Killing Kennedy

December 24, 2012
Bill O’Reilly and Dugard deliver a riveting account of the John F. Kennedy assassination that illuminates key moments in the life of the 35th president, as well as the events that led up to his death. Covering everything from Kennedy’s experiences during World War II and the schemes of Harvey Lee Oswald to the Cuban Revolution and the alienation of Lyndon B. Johnson by the Kennedy brothers, the author weaves a coherent and intriguing narrative that is enlivened in this audio edition. While O’Reilly’s work on television might have prepared him for narration, the conservative commentator will surprise some listeners with the quality of his performance. His deep, powerful voice, timing, emphasis, and tone create tangible tension throughout. Though he is less convincing during more sentimental moments, O’Reilly’s narration proves a great boon to this historical account, which will thoroughly engage listeners. A Henry Holt hardcover.

December 1, 2012
O'Reilly and Dugard (Killing Lincoln, 2011) team up again with a comprehensive account of the John F. Kennedy administration and its untimely end. As with their previous work, this is quick, gossipy and sure to please Kennedy buffs, but the newsroom attitude toward the story will leave academics wanting. That is not to say the authors' facts are anything but accurate, and the journalistic style of writing makes it easy reading. The wealth of material available for a work like this, including primary and secondary sources, requires careful selection to avoid a massively overbearing work. The authors cover the events of the three short years of the administration from the president's dalliances to the Bay of Pigs, the Cuban missile crisis and the star power of the family. It's a noteworthy picture of Kennedy's transformation into a world leader and the outside influences that were used and discarded. O'Reilly and Dugard also expose Kennedy as a man who avoided unpleasant confrontations, using his brother to deal with contentious issues and express opinions that countered the general consensus of the cabinet. By paralleling the period with loner Lee Harvey Oswald's desperate attempts at recognition and his fixation on communism, it's easy to see how the assassin slipped under the radar. Of course, the book drives on to that fateful day in November 1963, but the constant reminders of the few years, months or hours Kennedy had left to live are tedious in the extreme. We all know how it ends. A quick-fire, easy-to-read account of the Kennedy years, with some salacious details to spice it up.

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May 1, 2012

O'Reilly, who presides over the highest-rated cable news show in the country, had a best seller with Killing Lincoln. Here, joined by best-selling author Dugard, he moves forward a century to recount events leading up to the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

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