The John F. Kennedy presidency has an indelible hold on our imaginations. Even more than half a century later, we remain captivated by the charismatic young leader who promised us the moon, who remained steadfast in the face of nuclear catastrophe, who told us to “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”—and whose life was cut short by shocking assassination.
Although so much ink has been spilled about JFK, recent years have seen the public release of documents and interviews, shedding new light on a man who perhaps never fully revealed himself to anyone. Reconsidering JFK is your chance to transport yourself back to a presidency mythologized as “Camelot.” In these 12 in-depth lectures, Professor Michael Shelden of Indiana State University brings you the latest research and first-hand accounts to portray a fresh angle on a multi-faceted, always fascinating American president.
Here, you consider the story through the eyes of people who experienced it, from speechwriters to squabbling politicos to staffers who got an inside look at the risqué private life of John F. Kennedy. Historians traffic in drama—the turning points that change the world forever. JFK’s presidency certainly was a turning point, but what remains so compelling is the human drama behind events such as the Bay of Pigs or the Cuban Missile Crisis. Reconsidering JFK is a story of the human drama—and the heart of the intriguing leader who changed the world.