JFK's Last Hundred Days

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A revelatory, minute-by-minute account of JFK’s last hundred days that explores what might have been. Fifty years after his death, President John F. Kennedy’s legend endures, with noted author and historian Thurston Clarke arguing that the heart of that legend lies in the potential of his final months. As we approach the anniversary of his assassination, this account reexamines Kennedy’s last days, revealing a man on the cusp of fulfilling his extraordinary promise. Following the tragic death of his infant son Patrick, Kennedy made significant strides in the Cold War, civil rights, and Vietnam, while also navigating personal challenges. The loss of Patrick prompted him to commit more deeply to his family, and he notably suspended his notorious philandering during this period. Kennedy began to view civil rights as a moral issue, recognizing the power of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. for the first time. Despite being seen as a staunch cold warrior, he achieved his proudest legislative success with the Limited Test Ban Treaty and fostered improved relations with Nikita Khrushchev, leading to a détente hailed as the “beginning of the end of the Cold War.” Kennedy also initiated a reappraisal of U.S. involvement in Vietnam, which could have led to a withdrawal of military advisers by 1965. This gripping account weaves together his public and private lives, explaining the enduring grief following his assassination and exploring w