author calls "the difficulties." Then he writes this: If, as a result of her husband's gonorrhea, Jackie contracted chlamydia, that would help explain her childbearing problems. Gonorrhea, proudly having its own bacteria, does not cause chlamydia. At least I don't think. Nor does he state any evidence that Jackie ever had chlamydia. Nor does he explain how after having these "childbearing problems" Jackie was nevertheless able to conceive in year two of their marriage.
Other than that . . .
October 5, 2025
Someone Different
I was extremely impressed by this book. Maybe there is something about political biographies I really like, but even then this raises to the top. For me Fredrik Logevall’s JFK: Volume One is an exceptional and deeply researched biography that reinvigorates our understanding of John F. Kennedy. Covering JFK’s early life up until his presidential campaign, this first installment of a planned two-part series reveals not just the personal journey of a young man shaped by privilege and politics but also the shaping of an American icon against the backdrop of mid-20th century world events. Logevall, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian (JFK himself was a Pulitzer Prize-winning author with his book Profiles in Courage) carefully avoids romanticising or oversimplifying Kennedy’s story. Instead, he offers a nuanced look at JFK’s formative experiences, including his often-tumultuous family life, rigorous education, and complex relationships with his ambitious father, Joe Kennedy, and equally influential brother, Joe Jr. This is especially true as Lovegall does not cover up his father’s initial pro Nazi sympathies, or the serial womanising of both father and son.
Logevall’s strength lies in his ability to draw upon both newly available archives and a wide array of historical sources, painting a rich picture of how Kennedy’s views on foreign policy, leadership, and public service were influenced by his early exposure to world affairs, particularly during his travels in Europe before World War II. Kennedy’s time at Harvard and his war service in the Pacific, for example, are described in meticulous detail, showing how these experiences shaped his later decision-making and worldview.
The success of JFK: Volume One lies with Logevall’s approach to the Kennedy mythos. He dispels common myths, showing JFK as a more complex and introspective figure than many ‘Camelot’ accounts suggest, yet also revealing his youthful charisma, intellectual curiosity, and sometimes troubling sense of entitlement. The book also situates Kennedy within the wider narrative of the American century, tracing how the era’s shifting dynamics influenced both his personal growth and political philosophy. JFK is perhaps one of the most famous presidents and I feel a lot of that is to do with his untimely and famous death on 22/11/1963 in Dallas Texas. However, JFK: Volume One shows he was exceptional and someone different, much like his hero Winston Churchill.
A popular criticism is of the slow pacing of the narrative, however this might be expected with Logevall’s deep dive into JFK’s early years is purposeful, laying the groundwork to understand Kennedy not just as a historical figure, but as a young man shaped by and grappling with the forces of his time. I have to say I found this intricacy fascinating and as a result I feel that Logevall really has been able to establish who JFK was in all parts of his life. This is of course very a pro JFK account, bordering on the hagiographic, however I felt inspired. It’s hard to dislike the young man, who could charm almost anyone, who was wealthy but didn’t let you know it, who was a war hero with real combat experience, who understood history. JFK: Volume One is for anyone interested in understanding the origins of JFK’s complex character, and the early experiences that shaped his approach to the presidency. In my opinion, Logevall’s JFK is an essential, insightful, and compelling read.
I was extremely impressed by this book. Maybe there is something about political biographies I really like, but even then this raises to the top. For me Fredrik Logevall’s JFK: Volume One is an exceptional and deeply researched biography that reinvigorates our understanding of John F. Kennedy. Covering JFK’s early life up until his presidential campaign, this first installment of a planned two-part series reveals not just the personal journey of a young man shaped by privilege and politics but also the shaping of an American icon against the backdrop of mid-20th century world events. Logevall, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian (JFK himself was a Pulitzer Prize-winning author with his book Profiles in Courage) carefully avoids romanticising or oversimplifying Kennedy’s story. Instead, he offers a nuanced look at JFK’s formative experiences, including his often-tumultuous family life, rigorous education, and complex relationships with his ambitious father, Joe Kennedy, and equally influential brother, Joe Jr. This is especially true as Lovegall does not cover up his father’s initial pro Nazi sympathies, or the serial womanising of both father and son.
Logevall’s strength lies in his ability to draw upon both newly available archives and a wide array of historical sources, painting a rich picture of how Kennedy’s views on foreign policy, leadership, and public service were influenced by his early exposure to world affairs, particularly during his travels in Europe before World War II. Kennedy’s time at Harvard and his war service in the Pacific, for example, are described in meticulous detail, showing how these experiences shaped his later decision-making and worldview.
The success of JFK: Volume One lies with Logevall’s approach to the Kennedy mythos. He dispels common myths, showing JFK as a more complex and introspective figure than many ‘Camelot’ accounts suggest, yet also revealing his youthful charisma, intellectual curiosity, and sometimes troubling sense of entitlement. The book also situates Kennedy within the wider narrative of the American century, tracing how the era’s shifting dynamics influenced both his personal growth and political philosophy. JFK is perhaps one of the most famous presidents and I feel a lot of that is to do with his untimely and famous death on 22/11/1963 in Dallas Texas. However, JFK: Volume One shows he was exceptional and someone different, much like his hero Winston Churchill.
A popular criticism is of the slow pacing of the narrative, however this might be expected with Logevall’s deep dive into JFK’s early years is purposeful, laying the groundwork to understand Kennedy not just as a historical figure, but as a young man shaped by and grappling with the forces of his time. I have to say I found this intricacy fascinating and as a result I feel that Logevall really has been able to establish who JFK was in all parts of his life. This is of course very a pro JFK account, bordering on the hagiographic, however I felt inspired. It’s hard to dislike the young man, who could charm almost anyone, who was wealthy but didn’t let you know it, who was a war hero with real combat experience, who understood history. JFK: Volume One is for anyone interested in understanding the origins of JFK’s complex character, and the early experiences that shaped his approach to the presidency. In my opinion, Logevall’s JFK is an essential, insightful, and compelling read.
