Kennedy

Rating:
Summary: Camelot, A Time We All Miss
Review: After watching the three Presidential debates between Kerry and Bush, its interesting to go back and read this book by Ted Sorensen, a valuable aide and friend of President Kennedy. To be able to compare the world we now live in as represented by President Bush and JFK wannabe John kerry, and the way the world used to be in the time of the real JFK is remarkable. Maybe there was a secret agreement between politicians and the media on reporting events and styles, but it seems that todays world of immediate desire for news and analysis compared to President Kennedys administration of realism and understanding goes a long way to explain why politicians today are viewed in a lesser light. After President Kennedys death, we were faced with Vietnam, Watergate, malaise, an actor in the White House, Bush, an intern in the White House, 9/11, Iraq and Bush. Like that famous politician Yogi Berra once said, "Its Deja Vu All Over Again".

Rating:
Summary: A Research Classic
Review: Although Sorenson's book might have taken a beating since Camelot's golden days, it remains an invaluable classic for those interested in Presidential biographies. Sorenson doccuments what he felt made Kennedy a leader....and what ultimately impacted us when he was assasinated.

Rating:
Summary: Very good coverage of Cuba
Review: Sorensen's account deals briefly with Kennedy's background, and then dives deeper into his campaign and years in office. I used the book as research for a paper on the Bay of Pigs and found that Sorensen's analysis is concise yet thorough. His reliance on Kennedy's speeches and on the progression of the drafts (many that he wrote or co-wrote) provides a very interesting picture of the incident and the man that I couldn't find elsewhere.

A very good background, reference, or research piece from insider Ted Sorensen.