Jack Kennedy

Elusive Hero

By: Chris Matthews, Chris Matthews - preface

Narrated by: Holter Graham

“Filled with the vitality and spirit that made Jack Kennedy such a magical figure. Chris Matthews shows the cunning and determination beneath that magic. It’s an awesome and delightful book.” —Walter Isaacson, author of Steve Jobs

“What was he like?”

Jack Kennedy said the reason people read biography is to answer that basic question. What was he like, this man whose own wife called him “that elusive, unforgettable man?” In this New York Times bestselling biography, Chris Matthews answers that question with the verve of a novelist. We see this most beloved president in the company of friends. We see and feel him close-up, having fun and giving off that restlessness of his. We watch him navigate his life from privileged, rebellious youth to gutsy American president. We witness his bravery in war and selfless rescue of his PT boat crew. We watch JFK as a young politician learning to play hardball and watch him grow into the leader who averts a nuclear war.

Matthews’s extraordinary biography is based on personal interviews with those closest to JFK, oral histories by top political aide Kenneth O’Donnell and others, documents from his years as a student at Choate, and notes from Jacqueline Kennedy’s first interview after Dallas. As Matthews writes: “I found a fighting prince never free of pain, never far from trouble, never accepting the world he found, never wanting to be his father’s son. He was a far greater hero than he ever wished us to know.”

Great Book

I thought the book gave great stories that I had not heard before and personal anecdotes. It inspired me to run for office and get into politics.

Written from Admiration point of view

Chris Matthews is obviously a great admirer of President Kennedy. Every situation presented gives JFK the benefit of the doubt that he was right, and made the right decision. I don’t think that he spent enough time contemplating the indecision that went into his decisions, nor do I accept that his response was always correct. JFK is known to have been wishy washy on civil rights - it was RFK that spurred the action. That is glossed over in this story. And there are other instances that Matthews gave him the high road, when he was known to have been as ruthless as they come. I enjoyed this book. But I have some skepticism as to its objective accuracy.

Chris Matthews, Knock it Out the Park!!!

My fanscination with Kennedys over the years have always been something I love to explore. This book DID NOT disappoint me, it's very insightful and very well done. I have a better appreciation for Jack Kennedy for all he endured. He was one of our greatest american presidents that's for sure....an ELUSIVE HERO.

Thank you, Chris!

Outstanding, detailed history

Great book for anyone interested in history, politics and what drove jfk
I could not put it down

Perpetuating myths

While it was good to learn some of the deep background on familiar events, this paean to JFK glosses over some of his serious failings. I was amazed that the book talked about how he had barely eked out a win in the popular vote in 1960 over Nixon, while not even mentioning the Electoral results. The adulation for Teddy which snuck in at very end was a sop to the intended audience that was almost over the top. Overall, an interesting take, with not much new on the character my dad (also born in 1918) always referred to as the Fornicator in Chief.