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Killing Kennedy  By  cover art

Killing Kennedy

By: Bill O'Reilly,Martin Dugard
Narrated by: Bill O'Reilly
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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

What listeners say about Killing Kennedy

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A book without a purpose

Bill O'Reilly fails to deliver in his recent book Killing Kennedy. This new book is nothing more then a compilation of already known facts concerning the Kennedy presidency.. The title of this book is extremely misleading as this book deals with Kennedy's adult life starting with his WWII career. The book is eight hours long and yet seven of those hours have nothing to do with November 22nd, 1963.

Killing Lincoln, O'Reilly's previous book was a #1 hit. But this book is sloppy and in numerous places historically incorrect. One prime example is O'Reilly stating that the "Wanted For Treason" posters
was a prime reason why in Sept '63 the upcoming November trip to Dallas should be cancelled. The problem is that the said posters were only published and distributed on Nov 21, 1963, two months later and only 1 day before the assassination

After to listening to this book, Ive come away with absolutely no new information about the assassination. I have however learned a little more about the President's personal life and his battles with Addisons Disease. You actually feel for him and what he must have suffered through.

I give this book 3 stars not because its a great literary piece of work but because it is easy to listen to and is informative.

If you love O;Reilly, buy this book

If you hate O'Reilly buy this book.

If you are looking for a serious work about the Kennedy assassination, then buy Vincent Bugliosi's book Reclaiming History

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32 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good book...

O'Reilly and Dugard do a good job on this book. I truly appreciate the historical insight the authors bring to events leading up to and immediately following President Kennedy's assassination.

I was a fourth grader when it happened; our class was on the playground for recess when we heard the news. All of us were scared to death to hear about our President’s death. Several of our teachers were crying and hugging one another. I truly hope our children and grandchildren will never see history repeat itself.

The book is well written and the history is meticulously researched…just wish O'Reilly would have had someone else do the reading...listening to the book was like watching The Factor for seven hours straight.

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20 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Nothing of Substance New

Having been around the block a few times, I have been exposed to much that has been published both about Kennedy's life as well as his death. This book did not deliver much of anything different. That being said, O'Reilly does a great job narrating and it is a good story bringing a number of points together. So if you haven't read or heard a lot about this time of life, this is a good place to start.

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17 people found this helpful

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The Company Line

Any additional comments?

Almost any book on JFK is interesting, this title is no exception as a re-hash of the largely unaccepted but official explanation of Kennedy’s assassination. You could almost be forgiven for thinking that the book must have been commissioned by some branch of the US government.

JFK and the Unspeakable: Why He Died and Why It Matters by James William Douglass is a much more interesting and plausible look at the JFK death and cover-up.

Bill O'Reilly , Martin Dugard might do well to consider taking on a real project; that of explaining to their loyal readers why the research that Douglass claims to have done cannot possibly be verified.


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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another Big Hit for Bill

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

It ranks on the top

What other book might you compare Killing Kennedy to and why?

Killing Lincoln, -same great writing, great performance

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

His voice inflections add to the emotional impact

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The Unmeasureable Loss of JFK

Any additional comments?

Great Book, move over liberal media, you lose again

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

MUST READ/LISTEN

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

At the top

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

Yes

Any additional comments?

I listen to my books driving long distances and exercising. If a book is boring or the narrator is bad, I cannot listen to it. I have to have something keep me from falling asleep as motion makes me drowsy. This book kept me wide awake and very interested for 4 1/2 hours straight, until I reached my destination! This isn't a politically slanted book. Many people do not know that Bill O'Reilly is in the Kennedy family. As he says in the introduction (and he does great narrating the book), he has a unique view of the events and years leading up to JFK's demise. He does not prop conspiracy theories at all. It is a very factual book with loads of information that are true and merely history lessons, as well as new information that he says has never been made public. He had discovered new information in his research for the book with someone else. It was easy to picture in my mind, the events that Bill writes about. I felt like I was right there watching JFK and his family go through each milestone.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A Very Good Account of Kennedy's Final Months

Much like Killing Lincoln, I found about half of Killing Kennedy to be a story that has been told and retold over the years. That's not bad, meaning roughly half of the book was new and fresh to me.

The research and story behind the personal lives of Jackie and Kennedy was the real Home Run for this book. While I have read or listened to many accounts of the affairs and how it impacted the couple's relationship, this book goes into fascinating detail as to the frequency and scope of Kennedy's infidelity and how it impacted EVERYONE, from the couple themselves to Bobby, to Hoover, to the Secret Service and so on.

The only disappointment for me was the lack of conspiracy examination. I realize that Lincoln's assassination was a clear conspiracy and Kennedy's assassination was and always will be an unknown; however, conspiracy is hardly addressed in this book. My only guess is that the authors simply didn't discover anything new and/or didn't really have a new or interesting opinion on the conspiracy angle so they simply didn't go into it. I would have preferred; however, that they at least address the different theories and acknowledged there is nothing more to say on the matter/s. It's not that O'Reilly doesn't believe in conspiracy, as I have heard him acknowledge that he is simply not convinced of either the lone gunman or the conspiracy theories.

O'Reilly does a very good job as narrator, as he did in Killing Lincoln - quite a rare achievement for an author to also be a good narrator. His years in show business as a newsman clearly benefiting us all in that area.

Overall I still HIGHLY recommend this book, I just didn't like it quite as much as I did Killing Lincoln.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Obsessed With Sex

What would have made Killing Kennedy better?

O'Reilly never seemed to tie together the hints he dropped through the book of various conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination of John Kennedy. He hints at why Fidel Castor, the CIA, the Mafia and even Lyndon Johnson might have wanted JFK dead but merely assumes the reader already knows all were suspected (to varying degrees).
The only thread he picks up consistently is JFK's active sex life and he seems obsessed with it. It felt as if he couldn't go three minutes (of listening time) without referencing Kennedy's libido. He left me with the impression he was envious.
O'Reilly broke no new ground in telling this story -- except to insert himself into it claiming that he was the "young reporter" who showed up at the door of one of Lee Harvey Oswald's patrons just as the patron shot himself.
O'Reilly is an accomplished TV host with a news-like, staccato delivery, reminiscent of Walter Winchell's radio. He didn't use those talents or any talents he has/had as a reporter.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

No spoiler: Kennedy was killed in Dallas. The question of whether Oswald acted alone or who might have been behind him is never addressed.

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

Anyone

What character would you cut from Killing Kennedy?

Bill O'Reilly

Any additional comments?

I had hoped this book would be either a detailed examination of the assassination or a journalistic investigation. Instead it was what reporters describe as a "clip job," a story put together by reading newspaper clippings.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Bill. An Adventure in History

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

Adventure in History. The book is written more like an adventure story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The book was not really character driven

Have you listened to any of Bill O'Reilly’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. This book is right on par with Killing Lincoln.

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

Yes. I had to force myself to put it down.

Any additional comments?

If you are into history, you will really enjoy this and Killing Lincoln as well. I really enjoyed Bill's narration as well.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

History at its best

Would you listen to Killing Kennedy again? Why?

This was a well-written, enlightning view into the events of 1963. O'Reilly does a good job of balancing the different strands of Kennedy's life, Oswald's life, and the events of the time period. I'd highly recommend to anyone interested in historical narratives.

Have you listened to any of Bill O'Reilly’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. Killing Lincoln, which was also quite good.

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