-
Portrait of a President
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 6 hrs and 36 mins
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Prime members: New to Audible?Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Portrait of a President
Buy for $13.22
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
One Brief Shining Moment
- Remembering Kennedy
- By: William Manchester
- Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
- Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 13
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 12
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 12
Manchester recalls in intimate detail everything from family gatherings at Hyannis Port, to grueling campaign trips, and quiet evenings alone with the president in the White House family quarters. The resulting portrait provides listeners with myriad anecdotes and insights into a life of a man that bristled with vigor, competitiveness, and an unflagging drive for excellence, and shone with elegance, intelligence, and compassion.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Well Done
- By History on 04-16-24
-
The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill, Volume I: Visions of Glory 1874-1932
- By: William Manchester
- Narrated by: Frederick Davidson
- Length: 41 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,638
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2,137
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 2,131
Winston Churchill is perhaps the most important political figure of the 20th century. His great oratory and leadership during the Second World War were only part of his huge breadth of experience and achievement. Studying his life is a fascinating way to imbibe the history of his era and gain insight into key events that have shaped our time.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Superb - Review of Both Volume I & Volume II
- By Wolfpacker on 01-23-09
-
Controversy, and Other Essays in Journalism, 1950-1975
- By: William Manchester
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 16 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 3
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2
The writing of Death of a President, William Manchester's award-winning account of President Kennedy's assassination, is the topic of the title essay in this collection, as it was a controversy like few others, pitting one of the most prominent historians of the day against Jackie Kennedy, the most famous and private widow in the world. The essay provides an insider's account of the struggle to see the book published.
-
The Death of a President
- November 20 - November 25, 1963
- By: William Manchester
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 33 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 294
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 263
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 265
As the world still reeled from the tragic and historic events of November 22, 1963, William Manchester set out, at the request of the Kennedy family, to create a detailed, authoritative record of President John F. Kennedy's death, including the days immediately preceding and following the assassination.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
IMPORTANT HISTORIC BOOK
- By Jeff on 12-06-13
-
American Caesar
- Douglas MacArthur 1880-1964
- By: William Manchester
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 31 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,405
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,163
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 1,158
Virtually all Americans above a certain age hold strong opinions about Douglas MacArthur. They either worship him or despise him. Now, in this superb book, one of our most outstanding writers, after a meticulous three-year examination of the record, presents his startling insights about the man. The narrative is gripping, because the general's life was fascinating. It is moving, because he was a man of vision. It ends, finally, in tragedy, because his character, though majestic, was tragically flawed.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A Great American
- By Charlotte A. Hu on 05-19-13
-
Goodbye, Darkness
- A Memoir of the Pacific War
- By: William Manchester
- Narrated by: Barrett Whitener
- Length: 15 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 459
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 336
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 338
This memoir offers an unrivaled firsthand account of World War II in the Pacific - what it looked like, sounded like, smelled like, and most of all, what it felt like to one who underwent all but the ultimate of its experiences.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
The best war memoir ever
- By Doug on 05-31-07
-
One Brief Shining Moment
- Remembering Kennedy
- By: William Manchester
- Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
- Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 13
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 12
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 12
Manchester recalls in intimate detail everything from family gatherings at Hyannis Port, to grueling campaign trips, and quiet evenings alone with the president in the White House family quarters. The resulting portrait provides listeners with myriad anecdotes and insights into a life of a man that bristled with vigor, competitiveness, and an unflagging drive for excellence, and shone with elegance, intelligence, and compassion.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Well Done
- By History on 04-16-24
-
The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill, Volume I: Visions of Glory 1874-1932
- By: William Manchester
- Narrated by: Frederick Davidson
- Length: 41 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,638
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2,137
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 2,131
Winston Churchill is perhaps the most important political figure of the 20th century. His great oratory and leadership during the Second World War were only part of his huge breadth of experience and achievement. Studying his life is a fascinating way to imbibe the history of his era and gain insight into key events that have shaped our time.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Superb - Review of Both Volume I & Volume II
- By Wolfpacker on 01-23-09
-
Controversy, and Other Essays in Journalism, 1950-1975
- By: William Manchester
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 16 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 3
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2
The writing of Death of a President, William Manchester's award-winning account of President Kennedy's assassination, is the topic of the title essay in this collection, as it was a controversy like few others, pitting one of the most prominent historians of the day against Jackie Kennedy, the most famous and private widow in the world. The essay provides an insider's account of the struggle to see the book published.
