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Coming to Terms with John F. Kennedy
Stephen F. Knott has spent his life grappling with the legacy of President John F. JFK was the first president Knott remembers, he worked for Ted Kennedy’s Senate campaign in 1976, and later he worked at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston. Moreover, Knott’s scholarly work on the American presidency has wrestled with Kennedy’s time in office and whether his presidency was ultimately a positive or negative one for the country. After initially being a strong Kennedy fan, Knott’s views began to sour during his time at the library, eventually leading him to become a “Reagan Democrat.” The Trump presidency led Knott to revisit JFK, leading him once more to reconsider his views. Coming to Terms with John F. Kennedy offers a nuanced assessment of the thirty-fifth president, whose legacy and impact people continue to debate to this day. Knott examines Kennedy through the lens of five critical his interpretation of presidential power, his approach to civil rights, and his foreign policy toward Cuba, the Soviet Union, and Vietnam. Knott also explores JFK’s assassination and the evolving interpretations of his presidency, both highly politicized subject matters. What emerges is a president as complex as the author’s shifting views about him. The passage of sixty years, from working in the Kennedy Library to a career writing about the American presidency, has given Knott a broader view of Kennedy’s presidency and allowed him to see how both the Left and the Right, and members of the Kennedy family, distorted JFK's record for their own purposes. Despite the existence of over forty thousand books dealing with the man and his era, Coming to Terms with John F. Kennedy offers something new to say about this brief but important presidency. Knott contends that Kennedy’s presidency, for better or for worse, mattered deeply and that whatever his personal flaws, Kennedy’s lofty rhetoric appealed to what is best in America, without invoking the snarling nativism of his least illustrious successor, Donald Trump.
280 pages, Hardcover
Published October 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 7, 2024
Kennedy and the brief era in which he governed are part of a lost world, possibly irretrievable, when Americans believed in themselves and in their nation. I am not referring to a mystical Camelot, but to a time when polls revealed Americans trusted their government and believed in their nation’s purpose.
Stephen F. Knott in Coming to Terms with John F. Kennedy (Page 5)
The author states that over forty thousand books about John Kennedy and his presidency have been published. How does a man who was only president for 2 years and 10 months generate that many books? This book is an examination of the man who has fascinated us for over sixty years. In these times of political division and discord Kennedy personified what was good about ourselves and our country.
This is neither a biography nor a classical history of the events of his life or presidency. It is an assessment of the idea the man represents. As such it is an intellectual history. Is Kennedy the myth created by his wife, Jackie, his court historians, and perpetuated by the Kennedy family, the hero of Camelot, or is he the man described by William Buckley as all style and no substance; or all profile and no courage. This question is examined through the perspective of his impact on the office of the presidency, his role in the Civil Rights battle of the early 1960s, his dealings with Cuba and the Soviet Union, and then his role in the consequence of Vietnam.
The truth of the Kennedy presidency has been obscured by the both the myth of Camelot and by the right-wing’s disdain for an active, progressive president. HIs brief time as president has denied us a full picture of his policies. Had he lived to be reelected and serve a second term we would have had a better picture of his legacy.
Having read only a tiny fraction of the forty thousand books on John Kennedy I still consider this an essential book for an understanding of the man and his presidency.
November 15, 2022
Ted Kennedy once described the American fascination with his older brother by saying, “They made him a legend when he would have preferred to have been a man.” Since the brutal and sudden end of the Kennedy presidency historians, academics, and regular citizens have made President Kennedy into a legend. Dr. Stephen Knott, through this eloquent, well researched, and very persuasive analysis, presents to us the missing dynamic that Ted Kennedy referenced--the man.
The man that is John F. Kennedy.
Dr. Knott presents us with a unique perspective of being born into the eastern society which was fertile ground for the Kennedy legend to take hold on the American citizenry in the aftermath of his death. Dr. Knott himself is honest that he too was caught up in this Kennedy mythos and takes us through his journey from Arthurian legend to the human identity of President Kennedy. Through his thoughtful and persuasive analysis, Dr. Knott offers us much more than a simple ‘what if?’ of the Kennedy legacy. Dr. Knott truly comes to terms with John F. Kennedy.
