A Thousand Days by Arthur M. Schlesinger

A Thousand Days

John F. Kennedy in the White House

Arthur M. Schlesinger

HarperCollins · Print & ebook · June 3, 2002

Pulitzer Prize– and National Book Award–winner: "Of all the Kennedy books . . . this is the best."—Time Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. served as special assistant to President John F. Kennedy throughout his presidency—from the long and grueling campaign to Kennedy’s tragic and unexpected assassination by Lee Harvey Oswald.

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Who it’s for
An insider’s perspective meets broad historical context in this close, unsparing account of Kennedy’s presidency.
Themes
Kennedy administration, Civil Rights movement, International and domestic conflict
Genres
Presidents & World Leaders, 20th-Century America, Political Lives

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About this book

Pulitzer Prize– and National Book Award–winner: "Of all the Kennedy books . . . this is the best."—Time Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. served as special assistant to President John F. Kennedy throughout his presidency—from the long and grueling campaign to Kennedy’s tragic and unexpected assassination by Lee Harvey Oswald.

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In A Thousand Days, Schlesinger combines intimate knowledge as one of President Kennedy’s inner circle with sweeping research and historic context to provide a look at one of the most legendary presidential administrations in American history. From JFK’s battle with Nixon during the 1960 election, to the seemingly charmed inaugural days, to international conflict and domestic unrest, Schlesinger takes a close and fond, but unsparing, look at Kennedy’s tenure in the White House, covering well-known successes, like his involvement in the Civil Rights movement; infamous humiliations, like the Bay of Pigs; and often overlooked struggles, like the Skybolt missile mix-up, alike. A Thousand Days is “at once a masterly literary achievement and a work of major historical significance” (New York Times).

Inside the White House

An insider’s perspective meets broad historical context in this close, unsparing account of Kennedy’s presidency.

Come here for

  • A view of presidential decisions shaped by intimate access and wider context
  • The mix of celebrated successes and consequential missteps

Expect

  • A fond but unsparing perspective on Kennedy’s time in office
  • A sustained look at domestic and international challenges

Where it sits

Presidents & World Leaders93%
20th-Century America54%
Political Lives36%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Political Lives
  • Presidents & World Leaders
  • Women's Lives
  • Personal Memoirs
Show all 8 publisher categories
  • Federal Government Law
  • Civil Rights
  • Public Policy
  • National Government
Authors
Arthur M. Schlesinger
Publisher
HarperCollins
Published
June 3, 2002
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Kennedy administration · Civil Rights movement · International and domestic conflict
Reading lane
Political Lives