-
The Death of a President
- November 20 - November 25, 1963
- By: William Manchester
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 33 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 294
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 263
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 265
As the world still reeled from the tragic and historic events of November 22, 1963, William Manchester set out, at the request of the Kennedy family, to create a detailed, authoritative record of President John F. Kennedy's death, including the days immediately preceding and following the assassination.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
IMPORTANT HISTORIC BOOK
- By Jeff on 12-06-13
-
American Caesar
- Douglas MacArthur 1880-1964
- By: William Manchester
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 31 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,405
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,163
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 1,158
Virtually all Americans above a certain age hold strong opinions about Douglas MacArthur. They either worship him or despise him. Now, in this superb book, one of our most outstanding writers, after a meticulous three-year examination of the record, presents his startling insights about the man. The narrative is gripping, because the general's life was fascinating. It is moving, because he was a man of vision. It ends, finally, in tragedy, because his character, though majestic, was tragically flawed.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A Great American
- By Charlotte A. Hu on 05-19-13
-
Goodbye, Darkness
- A Memoir of the Pacific War
- By: William Manchester
- Narrated by: Barrett Whitener
- Length: 15 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 459
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 336
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 338
This memoir offers an unrivaled firsthand account of World War II in the Pacific - what it looked like, sounded like, smelled like, and most of all, what it felt like to one who underwent all but the ultimate of its experiences.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
The best war memoir ever
- By Doug on 05-31-07
-
Franklin and Winston
- An Intimate Portrait of an Epic Friendship
- By: Jon Meacham
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 13 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 715
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 503
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 495
Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill were the greatest leaders of “the Greatest Generation.” In Franklin and Winston, Jon Meacham explores the fascinating relationship between the two men who piloted the free world to victory in World War II.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Franklin and Winston Review
- By Ronald Hull on 01-29-04
By: Jon Meacham
-
Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream
- The Most Revealing Portrait of a President and Presidential Power Ever Written
- By: Doris Kearns Goodwin
- Narrated by: Gabra Zackman, Jim Frangione
- Length: 17 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 609
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 523
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 519
Doris Kearns Goodwin's classic life of Lyndon Johnson, who presided over the Great Society, the Vietnam War, and other defining moments in the tumultuous 1960s, is a monument in political biography. From the moment the author, then a young woman from Harvard, first encountered President Johnson at a White House dance in the spring of 1967, she became fascinated by the man - his character, his enormous energy and drive, and his manner of wielding these gifts in an endless pursuit of power.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Unfortunately simple slant.
- By Lynda Rands on 01-22-17
-
Five Days in November
- By: Clint Hill, Lisa McCubbin Hill
- Narrated by: Jeremy Bobb
- Length: 3 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 545
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 468
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 470
Clint Hill will forever be remembered as the lone secret service agent who jumped onto the car after President Kennedy was shot, clinging to its sides as it sped toward the hospital. Even now, decades after JFK’s presidency, the public continues to be fascinated with the Kennedys - America’s royal family. To mark the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, Hill recounts his indelible memories of those five days leading up to, and after, that tragic day in November 1963. Hill, as Jackie’s guard, experienced those days firsthand.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
unique
- By Thomas on 12-28-13
By: Clint Hill, and others
-
The Statesman and the Storyteller
- John Hay, Mark Twain, and the Rise of American Imperialism
- By: Mark Zwonitzer
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 25 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 49
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 45
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 45
John Hay, Lincoln's private secretary and later secretary of state under presidents McKinley and Roosevelt, and Samuel Langhorne Clemens, famous as "Mark Twain", grew up 50 miles apart on the banks of the Mississippi River in the same rural antebellum stew of race, class, and want. This shared history drew them together in the late 1860s, and their mutual admiration never waned in spite of sharp differences.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Good story well told
- By Tad Davis on 06-05-18
By: Mark Zwonitzer
-
Thirteen Days
- A Memoir of the Cuban Missile Crisis
- By: Robert F. Kennedy
- Narrated by: Kurt Elftmann
- Length: 4 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 279
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 231
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 230
In October 1962, when the United States confronted the Soviet Union over its installation of missiles in Cuba, few people shared the behind-the-scenes story as it is told here by the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy. In this unique account, he describes the hour-by-hour negotiations, with particular attention to the actions and views of his brother, President John F. Kennedy. In a foreword to this edition, the distinguished historian and Kennedy adviser Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., discusses the book's enduring importance and the significance of new information about the crisis that has come to light from the former Soviet Union.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
IF YOU LOVE HISTORY"""
