John F. Kennedy
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Thomas C. Reeves, in A Question of Character, presents a portrait of John F. Kennedy which is far less flattering than most works on the assassinated president. Reeves explores the aspects of Kennedy's character which show him to have been a man full of flaws and defects. He further shows how those flaws were rooted in Kennedy's childhood and upbringing, especially as a result of his father's influence. Reeves intends to offer a biography in contrast to the admitting and even worshipful portraits of Kennedy which have dominated literature on the president. In fact, Reeves writes that he himself was among those who saw Kennedy as a man of exemplary qualities:I had no reason to doubt the early Kennedy literature. Though it was essentially adulatory, that approach seemed to fit the facts. the authors were often those closest to Kennedy; they based their accounts on personal recollections as well as documents. The credentials of, say, historian arthur Schlesinger, Jr., and Kennedy speech writer Theodore Sorensen were unassailable; their writings were moving and brilliant. The books came from leading publishers, and the reviews were glowing. the standard college textbooks soon made Kennedy one of our great or near-great presidents. However, doing research for another book, Reeves began to notice contrary evidence which suggested Kennedy was a less than great or even near-great president and man. Reeves "began reading deeply in the primary as well as secondary sources" and
. . .
s character, the book shows, reflected his father's personality in his personal and political life. Reeves shows Kennedy to have been a ruthless, pragmatic man and leader who lived according to nor moral compass, using women and friends--including Fay--as he wished, for sex, companionship, and entertainment.
Reeves concludes that "To Jack there was no reward more profound than election returns, no principle higher than winning the game and, ultimately, his father's favor." Reeves quotes another Kennedy biographer: "Jack Kennedy never thought of the world as a moral place."
While Kennedy the young politician rose higher and higher in the public's estimation, writes Reeves, "Behind the scenes, . . . there was a less pleasant and unpublicized reality involving money, bribery, manipulation, adultery, and a consistent lack of propriety."
Reeves goes on to focus on Kennedy's arrogance and/or errors as President in the Bay of Pigs fiasco, the Berlin crisis, his relationship with Marilyn Monroe and other women, civil rights, the Cuban Missile Crisis, anti-Communist policy, and Vietnam.
Reeves concludes;
During the Thousand Days, Kennedy arrogantly and irresponsibly violated his covenant with the people. while saying and doing th
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Approximate Word count = 1537
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)
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