September 15, 2020
This is the first book of a two book biography of John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
The first book covers the background of his parents, especially the controlling Joe Kennedy. and shows how “Jack” alongside his brother Joe Jr., was groomed for politics from the time he was a child.,
Kennedy’s childhood, education, and romance with Jackie, as well as his military service and the death of his older brother, are covered in-depth. The book ends just as he is deciding whether to run for President.
This excellent work really sheds light on the whole man by looking at his early life and not just his presidency. It looks at the stressors in his life as well as the accomplishments. And it introduces Kennedy in a personal way to those of us who were born after his lifetime.
Those interested in US history and presidential biographies will enjoy this book.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.
The first book covers the background of his parents, especially the controlling Joe Kennedy. and shows how “Jack” alongside his brother Joe Jr., was groomed for politics from the time he was a child.,
Kennedy’s childhood, education, and romance with Jackie, as well as his military service and the death of his older brother, are covered in-depth. The book ends just as he is deciding whether to run for President.
This excellent work really sheds light on the whole man by looking at his early life and not just his presidency. It looks at the stressors in his life as well as the accomplishments. And it introduces Kennedy in a personal way to those of us who were born after his lifetime.
Those interested in US history and presidential biographies will enjoy this book.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.
July 12, 2020
I’ve read many books on the charismatic but enigmatic Jack Kennedy. Yet none reveal him as “fully fleshed” as he appears in Fredrick Logevall’s brilliant new bio.
This first of two volumes spans Kennedy’s life from birth ‘til his decision to run for President. The Pulitzer Prize winning Logevall also weaves in Midcentury history with skill and insight.
Well-written, finely researched and totally engaging, JFK is highly recommended for Kennedy buffs, political junkies and lovers of the 20th Century.
5 of 5 Stars
Pub Date 08 Sep 2020
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Random House and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.
#JFK #NetGalley
This first of two volumes spans Kennedy’s life from birth ‘til his decision to run for President. The Pulitzer Prize winning Logevall also weaves in Midcentury history with skill and insight.
Well-written, finely researched and totally engaging, JFK is highly recommended for Kennedy buffs, political junkies and lovers of the 20th Century.
5 of 5 Stars
Pub Date 08 Sep 2020
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Random House and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.
#JFK #NetGalley
February 10, 2023
The best biography I have read about JFK. This is the first volume in a planned two-volume work. Logevall's work is accessible and scholarly, with rich details of JFK's life.
September 1, 2020
My first biography of John F. Kennedy was a comic book. One image that has always remained in my memory is of the Kennedy family at the dinner table, father Joe quizzing his children on current events.
My family never talked about current events or politics at the dinner table. When my school friend Christine asked if my family was going to vote for Kennedy I was clueless. I had never heard of him. Then she asked if we were Democrats, but I had never heard of them either. Finally, in exasperation, she asked if we were Catholic or Protestant, because if we were Catholic we were voting for Kennedy, and if we were Protestant we were going to hell.
In great duress, I ran home to ask mom these vital questions. In one moment I learned of our politics, our religion, and eternal damnation.
I was in sixth grade when my teacher took told us the president had been shot and sent us directly home. All those long blocks I fretted, feeling vulnerable, wondering if the Soviets could take over since we had no president to protect us. I remember gathering in my grandparents' living room, watching the black horse and carriage as it passed Carolyn and John and black-veiled Jackie.
Every home had Kennedy souvenirs, a book, a photograph.
Over the years his image was tarnished. We doubted his authoring of his Pulitzer Prize winning book Profiles in Courage (which I unsuccessfully tried to read as an early teen). There was his multitude of affairs before and after marriage. We heard that his daddy bought his political offices. We doubted his leadership, blamed him for Vietnam.
Who was the real John F. Kennedy?
I opened volume one of Fredrik Logevall's biography JFK hoping to understand this man, this icon, this American president.
It is a marvelous study of the man in context of his times and his family, from his childhood to his decision to seek the presidency.
Plagued with health problems, careless about his person, a man of great intelligence and inquisitiveness and charm, a womanizer, a workaholic, a man of unquestionable courage, a family man who did not hesitate to veer from his father's beliefs, the real Jack Kennedy was complicated and everything you thought he was and somehow more than what you thought he was.
Believe the hype about this book. I enjoyed it as a biography and as an exploration of the times and the political process. I look forward to reading the next part.
I received a free egalley from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
My family never talked about current events or politics at the dinner table. When my school friend Christine asked if my family was going to vote for Kennedy I was clueless. I had never heard of him. Then she asked if we were Democrats, but I had never heard of them either. Finally, in exasperation, she asked if we were Catholic or Protestant, because if we were Catholic we were voting for Kennedy, and if we were Protestant we were going to hell.
In great duress, I ran home to ask mom these vital questions. In one moment I learned of our politics, our religion, and eternal damnation.
I was in sixth grade when my teacher took told us the president had been shot and sent us directly home. All those long blocks I fretted, feeling vulnerable, wondering if the Soviets could take over since we had no president to protect us. I remember gathering in my grandparents' living room, watching the black horse and carriage as it passed Carolyn and John and black-veiled Jackie.
Every home had Kennedy souvenirs, a book, a photograph.
Over the years his image was tarnished. We doubted his authoring of his Pulitzer Prize winning book Profiles in Courage (which I unsuccessfully tried to read as an early teen). There was his multitude of affairs before and after marriage. We heard that his daddy bought his political offices. We doubted his leadership, blamed him for Vietnam.
Who was the real John F. Kennedy?
I opened volume one of Fredrik Logevall's biography JFK hoping to understand this man, this icon, this American president.
It is a marvelous study of the man in context of his times and his family, from his childhood to his decision to seek the presidency.
