President Kennedy - by Richard Reeves (Paperback)

About the Book

Now in a trade paper edition, Richard Reeves's highly acclaimed narrative separates reality from fiction in an unprecedented, in-depth look at what John F. Kennedy did at the crucial points of his presidency. Photographs. Author lecture schedule.

Book Synopsis

President Kennedy is the compelling, dramatic history of JFK's thousand days in office. It illuminates the presidential center of power by providing an indepth look at the day-by-day decisions and dilemmas of the thirty-fifth president as he faced everything from the threat of nuclear war abroad to racial unrest at home. "A narrative that leaves us not only with a new understanding of Kennedy as President, but also with a new understanding of what it means to be President" (The New York Times).

Review Quotes

Michael Elliot Newsweek A magnificent book....Reeves tries "to reconstruct [Kennedy's] world from his perspective." He succeeds triumphantly, forcing us to read the early 1960s in a fresh way.

Time magazine The best non-fiction book of the year.

Bill McKibben New York Daily News The power of JFK and of this book is strong enough that it illuminates our present day as well.

Bruce W. Nelan Time Fresh and fascinating material....The Bottom Line: A cool, clear look at the way JFK dealt with his crises.

Derek Shearer Los Angeles Times Book Review President Kennedy...is the best study that I've read of what it's like to be President.

Geoffrey C. Ward The Boston Globe Reeves' portrait of Kennedy and his presidency is both persuasive and compelling; the reader puts it down with the feeling that this is what it must have been like to be at the center of power at a time when the center very nearly did not hold.

Michiko Kakutani The New York Times [A] narrative that leaves us not only with a new understanding of Kennedy as President, but also with a new understanding of what it means to be President.

Peter Braestrup Chicago Tribune An uncommonly cool, compelling portrait of a modern president.

Rory Quirk The Atlanta Journal/The Atlanta Constitution A skillful blend of history and character study....Informative and provocative...Reeves offers the nation's 35th president without adulation and without tears.