Chris matthews jfk biography book reviews

Public opinion polls repeatedly find that John F. Kennedy is one of the most admired presidents in American history. But in important respects he remains an enigma.

Was he an inspirational hero who avoided nuclear war or a reckless gambler who took us to the brink of Armageddon? Was he pragmatic or idealistic?

Jfk biography

A hard worker or a dilettante? Did he deserve the success he achieved or was it largely a product of his father’s fortune?

Political commentator Chris Matthews admits that in the presidential election (when he was 11 years old) he was a solid Nixon supporter despite the fact that he and the Massachusetts senator were both Roman Catholic Irish-Americans.

Over time, however, his political loyalties shifted to the Democrats, and his interest in Kennedy and what made him tick increased. He writes: “A half century of political life later, my fascination with the elusive spirit of John F.

Kennedy has remained an abiding one. He