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The Kennedy Half-Century: The Presidency, Assassination, and Lasting Legacy of John F. Kennedy Hardcover – October 15, 2013

by Larry J. Sabato (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 217 ratings
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John F. Kennedy died almost half a century ago-yet because of his extraordinary promise and untimely death, his star still resonates strongly. On the anniversary of his assassination, celebrated political scientist and analyst Larry J. Sabato-himself a teenager in the early 1960s and inspired by JFK and his presidency-explores the fascinating and powerful influence he has had over five decades on the media, the general public, and especially on each of his nine presidential successors.

A recent Gallup poll gave JFK the highest job approval rating of any of those successors, and millions remain captivated by his one thousand days in the White House. For all of them, and for those who feel he would not be judged so highly if he hadn't died tragically in office, The Kennedy Half-Century will be particularly revealing. Sabato reexamines JFK's assassination using heretofore unseen information to which he has had unique access, then documents the extraordinary effect the assassination has had on Americans of every modern generation through the most extensive survey ever undertaken on the public's view of a historical figure. The full and fascinating results, gathered by the accomplished pollsters Peter Hart and Geoff Garin, paint a compelling portrait of the country a half-century after the epochal killing. Just as significantly, Sabato shows how JFK's presidency has strongly influenced the policies and decisions-often in surprising ways-of every president since.

Among the hundreds of books devoted to JFK, The Kennedy Half-Century stands apart for its rich insight and original perspective. Anyone who reads it will appreciate in new ways the profound impact JFK's short presidency has had on our national psyche.

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  1. Print length
    624 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Bloomsbury USA
  4. Publication date
    October 15, 2013
  5. Dimensions
    6.45 x 1.96 x 9.42 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1620402807
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1620402801
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

On the 50th anniversary of J.F.K.'s assassination, Sabato, professor of political science at the University of Virginia and frequent cable news pundit, offers a clear-eyed evaluation of the Kennedy political legacy. He knowledgeably addresses the early Kennedy career, highlighting the hard-fought Nixon-Kennedy presidential race and the much-discussed debates. Throughout, Sabato notes the differences between politics circa 1960 and now, noting that Kennedy's Catholicism was controversial and his well-received 1960 speech promising the separation of church and state made contemporary Catholic politician Rick Santorum want to vomit. Sabato also attempts to clear the murky waters surrounding the Kennedy assassination and readers will be interested in his discussion of the vexing question of whether Oswald operated alone, and if not, who else was involved. Sabato is extremely critical of the Warren Commission Report, pointedly judging it a failure, and his synthesis of existing knowledge about the assassination promises to include new revelations presumably supportive of his skepticism. He also discusses concrete successes and failures: the Berlin crisis, the Bay of Pigs, and the Cuban Missile Crisis. The final third of Sabato's book traces the influence of Kennedy on his presidential successors to round out a timely, well-documented, and measured view of our 35th president. (Nov.)

Review

“In The Kennedy Half-Century, Larry Sabato not only sheds new light on the assassination, but, and more importantly, masterfully explains the enduring legacy of Kennedy and his 1000 days in office.” ―John Grisham

“Larry Sabato has compiled a mountain of research that is sure to be the go-to reference on the assassination for years to come. He seems to have examined any and everything connected to Kennedy's death and brought new insight and understanding to that awful weekend when America lost its innocence.” ―Bob Schieffer, CBS News

“The Kennedy Half Century is a Master Class in discovering and evaluating John F. Kennedy as a man,a President and a game-changing figure in American life. The cultural change Kennedy brought to the nation is the real and original contribution Larry J. Sabato brings to the never-ending debates about the 35th President.” ―Richard Reeves, author of Portrait of Camelot: A Thousand Days in the Kennedy White House

“If you think you know everything about the Kennedy assassination, you haven't read Larry Sabato's book. I urge you to do so!” ―Julian Bond

“The Kennedy Half-Century is full of new insights and revelations about a President whose tragic death left so many wondering, "What if?" This is a fascinating examination of the policies he put in place and how they influenced the nine Presidents who followed him into the oval office.” ―Katie Couric

“Ambitious… Sabato is the most prominent political scientist of our age…. a valuable contribution to the literature of the assassination.” ―James Rosen, National Review

“In The Kennedy Half Century: The Presidency, Assassination, and Lasting Legacy of John F. Kennedy, Sabato shows how Kennedy was transformed from a charismatic, if flawed, man into a mythological figure on the scale of Abraham Lincoln. Sabato goes far beyond Kennedy’s presidency to explore how his legacy has affected every president since, particularly Lyndon Johnson and Ronald Reagan. Most important, Sabato relies on “cutting-edge audio technology” to debunk a key finding of a House committee in 1979 that an open microphone on a Dallas police officer’s motorcycle picked up the sound of a fourth shot ― suggesting the involvement of a second shooter.” ―The Columbus Dispatch

“A timely, well-documented, and measured view of our 35th president.” ―Publishers Weekly

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloomsbury USA; 1st edition (October 15, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 624 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1620402807
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1620402801
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.25 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.45 x 1.96 x 9.42 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 217 ratings

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Larry Sabato

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
217 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Readerwoman
5.0 out of 5 stars My times, interwoven with classic history beautifully written
Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2013
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I was in 6th grade, 11-1/2 years old when Kennedy was assassinated. Born and Raised in a family that often discussed politics at the table, with a father who served as an appointed county official, I found Sabato's book marvelously nuanced. History, as it relates to each of us personally, often seems so intimate and evocative, and this book is no exception.

Sabato is a professor of history and political science, and highly respected in his field. I really appreciated the fact that the book portrayed Kennedy evenly, without prejudice, with his personal foibles, health-problems, money-motivated family, and all. There were no great revelations to me, having been raised as I was, and being a "Kennedyphobe" or "Kennedyophile," but I felt enriched and in touch with my own history. I was so glad to read this book, and know that Sabato (who is about the same age as I am) remembers the same things, has done in-depth research, and wrote with great skill, a volume that anyone can pick up and delve into.

I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for an unbiased look at a legend, whether you are inclined to read history, are a young adult, or just want something to stimulate your thinking.
7 people found this helpful
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Arthur Port
5.0 out of 5 stars JFK and "Camelot" Legacy Revealed
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2013
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This is clearly the best well researched book regarding JFK to date, plus it is written in such an interesting manner that you don't want to put the book down. Dr. Sabato, a Rhodes Scholar and Professor of Political Science at the University of Virginia, is a gifted writer. He not only personally visited the assassination site, but he interviewed significant witnesses who were there that day and whom had previously been overlooked by other writers as well as the Warren Commission. The book is much more than a rehash of details of Kennedy's life and death. Foremost, it puts in perspective the influence that JFK's presidency has had on every president and administration in the ensuing fifty years. The paradox of Kennedy's "Camelot" coinciding with the nation's closest approach to WWIII and nuclear holocaust is not overlooked. It is truly a remarkable tome that is both easy reading as well as of interest to all scholars of the period. Fascinating details of the Kennedy era definitely make this a MUST READ! .
9 people found this helpful
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Tacy Edwards
4.0 out of 5 stars A good read if you are a Kennedy fan
Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2014
Verified Purchase
I was intrigued by revisiting history and getting more info, but found the book to be very inconclusive. Maybe that is as intended as the event is still inconclusive due to the government still keeping papers classified. (Must be some very damaging info they do not want the public to know.) Larry Sabato has done his homework and has a lot of new information regarding, not just the Kennedy assassination, the operational information on all the presidents since Kennedy. That was the best part of the book, although I found some of the statistics on how often other president's quoted Kennedy a bit tedious after awhile. The most surprising information was how much Johnson accomplished during his few years in office. It seems he did not receive the credit due to him because of other negative factors that happened during his terms (like the Viet Nam war). But, the lesson learned from his tenure, which should be applied to our current president, is the importance of working with the Congress and the importance of the incumbent president getting to know those elected officials in order to accomplish legislation that has wide acceptance to move the country forward. Congratulations to Mr. Sabato on a book well-written. It should be read by all to remind us that we, as citizens of a "free" country, should be aware of what is happening behind the scenes and keep our elected servants accountable to us. Too much is kept from us to protect those who abuse the office for which they are elected. In reading this well-documented historical account, that becomes very obvious.
2 people found this helpful
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CHH
5.0 out of 5 stars How the political influence affected this country
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2024
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How the Kennedy presidential effected the future political scene all the way to President Obama. interesting piece of our history
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Worth Reading
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2014
Verified Purchase
This book surpasses The Killing of Kennedy by many, many miles. The author covers more detail in the assassination of JFK than anything I have ever read or seen in a documentary. He disseminates every theory out there telling why it is believable or not. He explains why we are not satisfied with the results of investigations and will continue to be so. In this explanation, I was able to accept the reality that we will never know what really happened, something that still stirs people of my generation rocked by this single event.
The center of this book is the assassination, but the reader is given a detailed description of the setting leading up to this point. One is able to grasp a deeper understanding and appreciation of the times and the players on its world stage, especially of its central character, John F. Kennedy..
2 people found this helpful
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camaraderie
3.0 out of 5 stars Well researched.
Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2014
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This won will leave conspiracy theorists in the lurch...but Sabato's research of 5 years is impeccable and follows the facts. He does hold out the "hope" that more documents to be released in 2017 may overturn all the rest of the evidence...so it ain't over yet and there's always another book out there about this topic! Interesting take on Kennedy's influence on ALL of the Presidents who followed him...backed by the facts. This is not the meatiest Kennedy history...but it didn't set out to be. It DOES put Kennedy into historical perspective.
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Paul Y. Gelman
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!
Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2013
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Among so many books published so far about the Kennedy presidency, this one merits to be called the best of them all.
It is divided into three parts, and the best one is the third, which discusses the impact of the Kennedy legacy on the other presidents.
The first two thirds are about the Kennedy administration and the second one is a dissection about the assassination and the various theories connected to it. Mr Sabato spares no one and offers his intepretation of the events which happened on the day of the assassination and afterwards.
This book, which is superbly researched, is a real gem and reads like a fast-paced thriller, full of surprises on each and every page of it. More than highly recommended!
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Top reviews from other countries

Greenstuff
5.0 out of 5 stars Has to be the best "Kennedy" book yet!
Reviewed in Canada on December 5, 2013
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Have been following the Kennedy saga for the 50 years since his death and prior! Fascinating book, and excellent material. Thanks Professor Sabato!
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Margaret Lenton
5.0 out of 5 stars The Kennedy Half-century
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 13, 2014
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It is a well written comprehensive study of the Kennedy assassination. It weighs up all the information and comments upon it dispassionately. There are so many conspiracy theories but these are examined and evaluated. I bought it because of newspapers reviews which said that this was the best book written to commemorate the 50th anniversary and I agree with those reviews.
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Les West
1.0 out of 5 stars A bag of rubbish
Reviewed in Australia on July 24, 2016
Verified Purchase
Vastly disappointing. I bought this book to gain more insight into times that shaped my youth. For the first few pages I thought I had paid for nothing more than another Kennedy hagiography: then I realised that what I had was something that looked like a scholarly work with detailed references and footnotes but was interspersed with salacious gossip without any reference to fact. This book is a big fraud. Don't waste your time and money.
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ScottUK
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 3, 2017
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well written.
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Tim Truett
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 23, 2013
Verified Purchase
Well read, excellently researched, interesting from cover to cover. Excellent treatment as well of not only the assassination but of the failing (and reasons for failings) of the various investigations and the theories of conspiracies.

But the strength and uniqueness of this book is its focus on the Kennedy legacy as it affected the politics, policies and (most importantly) the language of each of the next electorial cycles and the resulting presidencies.

For those who love references, the footnotes and bibliography are excellent and a source of hours (hell, weeks!) of further reading.

Highly recommended.
2 people found this helpful
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