By analyzing President Kennedy as a human being with experiences that impact him throughout his life, we are also forced to come to terms with him. By learning to lead and overcoming his mistakes, Dr. Knott demonstrates that Kennedy offered this country much more than simple ‘what ifs’. The Kennedy presidency was much more than an empty suit, but it was also not the mythologicalized hero of the Cold War era that we so often imagine. Dr. Knott examines Kennedy’s growth on the issue of civil rights, his policies towards the Castro regime in Cuba and the Vietnam War, but also the impact of President Kennedy’s death upon the American psyche.
Depending on your political leanings, President Kennedy’s stance on civil rights seems to miss the bar. To the conservative right, it was just all talk and no action. To the liberal left, it’s too little, too late. But Dr. Knott presents us with the reality; that President Kennedy offered so much in June of 1963 when he declared civil rights “a moral issue.” That talk was followed up with action and presented as the 1963 Civil Rights Act, which would be passed by his successor. President Kennedy, knowing the hard reality of the political landscape was willing to call this issue what it truly was--a moral issue. Dr. Knott persuades us, the reader, that this sets him apart from nearly all of his predecessors and successors.
President Kennedy no doubt understood that his presidency would be dominated by the Cold War. The most defining moment of his presidency was the “eyeball to eyeball” showdown during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Through hereto many fall into two categories. No. 1: President Kennedy, through his lack of experience and understanding, led us to this perilous moment. No. 2: that President Kennedy’s ‘soft on communism’ approach emboldened the Soviet Union to take these aggressive actions. Dr. Knott argues, by contrast, that we are missing the forest for the trees. The real lesson of the 13 days of October is President Kennedy’s truly held beliefs on the nature of human warfare--that his actions put at risk the lives of thousands. This helps us more fully understand President Kennedy’s actions involving the Bay of Pigs invasion, the building of the Berlin Wall, and the conflict in Laos. These events demonstrate President Kennedy’s misunderstood acceptance of the greater good--that the idea of risking lives was absolutely intolerable. Dr. Knott presents us that this was a lifelong learned idea of war-aversion stemming back to President Kennedy’s days serving aboard PT-109 during World War II.
The most defining aspect of Dr. Knott’s book (in my view) is President Kennedy’s policies on Vietnam. As Dr. Knott rightly recognizes, there is an element of ‘what if’ as it relates to President Kennedy’s policies in Vietnam, but as he writes, “...not all speculation is equal; some conjectures are more rooted in facts and reason than others.” By leading us through President Kennedy’s previous accomplishments and failures, Dr. Knott offers us a much more nuanced view of the biggest ‘what if’ of the Kennedy presidency. The argument that Dr. Knott makes here is worth the read alone.
The last major theme of Dr. Knott’s work is the impact of the mythologicalization of the Kennedy presidency. The depths of orchestration by those who loved and missed him most created a legacy that deified President Kennedy, making him more god than man. As a result, this mythos revolving around President Kennedy hindered our understanding of history as it actually was. This has presented us with a problem, one that we are still trying to come to terms with even 60 years after his death. The mythos created by the Kennedy family has even biased some historians writing about President Kennedy since then. Some because they want to, and others because the mythos is so effective and powerful. The true integrity of Dr. Knott is being honest with himself on his understanding of President Kennedy and encouraging us to also come to terms with John F. Kennedy like he had.
The man that is John F. Kennedy.
Dr. Knott presents us with a unique perspective of being born into the eastern society which was fertile ground for the Kennedy legend to take hold on the American citizenry in the aftermath of his death. Dr. Knott himself is honest that he too was caught up in this Kennedy mythos and takes us through his journey from Arthurian legend to the human identity of President Kennedy. Through his thoughtful and persuasive analysis, Dr. Knott offers us much more than a simple ‘what if?’ of the Kennedy legacy. Dr. Knott truly comes to terms with John F. Kennedy.
