Kennedy has always drawn strong opinions, and to his detractors, he was both politically and morally compromised. Of course, for as many people who admired – even worshipped – the slain president, there was an equal number who despised him. For Kennedy partisans, it was easy to believe that – had he have lived – he would not have made the same fateful mistakes as his successors. However, as of November 22, 1963, it seemed that he was ready to put to use the hard lessons he had learned.įollowing Kennedy’s death, the United States stumbled and lurched its way forward, through the war in Vietnam, grudging progress on civil rights, and social unrest. As author Robert Dallek points out, Kennedy had stumbled early in his presidency, in both the domestic and international realms. Kennedy that stems in large part from the fact that he was cut down in his prime, at the height of his powers. Kennedy, 1917-1963Īn Unfinished Life is an appropriate title for a biography of the 35th President of the United States.

Robert Dallek, An Unfinished Life: John F. “The sudden end to Kennedy’s life and presidency has left us with tantalizing ‘might have been’s.’ Yet even setting these aside and acknowledging some missed opportunities and false steps, it must be acknowledged that the Kennedy thousand days spoke to the country’s better angels, inspired visions of a less divisive nation and world, and demonstrated that America was still the last best hope of mankind…”

Robert dallek kennedy