JFK's Last Hundred Days

June 3, 2013
Set to coincide with the 50th anniversary of his assassination, this intimate look at J.F.K.’s last 100 days makes the case that had he survived that fateful November afternoon, his political star would’ve only continued to rise in a seemingly assured second term. Clarke (Lost Hero) contends that Kennedy’s successful resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis, as well as his popular stances on civil rights, lunar exploration, arms reduction, and tax cuts would’ve overshadowed his romantic scandals, tensions relating to Vietnam, and the public’s frustration with Jackie’s exotic European vacations. Clarke’s portrait of the president is highly favorable; plenty of background information is provided, but many unsavory—and well-known—facts are excised. Effusive encomiums on Kennedy’s charm and pithy anecdotes from big-name admirers take the spotlight, leaving the president’s iciness, penchant for sporadic cruelty, and mercurial tendencies to flit about the wings. Still, Clarke has a taste for a good tangent, and Camelot devotees will relish insider details, from descriptions of an obviously depressed Vice President Johnson “growling at anyone who disturbed him” to dismissive jabs at Sen. Barry Goldwater taken from the president’s official diary. Agent: Kathy Robbins and David Halpern, Robbins Office.

larke's examination of John F. Kennedy focuses on the fall of 1963, making the point that after almost three years in the White House, JFK was finally hitting his stride as president. Malcolm Hillgartner narrates the book and also serves cheerleader-in-chief. He does a great job. His voice has the authoritative, assured presence necessary for a story that presents Kennedy as a man, a leader, and a tragic figure. Hillgartner's deep tone and sure pacing grab our attention from the opening music. The book is an exercise in hero worship and lamentations of what might have been, and Hillgartner channels that message, making this an impressive listening experience. R.I.G. (c) AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

November 15, 2013

Clarke (The Last Campaign) here has written a precise and detailed account of the last hundred days of the presidency of John F. Kennedy. Well read by Malcolm Hilgartner, the audiobook weaves together the narratives, personal and political, of a president who had grown into the job. Kennedy's last 100 days began just after the death of his two-day-old son, Patrick; during this period, the president made decisions that affected the Cold War, civil rights, and Vietnam, as well as his personal life The book attempts to settle the question of where President Kennedy would have led the country had he lived. Thoughtful and well researched, Clarke's account is a memorable addition to the Kennedy canon. VERDICT Of interest to Kennedy aficionados and fans of Clarke's earlier works.--Pam Kingsbury, Univ. of North Alabama, Florence

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.