- By Max & Lucy on 02-24-19
-
Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy
- By: Caroline Kennedy - foreword, Michael Beschloss - introduction
- Narrated by: Jacqueline Kennedy, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. (interviewer), Caroline Kennedy (foreword), and others
- Length: 9 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 857
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 717
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 707
In 1964, Jacqueline Kennedy recorded seven historic interviews about her life with John F. Kennedy. Now, decades later, these conversations can be heard in this digitally remastered eight-and-a-half-hour audio program. This audiobook includes the foreword written and read by Caroline Kennedy; introduction written and read by historian Michael Beschloss and the photos from the hardcover book, as well as complete annotations from Michael Beschloss, both in downloadable PDF format.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Fascinating Listen
- By Tim on 01-03-12
By: Caroline Kennedy - foreword, and others
-
Profiles in Courage
- By: John F. Kennedy
- Narrated by: John F. Kennedy Jr., Caroline Kennedy
- Length: 3 hrs and 10 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,034
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 906
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 902
During 1954-1955, John F. Kennedy, then a US senator, chose eight of his historical colleagues to profile for their acts of astounding integrity in the face of overwhelming opposition. These heroes include John Quincy Adams, Daniel Webster, Thomas Hart Benton, and Robert A. Taft. Awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1957, Profiles in Courage - now reissued, featuring a new introduction by Caroline Kennedy as well as Robert Kennedy's foreword written for the memorial edition of the volume in 1964 - resounds with timeless lessons.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Abridged
- By Tom R on 01-04-17
By: John F. Kennedy
-
On Grand Strategy
- By: John Lewis Gaddis
- Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
- Length: 11 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 955
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 805
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 797
For over 20 years, a select group of Yale undergraduates has been admitted into the year-long "Grand Strategy" seminar team-taught by John Lewis Gaddis and Paul Kennedy. Its purpose: to provide a grounding in strategic decision-making in the face of crisis to prepare future American leaders for important work. Now, John Lewis Gaddis has transposed the experience of that course into a wonderfully succinct, lucid and inspirational book, a view from the commanding heights of statesmanship across the landscape of world history from the ancient Greeks to Lincoln, and beyond.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Interesting, but fails to offer real lessons.
- By Zack on 07-04-18
-
Liar's Poker
- RIsing Through the Wreckage on Wall Street
- By: Michael Lewis
- Narrated by: Michael Lewis
- Length: 10 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,454
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1,208
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,201
In 1986, before Michael Lewis became the best-selling author of The Big Short, Moneyball, and Flash Boys, he landed a job at Salomon Brothers, one of Wall Street’s premier investment firms. During the next three years, Lewis rose from callow trainee to New York- and London-based bond salesman, raking in millions for the firm and cashing in on a modern-day gold rush. Liar’s Poker is the culmination of those heady, frenzied years - a behind-the-scenes look at a unique and turbulent time in American business.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Finally!
- By Anonymous User on 02-08-22
By: Michael Lewis
-
Catching the Wind
- Edward Kennedy and the Liberal Hour, 1932-1975
- By: Neal Gabler
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 31 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 53
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 44
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 44
Catching the Wind is the first volume of Neal Gabler’s magisterial two-volume biography of Edward Kennedy. It is at once a human drama, a history of American politics in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, and a study of political morality and the role it played in the tortuous course of liberalism.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Amazing
- By Pianoman on 01-12-21
By: Neal Gabler
-
The House of Morgan
- An American Banking Dynasty and the Rise of Modern Finance
- By: Ron Chernow
- Narrated by: Robertson Dean
- Length: 34 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 3,245
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2,818
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,794
A gripping history of banking and the booms and busts that shaped the world on both sides of the Atlantic, The House of Morgan traces the trajectory of the J. P.Morgan empire from its obscure beginnings in Victorian London to the crash of 1987. Ron Chernow paints a fascinating portrait of the private saga of the Morgans and the rarefied world of the American and British elite in which they moved. Based on extensive interviews and access to the family and business archives, The House of Morgan is an investigative masterpiece.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
The construction of the House of Morgan
- By Darwin8u on 10-22-18
By: Ron Chernow
-
Truman
- By: David McCullough
- Narrated by: Nelson Runger
- Length: 54 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 5,137
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 4,550
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 4,534
Hailed by critics as an American masterpiece, David McCullough's sweeping biography of Harry S. Truman captured the heart of the nation. The life and times of the 33rd president of the United States, Truman provides a deeply moving look at an extraordinary, singular American.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
That Mousy Little Man From Missouri Revisited
- By Sara on 07-23-15
By: David McCullough
Publisher's summary
An up-close look at John F. Kennedy by one of his closest confidants, a New York Times best-selling biographer
Written by a prize-winning historian and biographer of such giants as Winston S. Churchill and Douglas MacArthur, this intimately detailed account provides a rare personal glimpse into the emotions behind the Kennedy administration - from the elation of victory to the frustrating challenges facing a young president at a pivotal turning point in US history.
