John F. Kennedy: Commander in Chief |
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John F. Kennedy: Commander in Chief
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by Pierre Salinger
Sales Rank: 1788670
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$1.50
At Amazon
on 6-16-2008.
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Features
Cover Type: Hard Cover with 160 pages
Published by: Gramercy; 2000 Ed edition October 3, 2000
Written in: English
ISBN 10 Number: 0517162091
ISBN 13 Number: 978-0517162095
Book Dimensions:
10.9 x 9.2 x 0.9 inches
Weighs: 1.6 pounds
Product Description
John F. Kennedy's presidency has been well examined, but a frequently overlooked yet crucial component of it was his leadership of the United States armed forces. His relationship with the military was forged by personal combat experience and the many lessons learned during his presidential administration. A staunch supporter of the lower ranks, President Kennedy quickly became disillusioned with the upper echelon of the military, preferring ultimately to rely on his own wisdom and that of a close circle of trusted advisers. As a result, it can be argued that John F. Kennedy was more involved in his role as commander in chief than any other president of modern vintage. His was a unique challenge. The world was changing; military actions were no longer large-scale troop movements but small localized and diplomatic crises with frequent guerrilla activity.
President Kennedy, typically, quickly immersed himself in his role. Almost immediately following his election he was confronted with the formidable challenge of the Bay of Pigs. Relying on the advice of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Kennedy was humiliated by the results of that action, and yet he accepted complete responsibility for it. It was a mistake that would not be repeated. Thereafter, Kennedy questioned everything and came to his own decisions. He began to involve himself in details of the services, reviewing his "new" army, navy, and air force, even spending time thinking about what the individual
soldier was wearing and carrying.
In John F. Kennedy: Commander in Chief, Pierre Salinger, press secretary and confidant to the president, provides an insightful view of this side of John F. Kennedy. He shares his unique understanding of all the major events of the Kennedy administration that had a military component. He draws a fascinating and clear depiction of the Kennedy learning curve--illuminating the brilliance of the man. Kennedy learned his lessons quickly. One can only speculate what may have resulted had Kennedy lived and been elected to a second term, especially when one reads Kennedy's commencement address speech at American University included in this volume. This speech, considered by many to be his finest, is remarkable in showing the maturity that President Kennedy had attained. Today it is easy to see the beginning of a new statesmanship in his speech, a new global consciousness, a greater and longer view for peace. Pierre Salinger, tantalizingly and profoundly, traces the maturation of Kennedy in his role as commander in chief and brings us to wonder what might have been.
Card Catalog Description
A well-known Kennedy insider presents JFK - still greater than life - as war hero, man of peace, and president at the helm of the U.S. armed forces. Until now, the majority of books on the Kennedy administration has overlooked what many see as the defining aspect of John F. Kennedy's presidency: how he fulfilled his role as commander in chief of the armed forces. Nearly every memorable crisis or event of the JFK presidency had a crucial military component that Kennedy personally oversaw. In John F. Kennedy: Commander in Chief, Pierre Salinger shares his unique firsthand perspective on President Kennedy as military leader of the free world. He races the development of JFK's hands-on relationship with the armed forces - closer than any other post war president's - against the backdrop of the Bay of Pigs, through Laos, Vietnam, and the Berlin Wall, to the Cuban Missile Crisis and the space program. John F. Kennedy: Commander in Chief presents period photographs, many recently discovered in the files of the Department of Defense, that show the president's interaction with troops, equipment, and combat demonstrations. Also included are reproductions of directives and of transcripts of recently released recordings of the EXCOM crisis meetings and commentary from Marcus Wolf, former deputy director of the East German secret police agency, STASI. The eminent historian and Kennedy White House staff member Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., provides a foreword to the book. These enhance Salinger's text, richly contributing to this overdue celebration of a military architect who - despite many challenges - averted the United States armed forces involvement in any live-fire incidents. John F. Kennedy: Commander in Chief is a revelation for military buffs and Kennedy fans alike.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Reader Reviews
(Andy Hatcher, #2; Malcolm Kilduff, #3) I recommend this book from Pierre Salinger. It has some very nice pictures and a good text. I especially like the perspective it gives on John F. Kennedy as the leader of the Nation's military might. Of particular note: Salinger states that, in his three years serving President Kennedy [he had also served JFK when Kennedy was a Senator], he may have missed just "two or three trips"...one of them was the ill-fated Texas trip. [...]
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John F. Kennedy: Commander in Chief
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Price: $1.50
Updated on 6-16-2008.
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