Steven’s review of When Lions Roar: The Churchills and the Kennedys > Likes and Comments
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Steve: Excellent review.
Great review, Steven! I thought Pamela's affairs had a political component, that she shared information gleaned from her lovers with her father in law.
Joe Kennedy's feelings go deeper than that. He was more than suspicious of the British and Americans who he felt did not treat his countrymen fairly. As a victim of ethnic racism when he came over to the US he maintained his hatred his entire life. Its what drove him to be what he was and have his sons be so successful.
Steve, Many thanks for your very thoughtful review. Let me underline something. The first third of this book rewrites history by explaining how the C&Ks were actually friendly before their fateful differences over WWII. In his Washington Post review, historian Douglas Brinkley underlines the newest of this approach.
There is a lot of newsworthy material that appeared in Time.com and elsewhere. Most significantly, this is the first book to document the 1933 Kennedy British liquor deal, including the specific stock purchases by Winston and the specifics about how FDR found out about son Jimmy's role in it. This has never appeared before anywhere, (strangely the recent book about Churchills finances makes no mention of Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit stock, etc. How does a fellow with little money make such an investment in a NYC subway company or Joe's liquor supplier, National Distillers?) This investigative finding is very well documented from the archival records, and frankly told in a understated way. But it is hugely significant -- like friendships with Baruch, Beaverbrook and Kay Halle -- in understanding the relationship between the two families. Kay Halle is a virtual unknown in previous histories of these two families and her papers only became available at the JFK Library as I was doing this book.
Lastly, all of the personal and sexual material was from letters or well documented books, like the Clare Booth Luce bio. It's very important to understanding the relationships within these two families. Many of the women in this story are very important to understanding events and I would never dream of minimizing women or putting them in a secondary role in history. Understanding the Randolph-Pamela marriage is a huge part of this tale and I tell the story with open eyes, without any prurient touch. Sorry, I don't airbrush unflattering material but judge it fairly and accordingly and let my readers decide for themselves. Winston and JFK are a lot more human and interesting when you tell the full story.
Thanks for your in depth comments on my review. I enjoyed your book immensely and I appreciate the depth of your research and I agree about the important role the woman you discuss i.e.; Clare Booth Luce etc. have played. However, I think at times their significance is somewhat overshadowed by some of the relationships presented. Make no mistake the "carousel” you describe is important, but the impact of these woman is ever more so. Your other comments are dead on especially Joe Kennedy’s nastiness and unsavory business practices whether in politics or business, as are your comments on Churchill’s ego and what seems to be his ”financial obliviousness.” I am also familiar with Douglas Brinkley’s positive comments about the book which I also agree with. Overall, it is a fine work of history and I look forward to your next effort.
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Jean
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Mar 02, 2016 10:18AM
Steve: Excellent review.
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Great review, Steven! I thought Pamela's affairs had a political component, that she shared information gleaned from her lovers with her father in law.
Joe Kennedy's feelings go deeper than that. He was more than suspicious of the British and Americans who he felt did not treat his countrymen fairly. As a victim of ethnic racism when he came over to the US he maintained his hatred his entire life. Its what drove him to be what he was and have his sons be so successful.
Steve, Many thanks for your very thoughtful review. Let me underline something. The first third of this book rewrites history by explaining how the C&Ks were actually friendly before their fateful differences over WWII. In his Washington Post review, historian Douglas Brinkley underlines the newest of this approach.There is a lot of newsworthy material that appeared in Time.com and elsewhere. Most significantly, this is the first book to document the 1933 Kennedy British liquor deal, including the specific stock purchases by Winston and the specifics about how FDR found out about son Jimmy's role in it. This has never appeared before anywhere, (strangely the recent book about Churchills finances makes no mention of Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit stock, etc. How does a fellow with little money make such an investment in a NYC subway company or Joe's liquor supplier, National Distillers?) This investigative finding is very well documented from the archival records, and frankly told in a understated way. But it is hugely significant -- like friendships with Baruch, Beaverbrook and Kay Halle -- in understanding the relationship between the two families. Kay Halle is a virtual unknown in previous histories of these two families and her papers only became available at the JFK Library as I was doing this book.
Lastly, all of the personal and sexual material was from letters or well documented books, like the Clare Booth Luce bio. It's very important to understanding the relationships within these two families. Many of the women in this story are very important to understanding events and I would never dream of minimizing women or putting them in a secondary role in history. Understanding the Randolph-Pamela marriage is a huge part of this tale and I tell the story with open eyes, without any prurient touch. Sorry, I don't airbrush unflattering material but judge it fairly and accordingly and let my readers decide for themselves. Winston and JFK are a lot more human and interesting when you tell the full story.
Thanks for your in depth comments on my review. I enjoyed your book immensely and I appreciate the depth of your research and I agree about the important role the woman you discuss i.e.; Clare Booth Luce etc. have played. However, I think at times their significance is somewhat overshadowed by some of the relationships presented. Make no mistake the "carousel” you describe is important, but the impact of these woman is ever more so. Your other comments are dead on especially Joe Kennedy’s nastiness and unsavory business practices whether in politics or business, as are your comments on Churchill’s ego and what seems to be his ”financial obliviousness.” I am also familiar with Douglas Brinkley’s positive comments about the book which I also agree with. Overall, it is a fine work of history and I look forward to your next effort.