Originally published in 1962 - before the assassination of JFK - Portrait of a President is William Manchester’s first biography of the 35th president of the United States. In addition to firsthand encounters with JFK, the biography draws from over 40 interviews conducted in the first year of his presidency. In speaking with those closest to the commander-in-chief, both in his administration and his family, Manchester captures a complete portrait of one of the most highly regarded figures of the 20th century.
This edition includes a new introduction and epilogue written by Manchester in the aftermath of November 1963, adding to the mythos by documenting not just how President Kennedy lived but also the legacy he left behind.
More from the same
Related to this topic
-
JFK
- Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-1956
- By: Fredrik Logevall
- Narrated by: Mark Deakins
- Length: 29 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 519
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 457
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 455
By the time of his assassination in 1963, John F. Kennedy stood at the helm of the greatest power the world had ever seen, a booming American nation that he had steered through some of the most perilous diplomatic standoffs of the Cold War. Born in 1917 to a striving Irish American family that had become among Boston’s wealthiest, Kennedy knew political ambition from an early age, and his meteoric rise to become the youngest elected president cemented his status as one of the most mythologized figures in American history.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent Portrait of JFK & His Times
- By John David on 12-14-20
By: Fredrik Logevall
-
The Kennedys
- An American Drama
- By: Peter Collier, David Horowitz
- Narrated by: Christopher Hurt
- Length: 20 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 71
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 60
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 60
Who are the Kennedys? Are they the brilliant, heroic, extraordinary people their admirers believe them to be? Or are they arrogant, competitive, self-absorbed children of a willful and immensely rich patriarch, as their detractors claim? In fact, they are all of these things, and more.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Well-written (and narrated) Kennedy history.
- By SBG on 09-17-19
By: Peter Collier, and others
-
Eleanor
- By: David Michaelis
- Narrated by: Gabra Zackman
- Length: 19 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 609
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 514
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 508
In the first single-volume cradle-to-grave portrait in six decades, acclaimed biographer David Michaelis delivers a stunning account of Eleanor Roosevelt’s remarkable life of transformation. An orphaned niece of President Theodore Roosevelt, she converted her Gilded Age childhood of denial and secrecy into an irreconcilable marriage with her ambitious fifth cousin Franklin. Franklin Roosevelt transformed Eleanor from a settlement house volunteer on New York’s Lower East Side into a matching partner in New York’s most important power couple in a generation.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Stands apart from other biographies of ER
- By Debra Malone on 11-20-20
By: David Michaelis
-
The Making of the President 1960
- By: Theodore H. White
- Narrated by: Wayne Mitchell
- Length: 19 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 37
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 32
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 32
The Making of the President: 1960 revolutionized the way modern presidential campaigns are reported. Reporting from within the campaign for the first time on record, White’s extensive research and access to all parties involved set the bar for campaign coverage and remains unparalleled. White conveyed, in magnificent detail and with exquisite pacing, the high-stakes drama; he painted the unforgettable, even mythic story of JFK versus Nixon; and, most of all, he imbued the nation’s presidential election process with grandeur.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A Timely Book
- By Stephen on 07-28-20
-
1960
- LBJ vs. JFK vs. Nixon--The Epic Campaign That Forged Three Presidencies
- By: David Pietrusza
- Narrated by: Jeff Cummings
- Length: 18 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 85
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 77
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 78
It was the election that would ultimately give America "Camelot" and its tragic aftermath. 1960 is a stunning recreation of the bare-knuckle politics of the primaries, the party conventions' backroom dealings, the unprecedented television debates, along with hot-button issues of race, religion, and foreign policy. And, at the center of it all, three future presidents - Lyndon Johnson, John F. Kennedy, and Richard Nixon. In this essential work of history, David Pietrusza chronicles 1960's struggle for power by bringing to life its towering events and personalities, unlocking its secrets, and turning expert scholarship into rich, human storytelling.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
No F words, but the N-word is allowed
- By Porter on 12-04-18
By: David Pietrusza
-
Team of Five
- The Presidents Club in the Age of Trump
- By: Kate Andersen Brower
- Narrated by: Erin Bennett
- Length: 9 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 303
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 254
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 251