By analyzing President Kennedy as a human being with experiences that impact him throughout his life, we are also forced to come to terms with him. By learning to lead and overcoming his mistakes, Dr. Knott demonstrates that Kennedy offered this country much more than simple ‘what ifs’. The Kennedy presidency was much more than an empty suit, but it was also not the mythologicalized hero of the Cold War era that we so often imagine. Dr. Knott examines Kennedy’s growth on the issue of civil rights, his policies towards the Castro regime in Cuba and the Vietnam War, but also the impact of President Kennedy’s death upon the American psyche.
Depending on your political leanings, President Kennedy’s stance on civil rights seems to miss the bar. To the conservative right, it was just all talk and no action. To the liberal left, it’s too little, too late. But Dr. Knott presents us with the reality; that President Kennedy offered so much in June of 1963 when he declared civil rights “a moral issue.” That talk was followed up with action and presented as the 1963 Civil Rights Act, which would be passed by his successor. President Kennedy, knowing the hard reality of the political landscape was willing to call this issue what it truly was--a moral issue. Dr. Knott persuades us, the reader, that this sets him apart from nearly all of his predecessors and successors.
President Kennedy no doubt understood that his presidency would be dominated by the Cold War. The most defining moment of his presidency was the “eyeball to eyeball” showdown during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Through hereto many fall into two categories. No. 1: President Kennedy, through his lack of experience and understanding, led us to this perilous moment. No. 2: that President Kennedy’s ‘soft on communism’ approach emboldened the Soviet Union to take these aggressive actions. Dr. Knott argues, by contrast, that we are missing the forest for the trees. The real lesson of the 13 days of October is President Kennedy’s truly held beliefs on the nature of human warfare--that his actions put at risk the lives of thousands. This helps us more fully understand President Kennedy’s actions involving the Bay of Pigs invasion, the building of the Berlin Wall, and the conflict in Laos. These events demonstrate President Kennedy’s misunderstood acceptance of the greater good--that the idea of risking lives was absolutely intolerable. Dr. Knott presents us that this was a lifelong learned idea of war-aversion stemming back to President Kennedy’s days serving aboard PT-109 during World War II.
The most defining aspect of Dr. Knott’s book (in my view) is President Kennedy’s policies on Vietnam. As Dr. Knott rightly recognizes, there is an element of ‘what if’ as it relates to President Kennedy’s policies in Vietnam, but as he writes, “...not all speculation is equal; some conjectures are more rooted in facts and reason than others.” By leading us through President Kennedy’s previous accomplishments and failures, Dr. Knott offers us a much more nuanced view of the biggest ‘what if’ of the Kennedy presidency. The argument that Dr. Knott makes here is worth the read alone.
The last major theme of Dr. Knott’s work is the impact of the mythologicalization of the Kennedy presidency. The depths of orchestration by those who loved and missed him most created a legacy that deified President Kennedy, making him more god than man. As a result, this mythos revolving around President Kennedy hindered our understanding of history as it actually was. This has presented us with a problem, one that we are still trying to come to terms with even 60 years after his death. The mythos created by the Kennedy family has even biased some historians writing about President Kennedy since then. Some because they want to, and others because the mythos is so effective and powerful. The true integrity of Dr. Knott is being honest with himself on his understanding of President Kennedy and encouraging us to also come to terms with John F. Kennedy like he had.
October 24, 2022
“I have grappled with John F Kennedy’s legacy all my life.” As have I. This even handed biography presents a thoughtful defense of his policies, and attempts to bring us sometimes doubters back into the fold. And, in my case, succeeds.
Not exactly a biography this book explores JFK’s policies on civil rights, presidential power, and foreign affairs. And the chapter on the various assassination theories is the best I’ve read, “… less rooted in a desire for truth and more about propagating a scenario to suit their ideological preferences.”
A highlight of the book focuses on the never ending question over Vietnam. Would JFK, had he lived, traveled the same confused path as LBJ? Knott admits he is only speculating, but lays out a convincing case that Kennedy wouldn’t have sunk us in that bloody mud hole.
