John F. Kennedy by Robert Dallek

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Robert Dallek. John F. Kennedy. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2003. 78 pages. $12.95 (hardcover).

Common queries posed to authors who pen a new biography about historical icons such as Washington, Lincoln, or JFK are; Is this book really necessary?, Does it bring new insights? Present a new view?, Make us think any differently about the subject? Unfortunately in the case of John F. Kennedy by Robert Dallek the answer is “no” on all counts.

The book is clear, precise, and well written. In seventy-three short pages (five pages of the book are reserved for the Source list) it presents a concise overview of the life of JFK, focusing mostly on the pursuit and management of the presidency. For someone unfamiliar with that life this book would make a fine introduction. However, anyone already familiar with the story would be far better off reading any number of JFK biographies, including the author’s own; John F. Kennedy, An Unfinished Life, which this volume was distilled from. One can only think that the smaller book was written as a teaser for the larger tome, enticing readers to later editions.

The act of compression of a monumental life into such a small volume naturally leads to painful choices regarding what to include and exclude. One glaring example is that there is no mention in this book of Kennedy’s run for the vice-presidency in 1956. This was a crucial event in the early political life of JFK which thrust him into the national spotlight, and is certainly worth a mention in an overview history.

Seasoned JFK historians will glean nothing new from this biography. Kennedy novices will receive a well written view from thirty thousand feet. However, they should be able to find similar material in the archives of American Heritage Magazine or elsewhere on the internet without paying an inflated price for a meager hardcover book not much longer than a magazine article.

Stephen Donnelly is a consultant for the insurance industry and a Westfield State University alumnus.