From the number one New York Times best-selling author of The Residence and First Women - also a New York Times best seller - comes a poignant, news-making look at the lives of the five former presidents in the wake of their White House years, including the surprising friendships they have formed through shared perspective and empathy.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Fascinating
- By Jean on 06-18-20
-
JFK
- Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-1956
- By: Fredrik Logevall
- Narrated by: Mark Deakins
- Length: 29 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 519
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 457
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 455
By the time of his assassination in 1963, John F. Kennedy stood at the helm of the greatest power the world had ever seen, a booming American nation that he had steered through some of the most perilous diplomatic standoffs of the Cold War. Born in 1917 to a striving Irish American family that had become among Boston’s wealthiest, Kennedy knew political ambition from an early age, and his meteoric rise to become the youngest elected president cemented his status as one of the most mythologized figures in American history.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent Portrait of JFK & His Times
- By John David on 12-14-20
By: Fredrik Logevall
-
The Kennedys
- An American Drama
- By: Peter Collier, David Horowitz
- Narrated by: Christopher Hurt
- Length: 20 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 71
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 60
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 60
Who are the Kennedys? Are they the brilliant, heroic, extraordinary people their admirers believe them to be? Or are they arrogant, competitive, self-absorbed children of a willful and immensely rich patriarch, as their detractors claim? In fact, they are all of these things, and more.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Well-written (and narrated) Kennedy history.
- By SBG on 09-17-19
By: Peter Collier, and others
-
Eleanor
- By: David Michaelis
- Narrated by: Gabra Zackman
- Length: 19 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 609
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 514
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 508
In the first single-volume cradle-to-grave portrait in six decades, acclaimed biographer David Michaelis delivers a stunning account of Eleanor Roosevelt’s remarkable life of transformation. An orphaned niece of President Theodore Roosevelt, she converted her Gilded Age childhood of denial and secrecy into an irreconcilable marriage with her ambitious fifth cousin Franklin. Franklin Roosevelt transformed Eleanor from a settlement house volunteer on New York’s Lower East Side into a matching partner in New York’s most important power couple in a generation.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Stands apart from other biographies of ER
- By Debra Malone on 11-20-20
By: David Michaelis
-
The Making of the President 1960
- By: Theodore H. White
- Narrated by: Wayne Mitchell
- Length: 19 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 37
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 32
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 32
The Making of the President: 1960 revolutionized the way modern presidential campaigns are reported. Reporting from within the campaign for the first time on record, White’s extensive research and access to all parties involved set the bar for campaign coverage and remains unparalleled. White conveyed, in magnificent detail and with exquisite pacing, the high-stakes drama; he painted the unforgettable, even mythic story of JFK versus Nixon; and, most of all, he imbued the nation’s presidential election process with grandeur.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A Timely Book
- By Stephen on 07-28-20
-
1960
- LBJ vs. JFK vs. Nixon--The Epic Campaign That Forged Three Presidencies
- By: David Pietrusza
- Narrated by: Jeff Cummings
- Length: 18 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 85
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 77
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 78
It was the election that would ultimately give America "Camelot" and its tragic aftermath. 1960 is a stunning recreation of the bare-knuckle politics of the primaries, the party conventions' backroom dealings, the unprecedented television debates, along with hot-button issues of race, religion, and foreign policy. And, at the center of it all, three future presidents - Lyndon Johnson, John F. Kennedy, and Richard Nixon. In this essential work of history, David Pietrusza chronicles 1960's struggle for power by bringing to life its towering events and personalities, unlocking its secrets, and turning expert scholarship into rich, human storytelling.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
No F words, but the N-word is allowed
- By Porter on 12-04-18
By: David Pietrusza
-
Team of Five
- The Presidents Club in the Age of Trump
- By: Kate Andersen Brower
- Narrated by: Erin Bennett
- Length: 9 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 303
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 254
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 251
From the number one New York Times best-selling author of The Residence and First Women - also a New York Times best seller - comes a poignant, news-making look at the lives of the five former presidents in the wake of their White House years, including the surprising friendships they have formed through shared perspective and empathy.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Fascinating
- By Jean on 06-18-20
-
Lyndon
- An Oral Biography
- By: Merle Miller
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 32 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 40
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 37
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 37
