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With
the fiftieth anniversary of JFK's assassination this November
22, 2013, Americans are inundated with volumes of material
about the 35th President. If you have to choose one book on
the topic of President Kennedy Camelot's Court: Inside
the Kennedy White House by renowned historian Robert
Dallek is a compelling read. This book adds insight and knowledge
to the era of the early 1960's as Dallek discusses the Kennedy
Presidency.
Americans have always adored this President for his youthfulness,
wittiness, and his persona as evidenced by a telling statistic
in the book: a 2010 Gallup poll gave JFK an astonishing 85%
approval rating. Dallek commented, "Kennedy's phenomenal
hold on the American imagination is due in large part to his
relatability, especially since the Presidents directly after
him where not very well liked. There is this enduring effort
to sustain a Camelot image."
The author explores in his latest book whether or not this
rating is warranted. He examined Kennedy's effectiveness as
a leader, presenting a gripping description of how Kennedy
related to his advisors, centering around two important foreign
policy issues: Viet Nam and Cuba. It is a fascinating look
at the brain trust that encompassed a wide variety of opinions,
attitudes, and political ideology.
Dallek traces Kennedy's learning curve regarding foreign affair
issues starting with his almost complete dependence on his
advisors during the Bay of Pigs. High points were given to
President Kennedy for taking complete responsibility for its
failure. He did not blame the previous Eisenhower administration
that came up with the plan, nor any of the advisors. Dallek
explained that he hopes to show in the book how "Kennedy
came to realize he is the Commander-in-chief and remembered
what President Truman said, 'The Buck Stops Here,' the final
decision rests with the President. There was also the advice
by Charles De Gaulle who told him to listen to his advisors,
but at the end of the day he must make up his own mind and
rely on his own judgment. He did this by correcting the course
so this type of fiasco would never happen again."
The author skillfully shows how, after this event, during
the rest of his administration, Kennedy took De Gaulle's advice
into account when handling the other major national security
issues: the Cuban Missile Crisis and Viet Nam. Yet, at times
Kennedy went to the other extreme and was hesitant to accept
his advisor's opinions. Dallek hammers this point home by
explaining how the President did not just take the assessment
of his CIA Director John McCone but had to be convinced that
his views were shortsighted. Dallek noted, "Kennedy initially
misread Soviet intentions of having a missile buildup in Cuba."
A powerful quote from the book reflects Kennedy's outlook,
"domestic politics can unseat you, but foreign dangers
can kill you." The author demonstrates how in the midst
of the Cold War Kennedy decided to have his advisors offer
suggestions, but any final decision was based on his judgment.
Kennedy's growth as a leader is traced through the comparison
of foreign policy issues from the beginning to the end of
his term. Camelot's Court is a very captivating and
interesting read since it shows how national security and
foreign affairs shape a presidency, its agenda, and the relationship
between advisors and a President.
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