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In the early days of his career in Washington, JFK reportedly told fellow congressman George Smathers, “The point is, you’ve got to live each day like it’s your last day on earth.” Kennedy, by the time that he was in his early 20s, had already been near death as a result of illnesses and his experiences in World War II. Perhaps like others of his generation, his motto was, “Never complain, never explain.” He had read the memoirs and histories of world leaders and adventurers and he tended to embrace the philosophy of the Stoics (though he certainly liked to have a good time). His friends, including Smathers, trended in the direction of the Falstaffian. This suggests that, like Odysseus and Benjamin Franklin, Kennedy stayed focused on the goal but saw value in pausing to enjoy the ride. He was a hero in the sense that he found a way to avoid nuclear war during the Cuban Missile Crisis, which was no small accomplishment. Finally, he worked with Ted Sorensen to write speeches that had a literary flair. Hardball host Chris Matthews captures it all in this new book, while honoring Elmore Leonard’s advice to “leave out the boring parts.” This seems to have been a proper way to write a book about a man who had been near death and was committed to making the most of it.  

Review by Todd Robins

Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero (Hardcover)

By Chris Matthews

$27.50

ISBN-13: 9781451635089
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Simon & Schuster, 11/2011

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