Best-selling presidential biographer Merle Miller has crafted a candid portrait of one of the most complex, fascinating, difficult, and colorful figures in American history. From his birth in 1908 to his death in 1973, the story of Lyndon B. Johnson is told with no sparing his personal excesses and contentious public image - while also highlighting the strength of his greatest accomplishments in Washington.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Flawless
- By Jeffrey on 01-04-21
By: Merle Miller
-
The Matriarch
- Barbara Bush and the Making of an American Dynasty
- By: Susan Page
- Narrated by: Kate Levy
- Length: 12 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 972
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 849
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 845
A vivid biography of former first lady Barbara Bush, one of the most influential and underappreciated women in American political history.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Insightful
- By Jean on 04-14-19
By: Susan Page
-
The Chief
- The Life of William Randolph Hearst
- By: David Nasaw
- Narrated by: David Colacci
- Length: 30 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 162
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 134
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 132
William Randolph Hearst, known to his staff as the "Chief", was a brilliant business strategist and a man of prodigious appetites. By the 1930s, he controlled the largest publishing empire in the United States, including 28 newspapers, the Cosmopolitan Picture Studio, radio stations, and 13 magazines. He quickly learned how to use this media stronghold to achieve unprecedented political power. In The Chief, David Nasaw presents an intimate portrait of the man famously characterized in the classic film Citizen Kane.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Fascinating but
- By Michael on 02-17-22
By: David Nasaw
-
The Defining Moment
- FDR's Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope
- By: Jonathan Alter
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 12 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,096
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 767
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 765
In this dramatic and fascinating account, Newsweek columnist Jonathan Alter shows how Franklin Delano Roosevelt used his first 100 days in office to lift the country from the despair and paralysis of the Great Depression and transform the American presidency.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Very infomative, and also refreshingly honest
- By Andy on 02-19-09
By: Jonathan Alter
-
Truman
- By: David McCullough
- Narrated by: Nelson Runger
- Length: 54 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 5,137
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 4,550
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 4,534
Hailed by critics as an American masterpiece, David McCullough's sweeping biography of Harry S. Truman captured the heart of the nation. The life and times of the 33rd president of the United States, Truman provides a deeply moving look at an extraordinary, singular American.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
That Mousy Little Man From Missouri Revisited
- By Sara on 07-23-15
By: David McCullough
-
Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero
- By: Chris Matthews
- Narrated by: Holter Graham
- Length: 13 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 487
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 424
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 421
In Chris Matthews’ extraordinary biography, 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.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
What Might Have Been?
- By Mel on 12-06-11
By: Chris Matthews
-
Three Days at the Brink
- FDR’s Daring Gamble to Win World War II
- By: Bret Baier, Catherine Whitney
- Narrated by: Bret Baier
- Length: 13 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 596
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 517
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 513
From the number-one best-selling author of Three Days in Moscow and anchor of Fox News Channel’s Special Report with Bret Baier, a gripping history of the secret meeting that set the stage for victory in World War II - the now-forgotten 1943 Tehran Conference, where Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin plotted the war's endgame, including the D-Day invasion.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A history lesson and SO much more
- By ScottG on 11-18-19
By: Bret Baier, and others
-
The Man Who Ran Washington
- The Life and Times of James A. Baker III
- By: Peter Baker, Susan Glasser
- Narrated by: Michael Quinlan
- Length: 26 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 859
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 730
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 722
For a quarter-century, from the end of Watergate to the aftermath of the Cold War, no Republican won the presidency without his help or ran the White House without his advice. James Addison Baker III was the indispensable man for four presidents because he understood better than anyone how to make Washington work at a time when America was shaping events around the world. The Man Who Ran Washington is a pause-resisting portrait of a power broker who influenced America's destiny for generations.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
We Need Baker Now More Than Ever
- By @Gazi2a on 01-08-21
By: Peter Baker, and others
-
The Last Republicans
- Inside the Extraordinary Relationship Between George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush
- By: Mark K. Updegrove
- Narrated by: Milton Jeffers
- Length: 14 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 181
