The best material in this book derives from Schlesinger’s personal observations – but this only offers a partial view of Kennedy and his administration. “A Thousand Days” is frequently dry and dense and is more geared toward a political philosopher or history graduate student than a fan of colorful presidential biographies.īy design the reader is exposed to very little of Kennedy’s pre-presidency and even less of his family or personal life. Unfortunately, despite Schlesinger’s skill as a historian and writer, this book will not provide a consistently engaging or carefree journey for many readers. And, in general, Schlesinger is able to provide interesting (and often unique) insight into nearly everything he witnessed first-hand. The author provides an engaging (if too brief) discussion of Secretary McNamara’s efforts to reorganize and streamline the Department of Defense and a particularly interesting examination of the decline of the Department of State following World War II. Schlesinger’s review of the 1960 Democratic Convention in Los Angeles was extraordinarily fascinating as was his account of discussions between Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev at the Vienna summit in 1961. There are few interruptions along the way only a brief examination of his early life, a review of his near-nomination as Adlai Stevenson’s 1956 running mate and some thematic diversions toward the end of the book interrupt what is otherwise a generally chronological flow.ĭespite its intimidating length there is much to recommend in this classic. Schlesinger begins by reviewing JFK’s 1960 nomination for the presidency before proceeding carefully through Kennedy’s presidency up to his death. Weighing in at a hefty 1,031 pages, this tome is part autobiography, part biography, and part interpretive history.
Written by an insider with a unique window into events, “A Thousand Days” is widely considered an invaluable, if selective, review of the three-year Kennedy presidency. Schlesinger died in 2007 at the age of 89. He was also a prolific author whose works include a Pulitzer Prize-winning book on Andrew Jackson and a series on Franklin D. Schlesinger was a prominent historian and social critic who served as Special Assistant to President Kennedy. Kennedy in the White House” was published in 1965 and received a Pulitzer Prize the following year. Arthur Schlesinger Jr.’s “ A Thousand Days: John F.
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