PROFILES IN COURAGE John F. Kennedy (247 pages)
©1955 This book was not what I was expecting. I was expecting adventurous courage: of soldiers, pioneers and explorers.
But it’s a different type of courage that the then young Senator Kennedy was referring to. His book is about political courage, the kind one needs to be an elected official with integrity.
These are the stories of little known U.S. Congressmen, from the very beginning of our history to about WW2, who have stood fast by what they believed was right, against the wishes of their Party, or sometimes even their constituents. For many, their courage to go against the flow cost them their political careers.
Unless you’re a history major or professor, many of these men probably won’t be familiar. Through my years of reading, I only recognized a few like John Quincy Adams, Daniel Webster, Sam Houston and Thomas Hart Benton.
I found the writing a bit dry, but I’m glad I finally got around to this book, which received the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 1957. If nothing else, it enlightened my naïve belief that government corruption is a modern evil; actually there have always been self-serving, greedy politicians without conscious who have had to be faced down by men of patriotic courage.
Anyone interested in the workings of Congress or who has a passion for American history shouldn’t miss this one, but I suspect the general reading public (such as myself) might find it a bit tedious. Still, it was a definitely a worthwhile read.
ADDENDUM:
After some interesting internet research when I finished this book, I found evidence that points to the fact that JFK won a Pulitzer Prize for a book that was ghostwritten by his speechwriter [Remember "Ask Not What Your Country Can Do for You...?], Ted Sorensen.
©1955 This book was not what I was expecting. I was expecting adventurous courage: of soldiers, pioneers and explorers.
But it’s a different type of courage that the then young Senator Kennedy was referring to. His book is about political courage, the kind one needs to be an elected official with integrity.
These are the stories of little known U.S. Congressmen, from the very beginning of our history to about WW2, who have stood fast by what they believed was right, against the wishes of their Party, or sometimes even their constituents. For many, their courage to go against the flow cost them their political careers.
Unless you’re a history major or professor, many of these men probably won’t be familiar. Through my years of reading, I only recognized a few like John Quincy Adams, Daniel Webster, Sam Houston and Thomas Hart Benton.
I found the writing a bit dry, but I’m glad I finally got around to this book, which received the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 1957. If nothing else, it enlightened my naïve belief that government corruption is a modern evil; actually there have always been self-serving, greedy politicians without conscious who have had to be faced down by men of patriotic courage.
Anyone interested in the workings of Congress or who has a passion for American history shouldn’t miss this one, but I suspect the general reading public (such as myself) might find it a bit tedious. Still, it was a definitely a worthwhile read.
ADDENDUM:
After some interesting internet research when I finished this book, I found evidence that points to the fact that JFK won a Pulitzer Prize for a book that was ghostwritten by his speechwriter [Remember "Ask Not What Your Country Can Do for You...?], Ted Sorensen.
Oh, in the book's preface, Kennedy acknowledges: “The
greatest debt is owed to my research associate [read:
speechwriter] Theodore C. Sorensen, for his invaluable assistance in the
assembly and preparation of the material upon which this book is based.” [In other words: Thanks for writing this book for me, Ted.]
So that blows my naive assumption that great Presidents write their own books and speeches. And anyone who knows me, knows I deplore ghostwriters. I don't mind it when people who have no writing talent co-author with someone who can write, as long as they give credit. But accepting a Pulitzer without revealing that the book was, for the most part, ghost-written is a different kettle of fish.
I didn't really know Pres. Kennedy, as he was killed when I was in the 5th grade. I was scared more than a little kid should ever have been by the Cuban Missile Crisis, but seriously, about the only thing that comes to my mind when I think of him is, "Hey, didn't he have an affair with Marilyn Monroe or something?"
I have this image of a dynamic speaker, suave and personable, charismatic, legendary, King of Camelot. I did NOT get that from the book at all! (And this was before I knew about the controversy, mind you.) JFK was our first "TV President," he was young and certainly better-looking than the Presidents that preceded him. I think it was his voice, his powerful charisma, that gave life and legend to his speeches. This book was totally lacking that. (Now I know why.)
Hmmm... that brings to mind another charismatic Presidential candidate who wowed the gullible American voters with his soul-stirring words. But remember, fellow voters:
So that blows my naive assumption that great Presidents write their own books and speeches. And anyone who knows me, knows I deplore ghostwriters. I don't mind it when people who have no writing talent co-author with someone who can write, as long as they give credit. But accepting a Pulitzer without revealing that the book was, for the most part, ghost-written is a different kettle of fish.
I didn't really know Pres. Kennedy, as he was killed when I was in the 5th grade. I was scared more than a little kid should ever have been by the Cuban Missile Crisis, but seriously, about the only thing that comes to my mind when I think of him is, "Hey, didn't he have an affair with Marilyn Monroe or something?"
I have this image of a dynamic speaker, suave and personable, charismatic, legendary, King of Camelot. I did NOT get that from the book at all! (And this was before I knew about the controversy, mind you.) JFK was our first "TV President," he was young and certainly better-looking than the Presidents that preceded him. I think it was his voice, his powerful charisma, that gave life and legend to his speeches. This book was totally lacking that. (Now I know why.)
Hmmm... that brings to mind another charismatic Presidential candidate who wowed the gullible American voters with his soul-stirring words. But remember, fellow voters:
They don't
have to write the speeches,
they just have to perfect the delivery.
