NF Using History the JFK Way

[matthew mckeon]

I've just finished Johnny,We Hardly Knew Ye, a memoir of two of Kennedy's political operatives, Dave Powers and Ken O'Donnell, written a few years after the president's assassination.

As a history of Kennedy's presidency its nearly useless. As a biography of Kennedy, its nearly useless. Powers and O'Donnell were utter loyalists, and devoted to the man they watched die in Dallas. They never question any of JFK's decisions, before or during his presidency.

However, its a very useful book...

 

[matthew mckeon]

Powers and O'Donnell were political pros in the rough and tumble world of Massachusetts politics. The book is a detailed description of how political campaigns were managed and won in the transition period between machine politics to chasing suburban voters with television. They go from Powers brawling in Charlestown and O'Donnell yanking open an high rise window and roaring "jump" to a underperforming aide, to running a national campaign.

 

[matthew mckeon]

These guys loved politics, they loved the planning, the conflicts, the excitement and racing along at a breakneck pace. During an early fight against a machine politician named "onions" they are careening across Boston to make yet another speech when Kennedy shouts for them to brake to a halt. He jumps out and helps a little old lady across the street. This was a close fought ward for Kennedy and he tells them he would hate to lose it by one vote.

 

[matthew mckeon]

Its often a tremendously funny book. Its a real Boston Irish book(Jackie Kennedy refers to them as the "Murphia.")

As history its utterly untrustworthy. But as a view into a mindset of a professional politician, its invaluable.