“Marc Selverstone has compiled an indispensable volume of essays on John F. Kennedy and his presidency, written by a stellar cast of scholars. What stands out in sharp relief in this wide-ranging and authoritative book is how consequential were Kennedy’s thousand days for the United States and for the world, and how controversial is his legacy.”
-Fredrik Logevall, Stephen and Madeline Anbinder Professor of History, Cornell University
“Marc Selverstone has brought together a remarkable group of scholars who illuminate the many important ideas of, and events that occurred during, this brief administration. This book is the best record of the Kennedy years.”
-Alan Brinkley, Allan Nevins Professor of American History, Columbia University
“This collection of talented scholars and their research and thoughts on John F. Kennedy is an invaluable resource: a deeply informed conversation for the ages.”
-Richard Reeves, writer, syndicated columnist, and senior lecturer at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California
A Companion to John F. Kennedy presents a comprehensive collection of historiographical essays addressing the life and administration of the nation’s 35th president. Featuring original contributions from leading JFK and Kennedy-era scholars, readings reflect the latest critical scholarship surrounding developments and events in Kennedy’s private and public life, from his privileged youth and early career in politics to his presidency and 1963 assassination. Initial essays explore themes addressed in the major Kennedy biographies, followed by readings covering Kennedy’s political career prior to his presidency, looking at his time in Congress and the U.S. presidential election of 1960. Subsequent essays explore Kennedy’s management of the presidency, including his dealings with Congress, the significance of his family and key advisers, and his handling of the media and the military. Berlin, Vietnam, the Bay of Pigs and other major crises that would define the JFK presidency are explored next, along with Kennedy’s responses to a variety of related regional and global challenges. A final series of essays address domestic concerns, including women’s issues and civil rights, and contentious debates surrounding the tragedy in Dallas. From Camelot to the Cuban Missile Crisis, A Companion to John F. Kennedy presents compelling new insights and a balanced reappraisal of JFK, both the man and president.
From the Back Cover
A COMPANION TO JOHN F. KENNEDY
“Marc J. Selverstone has compiled an indispensable volume of essays on John F. Kennedy and his presidency, written by a stellar cast of scholars. What stands out in sharp relief in this wide-ranging and authoritative book is how consequential were Kennedy’s thousand days for the United States and for the world, and how controversial is his legacy.
Fredrik Logevall, Stephen and Madeline Anbinder Professor of History, Cornell University
“Marc J. Selverstone has brought together a remarkable group of scholars who illuminate the many important ideas of, and events that occurred during, this brief administration. This book is the best record of the Kennedy years.”
Alan Brinkley, Allan Nevins Professor of American History, Columbia University
“This collection of talented scholars and their research and thoughts on John F. Kennedy is an invaluable resource: a deeply informed conversation for the ages.’
Richard Reeves, writer, syndicated columnist, and senior lecturer at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California
About the Author
Marc Selverstone is Associate Professor and Chair of the Presidential Recordings Program at the University of Virgina’s Miller Center. He is the author of Constructing the Monolith: The United States, Great Britain, and International Communism, 1945–1950 (2009), which won the Stuart L. Bernath Book Prize from the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations. He is currently writing The Kennedy Withdrawal: Camelot and the American Commitment to Vietnam.
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