Professor Knott takes his shots against The Donald, which of course is appropriate. “Kennedy and the brief era in which he governed are part of a lost world, possibly irretrievable, when Americans believed in themselves and in their nation. I am not referring to a mythical Camelot, but to a time when polls revealed Americans trusted their government and believed in their nation’s purpose. Yet in my lifetime, I witnessed that hope and optimism evaporate. Twenty-first century Americans have much to learn from this era and from this president in our jaded, divisive times, when reality itself is up for debate.”
The arguments presented in the book are necessarily detailed, but the narrative flows right along, with a touch of humor now and again. I had never heard the story of the dueling campaign songs in his contest with Nixon in 1960. Kennedy’s pal Frank Sinatra produced a jazzy number. “Suffice it to say that Kennedy’s campaign song had the edge over Nixon’s “Click with Dick,” which offered the following line as an enticement to vote for the Vice President: “Come on and click with Dick, the one that none can lick.”
This book is a model of investigative biography. Five stars!
Not exactly a biography this book explores JFK’s policies on civil rights, presidential power, and foreign affairs. And the chapter on the various assassination theories is the best I’ve read, “… less rooted in a desire for truth and more about propagating a scenario to suit their ideological preferences.”
A highlight of the book focuses on the never ending question over Vietnam. Would JFK, had he lived, traveled the same confused path as LBJ? Knott admits he is only speculating, but lays out a convincing case that Kennedy wouldn’t have sunk us in that bloody mud hole.
Professor Knott takes his shots against The Donald, which of course is appropriate. “Kennedy and the brief era in which he governed are part of a lost world, possibly irretrievable, when Americans believed in themselves and in their nation. I am not referring to a mythical Camelot, but to a time when polls revealed Americans trusted their government and believed in their nation’s purpose. Yet in my lifetime, I witnessed that hope and optimism evaporate. Twenty-first century Americans have much to learn from this era and from this president in our jaded, divisive times, when reality itself is up for debate.”
The arguments presented in the book are necessarily detailed, but the narrative flows right along, with a touch of humor now and again. I had never heard the story of the dueling campaign songs in his contest with Nixon in 1960. Kennedy’s pal Frank Sinatra produced a jazzy number. “Suffice it to say that Kennedy’s campaign song had the edge over Nixon’s “Click with Dick,” which offered the following line as an enticement to vote for the Vice President: “Come on and click with Dick, the one that none can lick.”
This book is a model of investigative biography. Five stars!
May 22, 2023
in this timely book Stephen F. Knott reexamines John F. Kennedy's presidency and many of the myths that surround both JFK and his presidency. Knott himself shares some of his personal memories of the Kennedy family having worked for the JFK Presidential Library. Knott admittedly has been both a Kennedy admirer and cynic and so is able to navigate both sides of JFK's reputation and explore the facts behind the accepted history. Knott looks at JFK's use of the Presidential office, his record on Civil Rights, his foreign policy towards Cuba, the Soviet Union and Vietnam as well as the conspiracies about his assassination. Finally Knott comes close to historiography in discussing how historians have treated JFK over the years and examining JFK's legacy in the final chapter. In the end Knott portrays JFK as a "near-great" president who is worthy of being remembered and honored. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to know more about John F. Kennedy and his legacy.
February 11, 2023
John Kennedy is one of our most elusive presidents, when it comes to history and biography. This is because he remained “political” long after his assassination: two of his brothers later ran for president and numerous other friends and relatives used their connections with him for political, financial, and personal gain. Just as Kennedy’s family and friends had motive to scrub his flaws and idolize him, so opponents of the Kennedy phenomena had reason to demonize him and distort his skills and accomplishments. Thus, the real Kennedy seldom appears in any biographies about him. (To an extent, this is also true about Nixon and Reagan.) Added to the problem of “Kennedy historiography” is his deplorable sexual incontinence, including acts of rape and sex with underage women. At the time, his sexual behavior was kept under wraps and dismissed as “boys will be boys.” But in 2023, it’s important to call his behavior what it was: abusive and unjust. In this facet of his life, Kennedy’s behavior was inexcusable. In this regard, historians struggle with the same issues that present themselves in such presidents as Washington, Jefferson, and Jackson—and their slaveholding.
