The Presidency of John F. Kennedy.

Abstract

presidency of John F. continues to fascinate, even as it also continues to inspire heated debates between admirers and detractors of Camelot's fallen king. Now, readers can gain a new appreciation of JFK in this thoroughly revised and updated edition of James Giglio's bestselling study, widely acclaimed as best and most balanced book on JFK's White House years. Giglio incorporates voluminous archival materials made available in last fifteen years, including declassified documents on crucial foreign policy affairs and White House medical records that contradict image of Kennedy's youth and vigor. He stresses extent to which domestic and foreign policies were interconnected at a time when Cold War dominated national life, and reveals his new appreciation for JFK's prudence in his handling of such enormous challenges as Cuban missile crisis and emerging war in Vietnam. Giglio shows to be the most medicated, one of most courageous, and perhaps most self-absorbed of our presidents. He reviews physical ailments and heavy prescriptions that were kept out of public eye and catalogs sexual indiscretions ranging from Marilyn Monroe and socialite Florence Pritchett to low-level White House employees and even virtual strangers. Surveying this field of conquest, Giglio suggests that JFK's sexual obsession could easily have affected his presidency even more during a second term. His work also amplifies coverage of key issues like civil rights, Cuban missile crisis, and Vietnam and reevaluates many of questions surrounding assassination - maintaining that, even with existence of a conspiracy still doubtful, case is far from closed. Like first edition, this new edition provides a sharp and thoughtful analysis of both domestic and foreign affairs and underscores that, despite his undeniably brief tenure in office, state of nation actually did improve on Kennedy's watch. Featuring an expanded bibliographical essay and twenty-two photos from JFK library, The Presidency of John F. Kennedy remains definitive appraisal of Camelot's kingdom.