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 162
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 161
In this balanced, illuminating audiobook, Updegrove tells the story of the Bushes' relationship from the birth of George W. through their postpresidential years and Jeb Bush's failed candidacy. Drawing on exclusive access and interviews with both presidents and the key people in their lives, Updegrove reveals the Bushes' views on the current state of the nation and the GOP and how the party they both led and helped build is undergoing a radical transformation.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Father and Son Presidents
- By Jean on 02-14-18
-
Ike and Dick
- Portrait of a Strange Political Marriage
- By: Jeffrey Frank
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 13 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 41
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 36
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 36
Richard Nixon was a young Navy officer when he first saw Dwight D. Eisenhower through a storm of tickertape as Manhattan celebrated the end of the war in Europe. Seven years later, Nixon was Eisenhower's running mate on the Republican presidential ticket-the beginning of a political and personal relationship that lasted for nearly twenty years. Despite a gulf that separated them by age and temperament, their association evolved into a collaboration that helped to shape the nation's political ideology.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
He's against NIxon
- By James A. Bretney on 01-20-14
By: Jeffrey Frank
-
Going Home to Glory
- A Memoir of Life with Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1961-1969
- By: David Eisenhower, Julie Nixon Eisenhower
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 68
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 60
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 60
After President Dwight D. Eisenhower left office in 1961, he retired to a farm in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Living next door was his teenage grandson, David; they would be neighbors for the rest of the decade. Based on personal stories, letters, diaries, and the reminiscences of Eisenhower’s closest friends, Going Home to Glory is both an intimate chronicle of the elder statesman’s final years and a coming of age story.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Wow - Living History - Right Before Our Eyes
- By Amazon Customer on 12-16-11
By: David Eisenhower, and others
-
The American Story
- Conversations with Master Historians
- By: David M. Rubenstein, Carla Hayden - foreword
- Narrated by: David M. Rubenstein, David McCullough, Walter Isaacson, and others
- Length: 9 hrs and 52 mins
- Highlights
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 844
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 725
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 718
Through his popular program The David Rubenstein Show, David Rubenstein has established himself as one of today’s most thoughtful interviewers. Now, in The American Story, David shares almost a dozen interviews that capture the brilliance of today’s most esteemed historians, as well as the souls of their subjects. The audiobook presents archival recordings of these interviews and features new introductions by Rubenstein as well as a foreword by Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, the first woman and the first African American to lead our national library.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Stories missing
- By Judith Princz on 01-02-20
By: David M. Rubenstein, and others
People who viewed this also viewed...
-
The Death of a President
- November 20 - November 25, 1963
- By: William Manchester
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 33 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 294
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 263
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 265
As the world still reeled from the tragic and historic events of November 22, 1963, William Manchester set out, at the request of the Kennedy family, to create a detailed, authoritative record of President John F. Kennedy's death, including the days immediately preceding and following the assassination.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
IMPORTANT HISTORIC BOOK
- By Jeff on 12-06-13
-
The Glory and the Dream
- A Narrative History of America, 1932 - 1972
- By: William Manchester
- Narrated by: Jeff Riggenbach
- Length: 57 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 446
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 344
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 344
This great time capsule of a book captures the abundant popular history of the United States from 1932 to 1972. It encompasses politics, military history, economics, the lively arts, science, fashion, fads, social change, sexual mores, communications, graffiti...everything and anything indigenous that can be captured in print.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Fabulous book, good narration, bad recording
- By Paula on 07-10-08
-
Controversy, and Other Essays in Journalism, 1950-1975
- By: William Manchester
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 16 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 3
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2
The writing of Death of a President, William Manchester's award-winning account of President Kennedy's assassination, is the topic of the title essay in this collection, as it was a controversy like few others, pitting one of the most prominent historians of the day against Jackie Kennedy, the most famous and private widow in the world. The essay provides an insider's account of the struggle to see the book published.