But the role of the historian is different from that of the preacher or moralist. While the historian must acknowledge the full truth of historical characters, including flaws and contemporary political successes, the historian must also seek to understand the influence a figure has on history. Stephen Knott is an excellent historian.
Knott began life as a Kennedy acolyte, worked at the Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston, became a Reagan Democrat, a Republican, and then left the Republican party because of Trump. He noticed both the qualities of John Kennedy, the flaws, the interference of the Kennedy family when it came to historical documentation and research, and the difficulty of trying to figure out what Kennedy would have done had he lived. While feeling both emotionally attached and repulsed by Kennedy, Knott is self-aware and has disciplined himself to keep moving toward objectivity in his research and conclusions.
The author selects several topics to examine the Kennedy presidency: the Kennedy administration’s foreign policy in regard to the Soviet Union, Cuba, and Vietnam; Civil Rights, the assassination; the quest to go to the moon; his womanizing, and the Kennedy legacy. By limiting himself to these specific areas, Knott is able to give us a clearer picture of John Kennedy and his importance in shaping the direction of the United States and the world in the early 60s.
Knott also gives a brief critique of other Kennedy biographies, which is helpful to consult before spending the money or time on them.
Like two other assassinated presidents (Lincoln and Garfield) we are left with huge “What if…” questions. What if Kennedy had lived? Would Civil Rights legislation have passed? Would he have kept us out of Vietnam? Would he and Khrushchev reached an agreement on nuclear disarmament? Would Cuba have come back under U.S. control? Kennedy’s statements during his presidency were ambiguous enough that no one knows for sure. But Knott points out that Kennedy was both a strategist and a tactician. As a strategist, he kept his end goals secret. His tactics were highly political, and often used to throw off his opponents. Knott looks to Kennedy’s rhetoric to distinguish the two. He also looks backward to see the end results of situations that worked themselves to a conclusion during Kennedy’s presidency—to determine the strategy—the end goal. Knott’s conclusion: Kennedy was anti-war, pro-civil rights, and pro-nuclear disarmament—even though there are actions and statements to the contrary.
Knott also points out that Kennedy was a vociferous reader and lifelong learner, and that his views changed the more he learned. This seems to be the case when it comes to Civil Rights, as Kennedy become more favorable to the movement as his presidency went on. Knott also points out that Kennedy was a skilled politician and did not get too far out ahead of the electorate, even though he looked for opportunities to educate and change people’s minds. His sense of humor and his quick wit were real.
Had it not been for those trying to whitewash his reputation after his death, or those trying to destroy it, we would have a better sense of the man’s importance and place in American history, including his flaws of character.
But the role of the historian is different from that of the preacher or moralist. While the historian must acknowledge the full truth of historical characters, including flaws and contemporary political successes, the historian must also seek to understand the influence a figure has on history. Stephen Knott is an excellent historian.
Knott began life as a Kennedy acolyte, worked at the Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston, became a Reagan Democrat, a Republican, and then left the Republican party because of Trump. He noticed both the qualities of John Kennedy, the flaws, the interference of the Kennedy family when it came to historical documentation and research, and the difficulty of trying to figure out what Kennedy would have done had he lived. While feeling both emotionally attached and repulsed by Kennedy, Knott is self-aware and has disciplined himself to keep moving toward objectivity in his research and conclusions.
The author selects several topics to examine the Kennedy presidency: the Kennedy administration’s foreign policy in regard to the Soviet Union, Cuba, and Vietnam; Civil Rights, the assassination; the quest to go to the moon; his womanizing, and the Kennedy legacy. By limiting himself to these specific areas, Knott is able to give us a clearer picture of John Kennedy and his importance in shaping the direction of the United States and the world in the early 60s.
Knott also gives a brief critique of other Kennedy biographies, which is helpful to consult before spending the money or time on them.