Plagued with health problems, careless about his person, a man of great intelligence and inquisitiveness and charm, a womanizer, a workaholic, a man of unquestionable courage, a family man who did not hesitate to veer from his father's beliefs, the real Jack Kennedy was complicated and everything you thought he was and somehow more than what you thought he was.
Believe the hype about this book. I enjoyed it as a biography and as an exploration of the times and the political process. I look forward to reading the next part.
I received a free egalley from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
January 11, 2021
This is a superbly written biography. I borrowed a copy from the library and I picked it up intending to skim through it, read a chapter here and there and then return it. Instead I couldn't stop reading. JFK simply leaps off the page and while I have read a couple of books about him before, I don't feel like I truly understood him in the way that I do after reading this. The book concludes with JFK's decision in late 1956 to run for President in four years' time. I look forward to reading the second book when it is published.
May 22, 2021
Frederik Logevall's JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-1956 is the first volume of a planned two of what I believe will become the definitive contemporary full-scale biography on the life of America’s 35th President, John F. Kennedy. Logevall’s work is extremely well researched and comprehensive following JFK’s life from birth up until 1956 during his time in the U.S. Senate, ending with JFK’s weighty decision with his father to pursue a run for the presidency. While John is the central theme of the book, his father Joe Kennedy looms large throughout.
The strength of this first volume is how it humanizes the young Jack Kennedy. You really do feel you understand the character traits of JFK and how he seems to effortlessly breeze through life getting by on his charm, good looks, and privilege. Jack always had the intellect, but was never quite motivated enough to put it all together until he developed a seriousness around his junior year of college at Harvard.
It was at this time he began to formulate his senior thesis which examined England’s lack of preparation during the build-up towards World War II and (with the help of his father publishing it) would go on to become the national bestseller “While England Slept.” From here on Jack would cultivate a keen interest in foreign affairs that would remain with him throughout the rest of his life.
After Harvard, Jack would enlist in the War and come back a hero, commanding the PT-109 boat and rescuing his crew after being cut in half by a Japanese destroyer. After the War, Jack would enter politics, replacing the footsteps of his brother Joe, Jr., who died in the War, as the family’s political standard-bearer, serving in Congress for 3 terms before dispatching fellow Massachusetts brahmin Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. in the Senate in 1953. During his last term in the US-House of Representatives Jack was introduced to a beautiful Jacqueline Bouvier before marrying in 1953 as a junior Senator.
JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-1956 is a thorough account of JFK’s formative years. Logevall’s covers it all from Jack’s family and personal life to his dalliances and lifelong struggles with his health. While the book provides excellent and important context of the era, particularly the World War II period, and the influence his father played in it as Franklin Roosevelt’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, it adds additional heft to the length of the book. I’m looking forward to the next volume which will cover JFK’s presidency.
The strength of this first volume is how it humanizes the young Jack Kennedy. You really do feel you understand the character traits of JFK and how he seems to effortlessly breeze through life getting by on his charm, good looks, and privilege. Jack always had the intellect, but was never quite motivated enough to put it all together until he developed a seriousness around his junior year of college at Harvard.
It was at this time he began to formulate his senior thesis which examined England’s lack of preparation during the build-up towards World War II and (with the help of his father publishing it) would go on to become the national bestseller “While England Slept.” From here on Jack would cultivate a keen interest in foreign affairs that would remain with him throughout the rest of his life.
After Harvard, Jack would enlist in the War and come back a hero, commanding the PT-109 boat and rescuing his crew after being cut in half by a Japanese destroyer. After the War, Jack would enter politics, replacing the footsteps of his brother Joe, Jr., who died in the War, as the family’s political standard-bearer, serving in Congress for 3 terms before dispatching fellow Massachusetts brahmin Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. in the Senate in 1953. During his last term in the US-House of Representatives Jack was introduced to a beautiful Jacqueline Bouvier before marrying in 1953 as a junior Senator.
JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-1956 is a thorough account of JFK’s formative years. Logevall’s covers it all from Jack’s family and personal life to his dalliances and lifelong struggles with his health. While the book provides excellent and important context of the era, particularly the World War II period, and the influence his father played in it as Franklin Roosevelt’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, it adds additional heft to the length of the book. I’m looking forward to the next volume which will cover JFK’s presidency.
May 23, 2020
JFK by Frederick Logevall is the first part of a two-part volume set chronicling the life and times of John F. Kennedy from his birth to just before his quest for presidency.
Being a huge history fan, as well as a huge fan of the Kennedy family, I have read a great many books (fiction and nonfiction) on this fascinating group of individuals, so of course I was excited to tackle this gem. I enjoyed being reintroduced to a few facts and exploits that I had somehow forgotten in past readings, but what makes this book special is the inclusion of the world and current events that occurred during each of these milestones that frame and influence the thoughts, ideals, and actions of JFK. Being able to see these really place a lot of things that we already know in a new light. It was a great, and unique, perspective that really makes this book special.
Obviously, I am impressed with this book and the author’s immense research that makes it the great read that it is. I truly look forward to the second book.
5/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.
Being a huge history fan, as well as a huge fan of the Kennedy family, I have read a great many books (fiction and nonfiction) on this fascinating group of individuals, so of course I was excited to tackle this gem. I enjoyed being reintroduced to a few facts and exploits that I had somehow forgotten in past readings, but what makes this book special is the inclusion of the world and current events that occurred during each of these milestones that frame and influence the thoughts, ideals, and actions of JFK. Being able to see these really place a lot of things that we already know in a new light. It was a great, and unique, perspective that really makes this book special.
Obviously, I am impressed with this book and the author’s immense research that makes it the great read that it is. I truly look forward to the second book.
5/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.
February 15, 2021
Pub. 2020
I can’t wait for book two! My interest in the Kennedy family began as an adolescent. This book ranked up there with the autobiography of Rose Kennedy, and the book “Jackie.” I agree with others who said there’s new information in this book. It was a pleasure to read and an amazing US history lesson.
I can’t wait for book two! My interest in the Kennedy family began as an adolescent. This book ranked up there with the autobiography of Rose Kennedy, and the book “Jackie.” I agree with others who said there’s new information in this book. It was a pleasure to read and an amazing US history lesson.
August 7, 2020
While the subject of JFK is John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the life of his father, Joe Kennedy, is also covered in detail. Both accomplishments and fallacies are covered. Ain depth genealogy of the Kennedy opens the work. There is also an extensive bibliography for this volume 1 of a projected two volume set. This is a free advance review copy through Goodreads.com.
March 18, 2021
Man. I don't know. I wanted to enjoy this one but it was a flop with me.
Objectively, it's a pretty good biography. I can easily see why it receives such high marks. It's easy to read, it follows standard chronology, and there's a good dose of interesting history from the world stage included—FDR, Churchill, and Stalin feature prominently. It's also teeming with JFK's personal anecdotes, the sum of which give plenty of color to young Jack.
On the whole, however, I was never absorbed by the book. The writing is good but not great. Logevall frequently uses the formula, “One wonders if Kennedy…” or “one detects a sense of...” The effect of that repeated phrasing is that it positions Logevall as a fellow observer alongside us rather than one telling the story authoritatively. I never got a sense of command from him.
He also lacks some flourish in the pen. There are no sentences that really sing; none that truly heighten the atmosphere of the book (read Morris on Roosevelt or Manchester on Churchill for prime examples here).
But here's the real issue. I find the moral character of the Kennedy family stomach-churning (with Joseph Kennedy being especially abhorrent). I cannot truly delve into a book when each bite leaves such a nasty aftertaste. So my rating is more reflective of the personal and subjective issues rather than being harsh demerits of the author and his work.
Objectively, it's a pretty good biography. I can easily see why it receives such high marks. It's easy to read, it follows standard chronology, and there's a good dose of interesting history from the world stage included—FDR, Churchill, and Stalin feature prominently. It's also teeming with JFK's personal anecdotes, the sum of which give plenty of color to young Jack.
On the whole, however, I was never absorbed by the book. The writing is good but not great. Logevall frequently uses the formula, “One wonders if Kennedy…” or “one detects a sense of...” The effect of that repeated phrasing is that it positions Logevall as a fellow observer alongside us rather than one telling the story authoritatively. I never got a sense of command from him.
He also lacks some flourish in the pen. There are no sentences that really sing; none that truly heighten the atmosphere of the book (read Morris on Roosevelt or Manchester on Churchill for prime examples here).
But here's the real issue. I find the moral character of the Kennedy family stomach-churning (with Joseph Kennedy being especially abhorrent). I cannot truly delve into a book when each bite leaves such a nasty aftertaste. So my rating is more reflective of the personal and subjective issues rather than being harsh demerits of the author and his work.
August 31, 2021
A fascinating, in-depth dive into pre-president Kennedy. Both his ambition and his sense of duty are highlighted. I've always found his World War II service fascinating. I remember reading PT-109 as a kid and trying to imagine what it was like.
The author also does a good job paralleling what happens to the United States from Kennedy's year of birth in 1917 up to 1956. Well worth the read.
The author also does a good job paralleling what happens to the United States from Kennedy's year of birth in 1917 up to 1956. Well worth the read.
July 4, 2020
This is the first of a two part biography. There is not much new here if you are an avid student of the Kennedys. This book covers the history of the family prior to JKF's birth and afterwards along with being a biography of the primary subject. Large sections of the book focus on current events taking place during the time periods covered in this biography. I found these to be a little tedious at times as I am a history buff, but those not exposed to a great deal about the Kennedy family and JFK in particular will find this book to be pretty interesting.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.
January 26, 2022
WEALTH, PRIVILEGE, POWER
“It is a marked feature of John F. Kennedy’s early adult years that at certain key junctures, family connections got him to places he otherwise would never have reached.”
There is a lot in here, most of it really interesting and well-researched. Starting away back in the mid-1800s in famine riddled Ireland, and the first of the Kennedys heading out to Boston to start a new life. We also learn of how the realities of the American dream for many consisted of being shamed, ridiculed or beaten up for being poor and in some cases the poorest and neediest were deported back to the UK, destroying the romanticised myth of America embracing everyone who came to its shores.
We also see that many of the so called elite in Boston and beyond in New England who were looking down on the Kenndeys and other people with Irish ancestry, although making a point to assert their independence from the Brits, but all they appear to have done was set up their own snobby, racist, ignorant and pretentious version of what they claimed to distance themselves from back in the UK…minus the royalty of course…
It’s no wonder that Boston was often regarded as the Dublin of the US, in 1847 alone, 37’000 Irish came ashore, and others arrived overland from Canada, and by the 1850s Irish born Catholics made up a quarter of Boston, and then later as much as one third of the population had Irish blood in them.
After learning of the origins of Honey Fitz and his political career, we learn about Kennedy’s incredibly intelligent mother, and his Harvard graduate father, (a mediocre student by all accounts, never any As and mostly Cs), but showed how connections and determination can go a lot further than good grades. His dad enriched himself to the tune of millions largely through insider trading (legal at the time but still frowned upon). In 1935 his wealth was estimated at around $180 million ($3.6 billion in 2020). His father in spite of lying publicly about it had serious political ambitious, which is why he buttered up FDR and even bankrolled a fawning book on him, “I’m For Roosevelt” but also brought in $150,000 for his campaign, including $25,000 of his own money in a bid to try and gain some political and personal advantage from Roosevelt. All he got for his servitude was a series of second tier positions, including his final post in London as the Ambassador, which lasted only around 18 months.
JFK himself was a very sickly child, almost dying at two years old from Scarlet fever, which led to chronic, life-long issues for him. He would go onto be given his last rites a few more times, and was plagued with sometimes crippling pain and long stays in hospital or bed ridden at home for most of his life.
Kennedy completed his thesis at Harvard with the help of no less than five stenographers. The absurd scenario which saw his dad lobbying to get his son into a combat role, in spite of his son clearly not being anywhere near fit enough for such a position, but of course, such trifling things like the rules don’t apply for people like the Kennedys', that’s for other suckers. Even if daddy couldn’t pull the strings, daddy’s pals could and as ever Kennedy got what he wanted.
There are many interesting asides in here, like apparently in 1939 the US army with only 190,000 men, ranked 17th in the world in size (behind Romania). Hence the reason why Roosevelt embarked upon a massive arms build-up spending $12 billion on the military after Hitler began to advance throughout Europe. JFK’s older brother made a great point about him managing to lose a ship during WWII and yet still come away and be regarded as the hero, though to be fair he did directly go and save the life of one of his men, though that was also part of his job.
When Kennedy eventually did go into politics, again the odds were so heavily stacked in his favour on all fronts that it was almost harder for him to fail, his dad could throw unlimited money at his campaigns, as well as call in various favours at various steps of the way. We also get a deep and telling insight into the cynicism, deception and manipulation in Kennedy’s electioneering, his dad lent Boston Globe half a million dollars after they backed his son during his campaign for governor.
He wasn’t always progressive as many made out, advocating the raising of taxes to pay for the Korean War, he was good friends with Senator Joe McCarthy and repeatedly refused to speak out against him or vote against him in case it lost him votes.
“Money was the great insulator. If you don’t sort of make your bed and get your own breakfast and have a certain amount of conversation with people who are doing all sorts of ordinary simple jobs, it does rob you of a great deal of empathy. I mean, whole areas in which empathy should naturally play a part are closed to you.”
I realised that I was looking for the profound in JFK, but instead I found privilege and a playboy. In so many ways Kennedy was the boy who never really grew up, daddy paved the way, smoothed the edges and forever the wealth and power kept him at a safe distance from the real world. Even the one period he was exposed to the real world at war was as a result of his wealth and connections.
I have never bought into the myth and romance of JFK, his role as President and his subsequent assassination and the drama surrounding it has assured his place within history. Celebrity, hype and money have done much to inflate and distort an otherwise slightly above average man. Yes he was good looking and did well with the ladies, yes he had an excellent memory, but take away daddy’s money and connections and what you are ultimately left with is something altogether different.
His entitlement was possibly best expressed through his life-long exploitation of women, just like his dad he felt no reason why he shouldn’t be allowed to cheat behind anyone’s back at any time. His treatment of women was frankly beyond appalling, total disregard for anyone else apart from himself, apparently oblivious to what a marriage entails, but of course there was never any shortage of women to play the game too, all too willing to play their part for self-interest.
What this book demonstrates is how much more smoother and easily things fall into place when you come from such wealth and power and how life hands you one opportunity after another, not just privilege, but almost unimaginable wealth, privilege and power. Logevall enjoys telling us about the times when Kennedy acts like an “ordinary” person as if any time he does we should give him a pat on the back or round of applause.
You can’t choose your parents or the background you grow up in, but for all his talents, much of Kennedy’s are only above average and if you are going to make a bid to become the President of the US, we now know that almost any idiot can get away with it, as long as you have the resources, (ie money, and deep family connections to power) which is how clowns like Reagan, baby Bush and Trump got there.
This is a well-written, thoroughly researched piece of work and I got a lot out of it reading it and I really look forward to getting a hold of the follow up. But in terms of the subject matter, well that is a different story, I was immensely disappointed in how mediocre he came across, and how when you strip away all the vast wealth and phenomenally powerful connections you are actually left with a spoilt rich kid who was only ever out for himself and who never really had to grow up.
“It is a marked feature of John F. Kennedy’s early adult years that at certain key junctures, family connections got him to places he otherwise would never have reached.”
There is a lot in here, most of it really interesting and well-researched. Starting away back in the mid-1800s in famine riddled Ireland, and the first of the Kennedys heading out to Boston to start a new life. We also learn of how the realities of the American dream for many consisted of being shamed, ridiculed or beaten up for being poor and in some cases the poorest and neediest were deported back to the UK, destroying the romanticised myth of America embracing everyone who came to its shores.
We also see that many of the so called elite in Boston and beyond in New England who were looking down on the Kenndeys and other people with Irish ancestry, although making a point to assert their independence from the Brits, but all they appear to have done was set up their own snobby, racist, ignorant and pretentious version of what they claimed to distance themselves from back in the UK…minus the royalty of course…
It’s no wonder that Boston was often regarded as the Dublin of the US, in 1847 alone, 37’000 Irish came ashore, and others arrived overland from Canada, and by the 1850s Irish born Catholics made up a quarter of Boston, and then later as much as one third of the population had Irish blood in them.
After learning of the origins of Honey Fitz and his political career, we learn about Kennedy’s incredibly intelligent mother, and his Harvard graduate father, (a mediocre student by all accounts, never any As and mostly Cs), but showed how connections and determination can go a lot further than good grades. His dad enriched himself to the tune of millions largely through insider trading (legal at the time but still frowned upon). In 1935 his wealth was estimated at around $180 million ($3.6 billion in 2020). His father in spite of lying publicly about it had serious political ambitious, which is why he buttered up FDR and even bankrolled a fawning book on him, “I’m For Roosevelt” but also brought in $150,000 for his campaign, including $25,000 of his own money in a bid to try and gain some political and personal advantage from Roosevelt. All he got for his servitude was a series of second tier positions, including his final post in London as the Ambassador, which lasted only around 18 months.
JFK himself was a very sickly child, almost dying at two years old from Scarlet fever, which led to chronic, life-long issues for him. He would go onto be given his last rites a few more times, and was plagued with sometimes crippling pain and long stays in hospital or bed ridden at home for most of his life.
Kennedy completed his thesis at Harvard with the help of no less than five stenographers. The absurd scenario which saw his dad lobbying to get his son into a combat role, in spite of his son clearly not being anywhere near fit enough for such a position, but of course, such trifling things like the rules don’t apply for people like the Kennedys', that’s for other suckers. Even if daddy couldn’t pull the strings, daddy’s pals could and as ever Kennedy got what he wanted.
There are many interesting asides in here, like apparently in 1939 the US army with only 190,000 men, ranked 17th in the world in size (behind Romania). Hence the reason why Roosevelt embarked upon a massive arms build-up spending $12 billion on the military after Hitler began to advance throughout Europe. JFK’s older brother made a great point about him managing to lose a ship during WWII and yet still come away and be regarded as the hero, though to be fair he did directly go and save the life of one of his men, though that was also part of his job.
When Kennedy eventually did go into politics, again the odds were so heavily stacked in his favour on all fronts that it was almost harder for him to fail, his dad could throw unlimited money at his campaigns, as well as call in various favours at various steps of the way. We also get a deep and telling insight into the cynicism, deception and manipulation in Kennedy’s electioneering, his dad lent Boston Globe half a million dollars after they backed his son during his campaign for governor.
He wasn’t always progressive as many made out, advocating the raising of taxes to pay for the Korean War, he was good friends with Senator Joe McCarthy and repeatedly refused to speak out against him or vote against him in case it lost him votes.
“Money was the great insulator. If you don’t sort of make your bed and get your own breakfast and have a certain amount of conversation with people who are doing all sorts of ordinary simple jobs, it does rob you of a great deal of empathy. I mean, whole areas in which empathy should naturally play a part are closed to you.”
I realised that I was looking for the profound in JFK, but instead I found privilege and a playboy. In so many ways Kennedy was the boy who never really grew up, daddy paved the way, smoothed the edges and forever the wealth and power kept him at a safe distance from the real world. Even the one period he was exposed to the real world at war was as a result of his wealth and connections.
I have never bought into the myth and romance of JFK, his role as President and his subsequent assassination and the drama surrounding it has assured his place within history. Celebrity, hype and money have done much to inflate and distort an otherwise slightly above average man. Yes he was good looking and did well with the ladies, yes he had an excellent memory, but take away daddy’s money and connections and what you are ultimately left with is something altogether different.
His entitlement was possibly best expressed through his life-long exploitation of women, just like his dad he felt no reason why he shouldn’t be allowed to cheat behind anyone’s back at any time. His treatment of women was frankly beyond appalling, total disregard for anyone else apart from himself, apparently oblivious to what a marriage entails, but of course there was never any shortage of women to play the game too, all too willing to play their part for self-interest.
What this book demonstrates is how much more smoother and easily things fall into place when you come from such wealth and power and how life hands you one opportunity after another, not just privilege, but almost unimaginable wealth, privilege and power. Logevall enjoys telling us about the times when Kennedy acts like an “ordinary” person as if any time he does we should give him a pat on the back or round of applause.
You can’t choose your parents or the background you grow up in, but for all his talents, much of Kennedy’s are only above average and if you are going to make a bid to become the President of the US, we now know that almost any idiot can get away with it, as long as you have the resources, (ie money, and deep family connections to power) which is how clowns like Reagan, baby Bush and Trump got there.
This is a well-written, thoroughly researched piece of work and I got a lot out of it reading it and I really look forward to getting a hold of the follow up. But in terms of the subject matter, well that is a different story, I was immensely disappointed in how mediocre he came across, and how when you strip away all the vast wealth and phenomenally powerful connections you are actually left with a spoilt rich kid who was only ever out for himself and who never really had to grow up.
September 8, 2020
Yes, there have been many biographies on JFK and yes, I have read them all but this deep dive by Pulitzer Prize winner Logevall added some new insight into the picture of our 35th president. He tells the story of American history and how it directly corresponds to JFK’s life and his rise to power.
.
We are in the middle of an election cycle and I just got done the last few weeks watching the Democratic and Republican Conventions. Logevall went in depth about JFK’s first visit to the convention and it’s what originally made him a political rising ✰. The convention information fascinated me, especially with it being so timely.
.
I always find information about the Kennedy Family fascinating. The political dynasty that our country has known is more then that. They are a close knit family that was competitive in the political field and in sports with each other but had each other’s backs always. What always impressed me is the Matriarch Rose. How does a mother have so many kids, keep them all engaged and raise them to do so many important things? Rose kept an index card system with pertinent information for each child (which I got that idea from her and I think is brilliant) she would leave our current events articles that she thought was important for the kids to read and set up reading areas through the house to encourage reading. Family time was above all important to the Kennedys and I think as the years have gone by that hasn’t changed.
.
This book also included beautiful pictures and some written letters. One I found so interesting was a letter he wrote home from Choate asking if he could be the new baby Teddy’s Godfather. Swipe to see.
.
This book is available This Tuesday, September 8. Thank you to #NetGalley and #Randomhouse for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
.
#quarantine#foffimreading#bookclub#bookblog#bookreviewblog#bookaddict#bookcommunity#goodreads#bookishbounds#sept2020#netgalley#randomhouse#jfk#fredriklogevall
.
We are in the middle of an election cycle and I just got done the last few weeks watching the Democratic and Republican Conventions. Logevall went in depth about JFK’s first visit to the convention and it’s what originally made him a political rising ✰. The convention information fascinated me, especially with it being so timely.
.
I always find information about the Kennedy Family fascinating. The political dynasty that our country has known is more then that. They are a close knit family that was competitive in the political field and in sports with each other but had each other’s backs always. What always impressed me is the Matriarch Rose. How does a mother have so many kids, keep them all engaged and raise them to do so many important things? Rose kept an index card system with pertinent information for each child (which I got that idea from her and I think is brilliant) she would leave our current events articles that she thought was important for the kids to read and set up reading areas through the house to encourage reading. Family time was above all important to the Kennedys and I think as the years have gone by that hasn’t changed.
.
This book also included beautiful pictures and some written letters. One I found so interesting was a letter he wrote home from Choate asking if he could be the new baby Teddy’s Godfather. Swipe to see.
.
This book is available This Tuesday, September 8. Thank you to #NetGalley and #Randomhouse for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
.
#quarantine#foffimreading#bookclub#bookblog#bookreviewblog#bookaddict#bookcommunity#goodreads#bookishbounds#sept2020#netgalley#randomhouse#jfk#fredriklogevall
August 17, 2024
As well written as it is researched, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about a part of JFK’s life that is often absent from biographies on him; his life prior to his presidency and assassination.
November 11, 2020
I thought this was going to be a book how how American dynasties are built, instead, I came away learning more about how broken these prominent families are. This book weaves a rich tapestry from the quirks and shortcomings of the Kennedy clan:
- PJ Kennedy and John Fitzgerald were first generation businessmen / budding local politicians, reinforcing the notion that money comes before power (mostly).
- Joe Sr. was a cunning businessman with average intellect, little knowledge of history, and tendency to act mostly out of self-interest/preservation during WWII
- Joe Jr. was a lesson on how not to parent - imbued with pressure of becoming a president when he was still in the womb, he unfortunately also possessed average intellect and closely followed his father's political narrow-mindednes
- Jack was able to think for himself on political matters, definitely having benefited from being the ambassador's son and sitting in the room with Churchill and other world leaders as a young boy in some of the most pivotal historical moments, leading to him becoming a published author of a successful book in college. His bravery during the war is most commendable out of anything he had done up until this point. He has a lot of strong attributes, but one thing on which he unfortunately did not diverge from his father was his incurable infidelity
- Kick, Robert, and the others seemed admirable for the most part, as they made the most of their extreme privilege by doing something with it. The family gatherings, incessant competitive activities, dinner table conversations were ingredients, no doubt, to generations of relentless ambition. Ambition can be a dangerous thing though, when not properly applied.
- PJ Kennedy and John Fitzgerald were first generation businessmen / budding local politicians, reinforcing the notion that money comes before power (mostly).
- Joe Sr. was a cunning businessman with average intellect, little knowledge of history, and tendency to act mostly out of self-interest/preservation during WWII
- Joe Jr. was a lesson on how not to parent - imbued with pressure of becoming a president when he was still in the womb, he unfortunately also possessed average intellect and closely followed his father's political narrow-mindednes
- Jack was able to think for himself on political matters, definitely having benefited from being the ambassador's son and sitting in the room with Churchill and other world leaders as a young boy in some of the most pivotal historical moments, leading to him becoming a published author of a successful book in college. His bravery during the war is most commendable out of anything he had done up until this point. He has a lot of strong attributes, but one thing on which he unfortunately did not diverge from his father was his incurable infidelity
- Kick, Robert, and the others seemed admirable for the most part, as they made the most of their extreme privilege by doing something with it. The family gatherings, incessant competitive activities, dinner table conversations were ingredients, no doubt, to generations of relentless ambition. Ambition can be a dangerous thing though, when not properly applied.
March 13, 2022
This is a book that is really worth reading; so much to absorb that in some ways it was good having to devour it in small bites. It is extensively and exhaustively researched and written as if you were walking alongside him. At least you could go back over things in your mind and gain fuller understanding. Unlike many biographies this book neither paints the blackest parts of the subject nor the whitest of white. Instead one gets a sense of the man just as he was, not superhuman, and certainly not goody two shoes. Instead we can see how this person was a product of both his parents (with all the attendant problems they faced as children themselves) and his environment. Win, win, win seemed to be the family motto and indeed the family tried to do just that, constantly. So here we have a young man, determined despite his physical frailties, to forge his own way. He reflected the mores of the times especially as regards the attitude towards women, his father being an unwitting teacher. And we see Jack not the ultrawhite sanitised version, but Jack flesh and blood, sometimes falling, sometimes rising higher than others. We see also that he was not initially "the Chosen One" but second best until the untimely death of his elder brother at which time the mantle was passed to him. Blessed with an enquiring mind his books are gems in themselves and well worth reading. And he proved time after time also he was not a slave to populism but true to his own ideals. Full and well rounded this book is a must for any Kennedy afficionado. I look forward to the next one from this author.
January 15, 2023
JFK by Fredrik Logevall lives up to its legendary status as a well researched and incredibly informative document of the first 40 years of John F Kennedys life. Logevall begins this book with a background to the story of the Kennedy and Fitzgerald families during their immigration to America and leading up to the birth of JFK (Jack). Some reviews believe this is superfluous but I found it provided important information and context for understanding the dynamic Kennedy family.
Logevall shows his skill as an engaging and well informed writer documenting the life of Jack Kennedy through his childhood, schooling, military service, travel and political career. It includes both a gripping account of Jack Kennedys career but an interesting snapshot into his personal life and illness. Logevall captures with incredible detail the excitement and intensity of Jack Kennedys heroism in the Second World War and times at the 1956 Democratic Party convention.
At the end of this book I felt like I understood Jack Kennedy and the affairs of the world at the time. Despite being a lengthy read I did not struggle and found the size to be fitting of this incredible biography. I will be sure to snap up the next volume in this series. 5/5
Logevall shows his skill as an engaging and well informed writer documenting the life of Jack Kennedy through his childhood, schooling, military service, travel and political career. It includes both a gripping account of Jack Kennedys career but an interesting snapshot into his personal life and illness. Logevall captures with incredible detail the excitement and intensity of Jack Kennedys heroism in the Second World War and times at the 1956 Democratic Party convention.
At the end of this book I felt like I understood Jack Kennedy and the affairs of the world at the time. Despite being a lengthy read I did not struggle and found the size to be fitting of this incredible biography. I will be sure to snap up the next volume in this series. 5/5
January 3, 2024
Unprecedented thorough portrait of the life of JFK. Written with profound scrutiny, it entails the context of world developments - and historic background information - to fully grasp the decisions and turning points in Jack’s life. I’d warmly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Kennedy family and American history around these decades.
The book is well written and contains some pictures scattered across the book. The most startling and fascinating things I learned were Jack his ability to charm people, to be extremely interested in others, in giving someone his full attention, his quick wit and precocity that sets him apart as a very interesting and intriguing individual. Together with many more other characteristics. He wasn’t perfect, he had many adulterous affairs which harmed his relationship with Jackie heavily.
‘We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.’
The book is well written and contains some pictures scattered across the book. The most startling and fascinating things I learned were Jack his ability to charm people, to be extremely interested in others, in giving someone his full attention, his quick wit and precocity that sets him apart as a very interesting and intriguing individual. Together with many more other characteristics. He wasn’t perfect, he had many adulterous affairs which harmed his relationship with Jackie heavily.
‘We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.’
November 15, 2020
I have read a lot of books about JFK but Fredrick Logevall’s work provided me numerous insights into the man who became President in 1961 as the first Roman Catholic. This book only covered JFK from birth to his failed attempt to become democratic VP nominee in 1956. I eagerly look forward to the second volume.
The thing that makes this book so well done is that it provides great depth into the development of Kennedy as a person with all his great attributes ( soldier, author, politician, brother) and his faults (playboy, unfaithful husband). It also covers his medical history which could be a book in itself. What is so interesting about JFK is that even though he was born into wealth he was able to relate to people in all walks of life.
Another aspect of the book that is so enriching is that the author describes in adequate depth what is happening historically during this period of Kennedy’s life so the reader can understand how the tide of historical events was another key element in the person JFK became.
The thing that makes this book so well done is that it provides great depth into the development of Kennedy as a person with all his great attributes ( soldier, author, politician, brother) and his faults (playboy, unfaithful husband). It also covers his medical history which could be a book in itself. What is so interesting about JFK is that even though he was born into wealth he was able to relate to people in all walks of life.
Another aspect of the book that is so enriching is that the author describes in adequate depth what is happening historically during this period of Kennedy’s life so the reader can understand how the tide of historical events was another key element in the person JFK became.
May 24, 2021
I enjoyed this more for its exploration of JFK’s world and circumstances rather than the man himself. While the author seems quite enchanted with him, I found Kennedy to be rather arrogant and callow. He is frequently described as having a keen, creative and skeptical intelligence but what good is that without real political courage? An example: his feeble refusal to vote to condemn Joseph McCarthy with the rest of the Democratic caucus for fear of upsetting Irish Catholic voters. I picked this one up because I really enjoyed Embers of War, an examination of the French war in Vietnam. I’ll certainly read the second volume when it’s released. I’ll be particularly interested in the author’s take on Vietnam, Bay of Pigs, etc.
March 1, 2022
So overall I learned a lot from this book. It’s a long read and I was ready for it to be over because it took me almost 2 months. I’m used to flying through books, but I guess that only happens when I read fiction. It’s an interesting look at JFK’s life, what motivated him through different stages of his youth and young adulthood before running for president. There was a lot of context in this book that helped me understand the era - not only what was going on from a historical POV, but also the take on Catholics, JFK’s direct ancestors, etc. Overall I do recommend this - I’d just adjust your expectations at how long it will take you to read.
January 1, 2024
En långkörare för egen del som återupptogs iom 60 årsdagen efter Kennedys död. Mycket detaljerad och mestadels objektiv beskrivning av denna tävlingsmänniska som sedermera blev president. För den som vill veta allt om Kennedy är detta ett läsvärt praktverk.
January 14, 2025
Wonderful first volume of a JFK biography, if more positive on balance than I would have gone.
Logevall does a good job showing the evolution of his personality over the years: both the actual changes, along with the simpler, mythic backstory later fashioned for his political career. I would not have thought there’d be enough pre-1957 material to make a great book out of it, but am happy to be proven wrong.
It did remind me of an occasional tic you see among biographers: digging up the most private utterances (in a diary or confided letter) and taking that to be the truest measure of a man’s beliefs. Sometimes the complication and nuance we repeat to ourselves is just a self-delusion, eagerly grasped because it makes it easier to go along with everyone else… say, in continued commitment in Indochina, or failure to take on Joe McCarthy before his life started to fall apart.
Logevall does a good job showing the evolution of his personality over the years: both the actual changes, along with the simpler, mythic backstory later fashioned for his political career. I would not have thought there’d be enough pre-1957 material to make a great book out of it, but am happy to be proven wrong.
It did remind me of an occasional tic you see among biographers: digging up the most private utterances (in a diary or confided letter) and taking that to be the truest measure of a man’s beliefs. Sometimes the complication and nuance we repeat to ourselves is just a self-delusion, eagerly grasped because it makes it easier to go along with everyone else… say, in continued commitment in Indochina, or failure to take on Joe McCarthy before his life started to fall apart.
December 22, 2025
The lower rating is partially on me for not doing a better job of seeing what areas of JFK’s life this book covered. This book basically covers everything from his great great grandparents all the way up to right before he decides to run for president. I thought this book was very interesting and offered good quotes and insights about Kennedy and his life. He was not a very good person, as he frequently cheated on his wife among other things, but it does seem to me that he genuinely cared about America and wanted this nation to succeed. I’m not sure how many presidents we have had since him who felt that way. I definitely want to find another book that focuses in on his presidency so I can continue to learn more.
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March 19, 2025Only took me three years!! Can’t wait for Part 2!!!
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