JFK and His Enemies: A Portrait of Power

(Hardback)

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The famed 19th century humorist Finely Peter Dunne once commented that life would not be worth living if we didnt keep our enemies. Certainly John F. Kennedy could appreciate the wisdom behind this observation. At nearly every stage of his noteworthy political career, which stretched from the dank, run-down tenement houses of Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1946 to the gleaming downtown skyscrapers of Dallas, Texas in 1963, Kennedy had collected his fair share of enemies. Some, like Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. in 1952 and Lyndon Johnson in 1960, presented formidable political obstacles to his attaining higher office. Others, like Nikita Khrushchev during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, threatened the very survival of the human race itself. Regardless of the stakes, Kennedy always seemed to rise to the level of the domestic or international challenge presented. Our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man, he said. To those who knew him best, this single-mindedness was not surprising. He clearly wanted to establish a place in history, insisted Robert McNamara, Kennedys Secretary of Defense. But being an historian himself, Kennedy realized that political success did not come easily or cheaply. It required individual strength of character, clarity of thought, and the ability to act decisively. There are risks and costs to action, he allowed. But they are far less than the long range risks of comfortable inaction.

Reviews

Amid the recent cascade of new books on John F. Kennedy, Thomas Whalen has managed a rare and notable feat -- to offer a fresh and original perspective on the 35th president. By offering colorful profiles and vivid vignettes of the foreign and domestic leaders who confronted Kennedy at various stages of his career, the author briskly and skillfully illuminates his life and times, reminding us that a good way to judge a political figure is by the enemies he makes. -- Michael Flamm, Professor of History, Ohio Wesleyan University
In a clear and fast-paced narrative style, Thomas Whalen convincingly illustrates that to understand John F. Kennedy, you have to appreciate his complex relationships with his many rivals. JFK and His Enemies depicts Kennedys role in the defining conflicts of his era, from civil rights to the Cold War, while shedding light on his personal charm, power, foibles, and contradictions. -- Aram G. Goudsouzian, author of Down to the Crossroads: Civil Rights, Black Power, and the Meredith March Against Fear
Authored by a veteran presidential scholar, JFK and His Enemies is a clearly written introduction to Kennedy's myriad "enemies," ranging from Henry Cabot Lodge, Richard Nixon, Lyndon Johnson, Nikita Khrushchev to J. Edgar Hoover and Lee Harvey Oswald. Readers will find it interesting and absorbing. -- James N. Giglio, author of The Presidency of John F. Kennedy
Thomas Whalen in this carefully crafted, admirably concise study demonstrates againthat a man may be judged by the enemies he makes. Or, to paraphrase Sun Tzu, know your enemies and you will know yourself. Indeed, Whalens captivating analysis of John Kennedys adversarial relationships with the likes of J. Edgar Hoover, George Wallace, Richard Nixon and Lyndon Johnson illuminates the man and his times, deepens our comprehension of how JFK reached the pinnacle of power, and broadens our awareness of the complications he faced as president. -- James W. Hilty, Professor Emeritus, Temple University, Author of Robert Kennedy: Brother Protector
If we can judge a man, in part, by the enemies he made, JFK will go down as a great one. His enemies were powerful men, with deadly weapons at their disposal. But JFK took them on without fear or hesitation. Thomas Whalen's book reads like a novel of political intrigue mostly because that was the fabric of Kennedy's life. -- Randy Roberts, Distinguished Professor of History, Purdue University

Author Bio

Thomas J. Whalen is an associate professor of social science at Boston University and author of "Kennedy versus Lodge: The 1952 Massachusetts Senate Race." Whalen's latest book, "A Higher Purpose: Profiles in Presidential Courage," resurrects Truman and eight other American leaders and the moments that defined their political careers, using John F. Kennedys 1955 best seller, Profiles in Courage, as a touchstone. An expert in modern American politics, American foreign policy and the American presidency, Whalen's expert commentary has appeared in the New York Times, ABCNews.com, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, and the AP. He has also appeared on several national broadcast outlets including CNN, NPR and Reuters TV.