Like two other assassinated presidents (Lincoln and Garfield) we are left with huge “What if…” questions. What if Kennedy had lived? Would Civil Rights legislation have passed? Would he have kept us out of Vietnam? Would he and Khrushchev reached an agreement on nuclear disarmament? Would Cuba have come back under U.S. control? Kennedy’s statements during his presidency were ambiguous enough that no one knows for sure. But Knott points out that Kennedy was both a strategist and a tactician. As a strategist, he kept his end goals secret. His tactics were highly political, and often used to throw off his opponents. Knott looks to Kennedy’s rhetoric to distinguish the two. He also looks backward to see the end results of situations that worked themselves to a conclusion during Kennedy’s presidency—to determine the strategy—the end goal. Knott’s conclusion: Kennedy was anti-war, pro-civil rights, and pro-nuclear disarmament—even though there are actions and statements to the contrary.
Knott also points out that Kennedy was a vociferous reader and lifelong learner, and that his views changed the more he learned. This seems to be the case when it comes to Civil Rights, as Kennedy become more favorable to the movement as his presidency went on. Knott also points out that Kennedy was a skilled politician and did not get too far out ahead of the electorate, even though he looked for opportunities to educate and change people’s minds. His sense of humor and his quick wit were real.
Had it not been for those trying to whitewash his reputation after his death, or those trying to destroy it, we would have a better sense of the man’s importance and place in American history, including his flaws of character.
January 2, 2023
First book of 2023 done - a superb and thoughtful consideration of a complex man
February 23, 2023
Incredibly well written and thoughtful approach to analyzing the Presidency of JFK. A must read!
September 6, 2024
I was fortunate enough to learn from this talented educator, writer and scholar in grad school. He writes in the same style as he teaches: open, conversational and without an overkill of details that do not matter to the overall purpose of the book. This was an excellent account of the Kennedy years that does not read like a boring biography. Instead, Knott analyzes the decision-making of JFK and his administration on the large issues facing them: Cuba, Civil Rights, Vietnam, etc. Each chapter is a deep dive into the issue and is fair in its argument and assessment of the President and his circle. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and learned quite a bit about the man, the leader and the time period. A solid historical and political analysis of a very consequential executive.
March 22, 2023
Solid history and assessment of the Kennedy presidency with a strong focus on foreign affairs and civil rights (little to nothing on economic policy). Knott cites the relevant literature, taking care to ensure that his reader knows both sides of Kennedy's handling of the issues. While Knott reaches his own conclusions, the reader is presented with all the necessary tools to make up her own mind as well.
July 20, 2025
Measured, positive analysis of the thirty-fifth President of the United States.
Author does a good job illustrating JFK’s intellectual curiosity, empathy, and eagerness to learn.
Author does a good job illustrating JFK’s intellectual curiosity, empathy, and eagerness to learn.
June 6, 2023
A terrific book that is beautifully written and extensively researched. The author mixes his own personal experiences grappling with JFK's legacy with an insightful account of the major issues/events of Kennedy's presidency. A must-read for all those interested in American history and in this brief but important presidency.
January 12, 2026
If I could give this book 10 stars, I would gladly do so. Like the author, I grew up idolizing both JFK and RFK. I have spent decades devouring every type of media I could get my hands on in order to learn the true and complete story about JFK and the Kennedy family.
This book, by far, is the most impartial, factual, and clear eyed account of JFK’s presidency that I have ever read. Dr. Knott brings an absolute wealth of passion, honesty, and credibility to this outstanding work.
Considering our current day culture’s “fire hose” of constant misinformation and disinformation, it is vitally important to be diligent and thorough in seeking answers to the questions that pervade our society. On the topic of JFK’s time in office, Dr. Knott has admirably done exactly that.
If you only read one book about JFK’s time as president, this is definitely the one to read!
This book, by far, is the most impartial, factual, and clear eyed account of JFK’s presidency that I have ever read. Dr. Knott brings an absolute wealth of passion, honesty, and credibility to this outstanding work.
Considering our current day culture’s “fire hose” of constant misinformation and disinformation, it is vitally important to be diligent and thorough in seeking answers to the questions that pervade our society. On the topic of JFK’s time in office, Dr. Knott has admirably done exactly that.
If you only read one book about JFK’s time as president, this is definitely the one to read!
March 22, 2026
Solid re-evaluation of President Kennedy's life and presidency. Dr. Knott's nuanced analysis of myths made by JFK's enemies and believers is a welcome addition to presidential scholarship.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews