The Pleasure of His Company

by Paul B. Fay Jr.

The most intimate book ever published about John F. Kennedy by one of his closest friends from his time in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Paul B. Fay, Jr..

Among the book's contents are 25 pages of photographs.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

220 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1966

Reviews

[KOMET · Rating 5 out of 5]

"THE PLEASURE OF HIS COMPANY" is a fine tribute to a martyred, well-loved President of the U.S. by one of his closest friends, recounting many of their shared experiences.

Paul B. "Red" Fay, Jr. first crossed paths with John F. Kennedy in the autumn of 1942 when both men were junior naval officers at a PT boat training school in Rhode Island. They met at a touch football game in which both participated. It was at first an inauspicious meeting that later grew into a strong bond forged between both men, subsequently strengthened during their combat service together (albeit on different PT boats) in the South Pacific the following year.

Fay shares with the reader a wealth of fascinating vignettes and anecdotes attesting to the uniqueness of the man and President that was John F. Kennedy. Fay helped his friend throughout his political career from his first run for Congress in 1946, to his race for the Senate in 1952 against a powerful incumbent (whom most pundits felt would handily defeat Kennedy), to his successful quest for the Presidency in 1960.

At 220 pages (with a generous scattering of photos), this book was a joy to read. It made real to me in a way few other books have that I've read about President Kennedy the singular uniqueness of a man who valued his family, friends, acquaintances, and the country that he so faithfully served.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking through a used book cart and found this paperback, autographed by the author, who was a close friend of JFK and apparently lived in the North Bay.

It's a personal account of JFK's life from the perspective of a loyal friend.

[Richard Walden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anything about JFK by a close friend in much appreciated and interesting, but Fay is a blowhard and loves to here himself referred to as 'Redhead' and calls his wife 'the Bride' and his father as 'the Battler. His main contribution to any Kennedy gathering was to sing 'Hooray for Hollywood' and to make an a fool out of himself. He evidently saw himself as the Class Clown but in reality was more likely the Horse's Ass.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read numerous books on JFK but this is the best one for getting a glimpse of the "friend" side of our 35th president!

[Maya Berardi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kennedy propagandaslop is sooo good when you don’t have Seymour hersh in your ear about it

[Dick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by a personal friend - who shares his views and experiences and sanitizes the other side of JFK's life.

[Jimmy · Rating 2 out of 5]

really patronizes Kennedy