JFK, Most Beloved and Overrated President

There once was a handsome boy.

He was born into a wealthy family that made everyone jealous. As he was overshadowed by his distinguished big brother, he didn’t have a chance to shine. He even had to suffer from all sorts of illness immediately after he was weaned. Even his grades were average, except for the subjects he was interested in. He even lacked a good fashion sense. No one imagined he could become the youngest and the first Catholic president of the Unites States.

John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the U.S.-

Having spent only 1,000 days in office, Kennedy was the sixth shortest-lived president in U.S. history. However, he is still considered one of the greatest presidents in opinion polls. He is often thought to be the most beloved president of Americans. The whole world lamented his death.

However, the author says, “The great enemy of truth is not lies but myths.” In fact, a total of 75 American historians and journalists picked Kennedy as the most overestimated renowned figure in U.S. history. Political historians ranked Kennedy as just an “average” president in 2000.

Robert Dallek, the author of “An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy, 1917–1963,” analyzes Kennedy while maintaining a neutral position. Armed with his comprehensive knowledge in American politics and political criticism, he reorganized materials he had collected for almost 40 years. His writing is neither hot nor cold.

You will be surprised to learn the truths about Kennedy that are revealed in his book. Kennedy was a weakling for his entire life. His public image as a healthy person was all intentionally created. He could have escaped from the fatal third shooting during his assassination in Dallas, lest he had a spine problem. Coupled with his favorable attitude towards McCarthyism when he was a congressman, suspicions that his Pulitzer-winning book “Profiles in Courage” was written by a ghostwriter and that the winning of the award was manipulated bogged him down. He didn’t have a good relationship with Congress.

There is also something fishy about his marriage with Jacqueline Bouvier, who was praised as “Americans’ ideal woman.” Although he dreamed of becoming a bachelor senator for the rest of his life, he inevitably chose marriage to become president. However, he was such a womanizer that he even had a group sex party in Europe while Jacqueline was pregnant. He did not return to the U.S. for some time even after she had a miscarriage. What’s more, most of his sex scandals are true.

Although Kennedy had a great many weaknesses, he did possess something that others lack: the ability to draw a bigger world. Despite smear campaigns, he turned around an unfavorable situation by showing his visions for the future at presidential elections. The young, idealistic politician advocated a new frontier sprit. Kennedy said in 1962 that “races do not exist in the life and law of the American people.” He drew an even bigger picture against criticism that he is indifferent to racial discrimination.

Author Robert says in his book, “There are countless biographies about Kennedy. And there is no need for another biography disclosing his secrets. Instead, let us remove the magic and the spell that he cast on us and restore what he really was. As Kennedy had both strengths and weaknesses, he was an extraordinary, yet ordinary person. We mustn’t finish this story without an argument, even if it may not lead to a conclusion. Kenney is worth doing it.”

ray@donga.com