An unfinished life

Description

An Unfinished Life is the first authoritative single-volume life of John F. Kennedy to be written in nearly four decades. Drawing upon firsthand sources, freshly unearthed documents, and never-before-opened archives, prizewinning historian Robert Dallek reveals more than we ever knew about Jack Kennedy, forever changing the way we think about his life, his presidency, and his legacy. In a tale that stretches back to Ireland, An Unfinished Life describes the birth of the Kennedy dynasty, the complexity of Jack's early years, and the mixture of adulation and resentment that tangled his relationships with his mother, Rose, and his father, Joseph. Forced into the shadow of his older brother, Joe, Jack struggled to find a place for himself until World War II, when he became a national hero and launched his career. Dallek reveals for the first time the full story of Kennedy's wartime actions -- including the machinations that got him into the war despite severe disabilities -- and the true details of how Joe was killed, opening the door to Jack's ascendancy.

First Sentence

IN AUGUST 1947, John F. Kennedy traveled to Ireland.

Description

An unfinished life is the first major, single-volume life of John F. Kennedy to be written by a historian in nearly four decades. Robert Dallek draws upon previously unavailable material and never-before-opened archives to tell Kennedy's story. We learn just how sick Kennedy was, what medications he took and concealed from all but a few, and how severely his medical condition affected his actions as President. We also learn the real story of how Bobby was selected as Attorney General. Dallek reveals exactly what Jack's father did to help his election to the presidency, and he follows previously unknown evidence to show what path JFK would have taken in the Vietnam entanglement had he survived. Dallek shows that while Kennedy was the son of privilege, he faced great obstacles and fought on with remarkable courage. Never shying away from Kennedy's weaknesses, Dallek also explores his strengths. The result is a portrait of a bold, brave, human Kennedy, once again a hero.

Subjects

Genres

• Biography.

Other Editions

• An unfinished life: John F. Kennedy, 1917-1963Little, Brown, and Co.2003-01-01
• An Unfinished LifeElectronic resourceLittle, Brown and Company2003-01-01
• An unfinished lifeThorndike Press2003-01-01
• An Unfinished LifePaperbackBack Bay Books2004-05-04
• An unfinished lifeCD audiobookHachette Audio2013-01-01