-
One Brief Shining Moment
- Remembering Kennedy
- By: William Manchester
- Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
- Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 13
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 12
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 12
Manchester recalls in intimate detail everything from family gatherings at Hyannis Port, to grueling campaign trips, and quiet evenings alone with the president in the White House family quarters. The resulting portrait provides listeners with myriad anecdotes and insights into a life of a man that bristled with vigor, competitiveness, and an unflagging drive for excellence, and shone with elegance, intelligence, and compassion.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Well Done
- By History on 04-16-24
-
The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill, Volume I: Visions of Glory 1874-1932
- By: William Manchester
- Narrated by: Frederick Davidson
- Length: 41 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,638
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2,137
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 2,131
Winston Churchill is perhaps the most important political figure of the 20th century. His great oratory and leadership during the Second World War were only part of his huge breadth of experience and achievement. Studying his life is a fascinating way to imbibe the history of his era and gain insight into key events that have shaped our time.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Superb - Review of Both Volume I & Volume II
- By Wolfpacker on 01-23-09
-
American Caesar
- Douglas MacArthur 1880-1964
- By: William Manchester
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 31 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,405
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,163
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 1,158
Virtually all Americans above a certain age hold strong opinions about Douglas MacArthur. They either worship him or despise him. Now, in this superb book, one of our most outstanding writers, after a meticulous three-year examination of the record, presents his startling insights about the man. The narrative is gripping, because the general's life was fascinating. It is moving, because he was a man of vision. It ends, finally, in tragedy, because his character, though majestic, was tragically flawed.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A Great American
- By Charlotte A. Hu on 05-19-13
-
The Death of a President
- November 20 - November 25, 1963
- By: William Manchester
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 33 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 294
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 263
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 265
As the world still reeled from the tragic and historic events of November 22, 1963, William Manchester set out, at the request of the Kennedy family, to create a detailed, authoritative record of President John F. Kennedy's death, including the days immediately preceding and following the assassination.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
IMPORTANT HISTORIC BOOK
- By Jeff on 12-06-13
-
The Glory and the Dream
- A Narrative History of America, 1932 - 1972
- By: William Manchester
- Narrated by: Jeff Riggenbach
- Length: 57 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 446
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 344
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 344
This great time capsule of a book captures the abundant popular history of the United States from 1932 to 1972. It encompasses politics, military history, economics, the lively arts, science, fashion, fads, social change, sexual mores, communications, graffiti...everything and anything indigenous that can be captured in print.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Fabulous book, good narration, bad recording
- By Paula on 07-10-08
-
Controversy, and Other Essays in Journalism, 1950-1975
- By: William Manchester
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 16 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 3
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2
The writing of Death of a President, William Manchester's award-winning account of President Kennedy's assassination, is the topic of the title essay in this collection, as it was a controversy like few others, pitting one of the most prominent historians of the day against Jackie Kennedy, the most famous and private widow in the world. The essay provides an insider's account of the struggle to see the book published.
-
One Brief Shining Moment
- Remembering Kennedy
- By: William Manchester
- Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
- Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 13
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 12
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 12
Manchester recalls in intimate detail everything from family gatherings at Hyannis Port, to grueling campaign trips, and quiet evenings alone with the president in the White House family quarters. The resulting portrait provides listeners with myriad anecdotes and insights into a life of a man that bristled with vigor, competitiveness, and an unflagging drive for excellence, and shone with elegance, intelligence, and compassion.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Well Done
- By History on 04-16-24
-
The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill, Volume I: Visions of Glory 1874-1932
- By: William Manchester
- Narrated by: Frederick Davidson
- Length: 41 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,638
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2,137
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 2,131
Winston Churchill is perhaps the most important political figure of the 20th century. His great oratory and leadership during the Second World War were only part of his huge breadth of experience and achievement. Studying his life is a fascinating way to imbibe the history of his era and gain insight into key events that have shaped our time.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Superb - Review of Both Volume I & Volume II
- By Wolfpacker on 01-23-09
-
American Caesar
- Douglas MacArthur 1880-1964
- By: William Manchester
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 31 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,405
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,163
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 1,158
Virtually all Americans above a certain age hold strong opinions about Douglas MacArthur. They either worship him or despise him. Now, in this superb book, one of our most outstanding writers, after a meticulous three-year examination of the record, presents his startling insights about the man. The narrative is gripping, because the general's life was fascinating. It is moving, because he was a man of vision. It ends, finally, in tragedy, because his character, though majestic, was tragically flawed.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A Great American
- By Charlotte A. Hu on 05-19-13
What listeners say about Portrait of a President
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Josey Wales
- 12-03-22
Extraordinary
Whatever anyone wants to believe about JFK, Manchester’s description makes it hard to deny that John Kennedy brought an energy and spirit to the White House not seen before or after his time. After reading Manchester’s book this reader does not believe we will see such a young President again in this lifetime.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful