Killing Kennedy

The End of Camelot

By: Bill O'Reilly, Martin Dugard

Narrated by: Bill O'Reilly

Length: 8 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

A riveting historical narrative of the shocking events surrounding the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and the follow-up to mega-bestselling author Bill O'Reilly's Killing Lincoln More than a million listeners have thrilled to Bill O'Reilly's Killing Lincoln, the can't-stop-listening work of nonfiction about the shocking assassination that changed the course of American history. Now the anchor of The O'Reilly Factor recounts in gripping detail the brutal murder of John Fitzgerald Kennedy—and how a sequence of gunshots on a Dallas afternoon not only killed a beloved president but also sent the nation into the cataclysmic division of the Vietnam War and its culture-changing aftermath.

In January 1961, as the Cold War escalates, John F. Kennedy struggles to contain the growth of Communism while he learns the hardships, solitude, and temptations of what it means to be president of the United States. Along the way he acquires a number of formidable enemies, among them Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, and Alan Dulles, director of the Central Intelligence Agency. In addition, powerful elements of organized crime have begun to talk about targeting the president and his brother, Attorney General Robert Kennedy. In the midst of a 1963 campaign trip to Texas, Kennedy is gunned down by an erratic young drifter named Lee Harvey Oswald. The former Marine Corps sharpshooter escapes the scene, only to be caught and shot dead while in police custody. The events leading up to the most notorious crime of the 20th century are almost as shocking as the assassination itself. Killing Kennedy chronicles both the heroism and deceit of Camelot, bringing history to life in ways that will profoundly move the listener. This may well be the most talked about book of the year.

©2012 Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard (P)2012 Macmillan Audio

Bill O'Riley was painful to listen to

Where does Killing Kennedy rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Right at the top! It was a well researched, well written book.

What did you like best about this story?

The way it was told chronologically, and from the perspectives of many different characters.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Bill O'Reilly?

ANYONE

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Of course when poor Jackie Kennedy is holding John in her lap after he had been shot. It was very sad.

Great Book

Would you consider the audio edition of Killing Kennedy to be better than the print version?

Yes. narration by Bill OReilly is superb and adds to the text and story

What did you like best about this story?

the coming alive of history

What does Bill O'Reilly bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

personal experience

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

no

Any additional comments?

no

Camelot meets the no spin zone

From the title, you would think the book would focus on the killing of John Kennedy. Bill spends two thirds of this book documenting the lazy, self indulgent and morally vacuous life of John F. Kennedy. O’Reilly documents the complicity of a heavily democratic liberal media, and Kennedy crones (“The Harvard’s”) who both engineered and protected the myth of Kennedy as a family man and statesman.

Bill O’Reilly exposes Kennedy as a morally deprived, disease-ridden man, suffering from constant back pain, chronic urinary track infections and diarrhea. JFK is described as constantly making unnecessarily risky and dangerous choices. A man who is prone to debilitating headaches if he does not have sex daily, usually outside of his marriage. Most disturbingly, John Kennedy is documented as an inexperienced leader whose hesitance and weakness is both recognized and exploited by Khrushchev, bringing us to the brink of nuclear war.

JFK and his brother “Bobby” are described as having demonstrated little interest in civil rights, less they alienate other democrats like former KKK leader Senator Robert Byrd (Democrat WV), and lose the important southern states. Bill says the Kennedy Brothers had no Black friends, and the only Blacks they knew where likely servants in their home. It was only after the brutal murder of Emit Till and its national press coverage, that the Kennedy Brothers were forced to recalculate the political winds and find a new Electoral College path to reelection. In contrast, LBJ is described as truly feeling and embracing the fledgling civil rights movement. LBJ is snub by the Kennedy Brothers. Bill documents the gamesmanship used to alienate and minimize the Vice President. I found interesting the section where the Kennedy’s try to wrestle the civil right movement away from LBJ, at least in the media. Martin Luther King is said to be reviled by the Kennedys (including Jackie). King is monitored and bugged by Kennedy’s FBI. JFK warns King that he is being monitored. JFK warns King to be carful about MLK’s orgy’s and infidelities. All the while, the Kennedy’s and J. Edgar Hoover consider King a “Tom Cat” and a “Communists sympathizer”. JFK is said to be concerned about hooking his political wagon to King and the Civil Rights Movement. You won’t read this in the your politically correct text books.

The Cuban crisis, Kennedy’s association with the Mafia, the Vietnam build up, and the General Walker shooting are also examined. O’Reilly documents the troubled life of L. H. Oswald. He makes a solid, but not definitive case for a lone gunmen theory. Overall, a very good, no spin read. It is a great follow up to “Killing Lincoln”. I am looking forward to his next book.

Fantastic

Would you listen to Killing Kennedy again? Why?

Yes great information I never knew !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What did you like best about this story?

Realistic

What does Bill O'Reilly bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Personal information he is great

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

Wonderful book and performance

Learned so much

If you could sum up Killing Kennedy in three words, what would they be?

detailed, interesting, factual

What did you like best about this story?

Even though this was the first horrific event I remember as a young person, it was nice to learn all the details in the lives of all the people mentioned in the book. I certainly know more history and truth though this book.

Which scene was your favorite?

I loved all of it.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I cried.

Any additional comments?

Bill O'Reilly does a great job narrating this book.

Not a bad history book

Not a bad history book. I lived through these times as a fourth grader. Really bad stuff for a child.
As a book about the life and times of JFK, it was done very well

History Accessible Thanks to Mr. O'Reilly

Bill O'Reilly's detail and masterful storytelling makes for a captivating tale that I finished within days of purchase. His voice is familiar and echoes the details of a history I only new from a classroom. Two paragraphs in high school text book did not do this president and his wife justice. Mr. O'Reilly, however, does.

Great book!

You have to get used to O'Reilly's reading style- it sounds just like his news broadcasts, but once you do, it's hard to put down. The story itself left me haunted by the events of the past, and just how evil men can be.

A compelling story of Kennedy's life and death

It is an outstanding performance by O'Reilly and truly brings you into "Camelot" to experience the life of JFK. I could not put this book down - highly recommended!

Once again... Bravo!

Mr O'Reilly writes and narrates brilliantly. I will listen to it again and we'll buy more of his books.