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Summary: THE LORD LOVES JUSTICE...
Review: ...He hates robbery and wrongdoing. Isaiah 61:8
What is justice? Doesn't it mean different things to different peoples? What is God's definition of it found within the bible? More homework I give you...(The word justice is found 62 times in the book of Isaiah, so that's a good place to start!)
Bobby Kennedy was after the mafia, organized crime, so goes the saying on the street. Which mob? Aren't there several? In the United States, you'll probably find a good sampling of all of them herein. I think Bobby was after the most treacherous ones at that time. Anyway, I read this many years ago, the only biography I've read on RFK so far. While reading this one, I replied to my mom, forget Jack Kennedy, I love Bobby! (I'm a JFK fan if you've not noticed before.) The book, as the title says, is about his life from cradle to grave. I knew very little about RFK before I read this, and this biography is somewhat biased in his favor. The things I liked about him were his work ethic, his devotion to his wife and family, his outspokenness. He was "the altar boy" of the family who fasted every Sunday, read, fairly regularly, scripture with his family. Most endearing to me about RFK was the fact that he was a Civil War buff. And that, I must say, is rare for a yankee! I'm not sure what all of the Kennedys think about this book, but I can say that this book was sold at the JFK library which I take to mean, they don't disapprove. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Evan Thomas is a good writer. It's a very readable biography.
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Summary: impressive scholarship, some new insights
Review: After several new studies on the life and career of Robert Kennedy in the past 3 years, Evan Thomas had a tall order in offering a work with something new to say. Thomas had a distinct advantage over other recent authors, however: access to RFK's personal papers. What is somewhat surprising is how small a part of the source base for his biography references to Kennedy's papers are. Perhaps this should not be surprising given RFK's disinclination toward self-disclosure. Thomas also conducted a very impressive number of interviews with Kennedy associates, and he utilitzes these to good effect. What emerges is a work of great balance and breadth, and following the lead of James Hilty's judicious assessment of some areas of Kennedy myth, Thomas debunks many popular ideas about RFK and humanizes him. What I found lacking in the book is some sense of the vitriolic nature of opposition to Robert Kennedy, or any analysis of devotion to the man on either the popular level or that of his subordinates. While detachment in a biographer's perspective is important, a greater sense of Kennedy's milieu was absent. Two final critiques: Thomas doesn't really make a case for where Kennedy fits in the big picture of American history (perhaps evidence of Thomas as journalist as opposed to historian), and he slights Kennedy's senatorial career, the largest part of his public life (if not the most important). Overall, the book is very well done, and his use and range of sources is commendable.
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Summary: Do We Really Know Robert Kennedy?
Review: Author Evan Thomas, Assistant Managing Editor of Newsweek, has written several works of popular biography, and I especially enjoyed his The Very Best Men: Four Who Dared: The Early Years of the CIA. Thomas's book about Robert Kennedy, the least-understood Kennedy brother, is characteristically well written, and Thomas covers the major events of his life in less than 400 pages, so the author's economy of style must be applauded. But Thomas presents little which is new, and, in that respect, this book is slightly disappointing. Admirers of Robert Kennedy probably will continue to believe that his assassination in June 1968, when he was campaigning for the Democratic nomination for president, left much undone, but I do not believe Thomas offers us much reason to believe we really understand RFK. RFK was well educated at Portsmouth Priory, Harvard College, and the University of Virginia law school, but Thomas suggests that other events in his formative years and early adulthood were more influential. Kennedy just missed serving in World War II, in which his oldest brother Joseph was killed in combat and from which JFK returned a hero. According to Thomas: "Perhaps in part because he had never seen the real thing, Kennedy glorified war." In 1953, RFK briefly served as a lawyer on the staff of Senator Joseph McCarthy's permanent subcommittee on investigations. Thomas offers no reason to believe that Kennedy was offended by the substance of the work; his early departure was, instead, the result of a personality conflict with the notorious Roy Cohn. RFK eventually made a name for himself investigating corruption in the labor movement and the influence of organized crime on unions, and he later believed that the Mafia don of New Orleans played a role in the assassination of his brother. After John Kennedy's election in 1960, according to Thomas, Joseph P. Kennedy insisted that Robert be appointed Attorney General to position him to serve as the President's "all-purpose consigliere." Some of RFK's assignments in that role were ugly, and Thomas suggests that the psychological effects were deep. It is now well known that Kennedy pressured the C.I.A. to "get rid" of Fidel Castro, and RFK also gave the F.B.I. authority to wiretap the telephones of the Rev. Martin Luther King, caving in to pressure from Director J. Edgar Hoover, who was almost pathologically obsessed with attempting to discredit the civil rights leader. If there is little in this book which is new, there is plenty to reinforce Robert Kennedy's reputation for ruthlessness. The vicious Lyndon Johnson-Robert Kennedy rivalry, which pervaded their formal relationship from President Kennedy's assassination in November 1963 through the time of RFK's death, also attracts a good deal of Thomas's attention. Their now well-documented hatred for each other was profound in its ugliness, and this made it exceptionally difficult for holdovers from the Kennedy administration to serve effectively under Johnson. Some of the most telling passages concern Robert Kennedy's limitations as a practical politician. During his 1964 campaign for election to the Senate from New York, according to Thomas, Kennedy proved that he "was not a natural on the stump," and, although RFK defeated a Republican incumbent, he ran 2,000,000 votes behind President Johnson's awesome margin of victory in that state. Once in office, Kennedy refused to exert himself with respect to the Senate's elaborate system of customs and rituals, and, according to Thomas, "in his three and one half years in the U.S. Senate, he lacked the seniority to pass any major piece of legislation." Anyone who reads Evan Thomas's biography of Robert Kennedy will learn a lot about one of the most important figures in American politics in the 1960s, but I suspect that some readers will be left with the sense that they still do not really know the man.
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Summary: A masterpiece of American biography...
Review: Evan Thomas has set an exceptionally high standard for political as well as historical biography with this masterful account of the life of a brilliant and tortured leader. Highly readable and meticulously researched with the added advantage of having unlimited exclusive access to Kennedy's private papers, this narrative brings to life a complex and dynamically forceful man. From RFK's early days to his untimely death while reaching for the Presidency, Thomas gives us an unvarnished but at the same time a sympathetic look at the "ruthless" Kennedy. We see RFK molding his skills as the tireless/relentless campaign manager for his brother as JFK ran for Congress in '46 and the Senate in '52. His driven pursuit of Hoffa as a part of the Senate Rackets Committee brings RFK into the national spotlight and sets the stage for the monolithic JFK Presidential campaign and administration. Awarded the Attorney Generalship for his work during the campaign, Bobby offsets the nepotism charges by becoming the most trusted advisor to his brother during one of history's most sublime and at the same time most dangerous Presidential terms. Thomas deftly covers the inside machinations of such historical events as the Bay of Pigs, the multiple assasination plots against Castro and the subsequent Missile Crisis. RFK's role is at once expertly and judiciously displayed as the manipulative bully who runs interference while JFK remains above the fray. Conversely, when challenged, he shows that he can become thoughtful and brilliant on the world stage as evidenced by his performance during the Missile Crisis. Of lesser known historical events such as the burgeoning civil rights acts of the early 60's, the fight against the "mob" and organized crime and the constant and frustrating battles with J. Edgar Hoover, Thomas reveals RFK in the same light...the same intensity, the same propensity for error (notable in the tapping of Martin Luther King's phone)and the same caring leadership with his characteristically kindred feelings for the "underdog". Following JFK's assasination, we see RFK's mythological transformation from follower to leader...Thomas covers his Senate election following that crippling "depression" period and shows how he slowly established his own policies and agenda. All this leads to the almost Shakespearian tragedy of the '68 campaign for the Presidency and a brilliant ending to the book where Thomas philosophizes on what a prospective RFK Presidential administration might have been: "He probably would have been devious in some ways, and it is not impossible to imagine him abusing the power of his office. But he would have surely tried to tackle the problems of poverty and discrimination, and he would have tried to end the killing in Vietnam long before President Nixon did." A sweeping narrative of a fascinating man and a shrewd examination of his character, this work by Evan Thomas is both comprehensive and an entertaining read and should stand the test of time and be considered the best RFK biography of the many that are currently published. This is an essential read for any political or historical buff and I recommend it highly.
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Summary: RFK : His Life, the greatest book I have ever read
Review: Evan Thomas has written a masterpiece of nonfiction. RFK is one of the greatest Americans who has ever lived and his tragic death is a national nightmare. Thomas captures the power of RFK's life and the grand contribution he and his family made to America and the world. This is the greatest book I have ever read because of the powerful subject matter and the remarkable writing style of the author. 5 stars does not do this materpiece justice.
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Summary: RFK: the eternal "stranger"
Review: Evan Thomas has written an excellent, fair-minded, admirably even-handed biography of Robert Kennedy, and, given the mythos that surrounds the Kennedys, that alone is a significant accomplishment. Thomas also happens to be a fine writer, and this book is a pleasure to read (with the exception that at times I found it very hard to tell which "Kennedy" Thomas was talking about). However -- and I'm not saying that this is Thomas' fault - after nearly 400 pages, I still can't say I understand the "younger brother full of pain." For instance, I still have essentially no clue - assuming that RFK had not been assassinated, had won the Democratic nomination for President in 1968 (unlikely), and defeated Richard Nixon in the general election (also unlikely) - what kind of President he would have made. And, probably wisely, Thomas takes the safe, responsible road and does not speculate on this but simply ends the book with RFK's assassination. Too bad. I would have enjoyed Thomas' speculations very much, and this is an unfortunate flaw in an otherwise first-rate book. As portrayed by Thomas, RFK is, to paraphrase Churchill, a mystery, an enigma, and a riddle. What made this guy tick? Thomas speculates, which is about all he can do given the subject and the availability of solid information, but really, who knows? Was RFK a liberal, moderate, conservative, all of the above, or something else altogether? Again, after reading Thomas' book, I still can't say. Which was the "real RFK" - the young assistant to Senator Joseph McCarthy's communist witchhunts or the older man who came to admire Che Guevara and Cesar Chavez? The young man who -- as Attorney General -- went along with J. Edgar Hoover's wiretaps of Martin Luther King and had little interest in the civil rights struggle, or the older man who made a triumphant, inspirational tour of black South Africa (and the inner cities of the USA)? A realpolitik, ruthless, back-channel conniver? Or an idealistic, insecure, brave, inspirational leader? And on and on the contradictions, complexities, and confusions go, as Thomas tries valiantly to make sense of it all. In sum, this is an excellent book that I highly recommend, about a fascinating, important person who, ultimately, may simply be unknowable. So, I find it highly appropriate that one of RFK's favorite books was Camus' "The Stranger," because that is what RFK was, and possibly always will be.
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Summary: An even-handed approach to a complex man.
Review: Evan Thomas successfully catches the complexity of Robert Kennedy. Thomas' book enables the reader to understand the myriad of different influences which resulted in the RFK who so captivated this country for a short period of time in the 1960s. Thirty-two years after his death at age 42 it is often forgotten that for every American who saw RFK as a hero, there was another American who saw a demon. In an America where politicians struggle to avoid powerful emotions and controversial positions Robert Kennedy embraced them. What Thomas captures is that the embrace was not always intentional. Robert Kennedy's very nature compelled him to be a lightning rod for emotion. Thomas' picture of RFK during the Cuban Missile Crisis is perhaps the most compelling part of the book. More so than any other Kennedy biography this book displays a man, not yet 37 years old, dealing with the possiblity that his own actions might bring about the deaths of millions. Thomas effectively shows how amazing it was that Kennedy was not frozen into indecision or bullied into a military response by others with more credentials. Thomas captures a man driven to his limits and functioning effectively. Thomas, although apparently an admirer of Kennedy, effectively protrays the darker side of his life. However, what comes out of this biography that is missing in others is the context of Kennedy's actions which are so criticized today. For example, Thomas does not excuse the recklessness of the early days of the Kennedy administration that resulted in the clandestine attempts on Fidel Castro's life. Unlike other biographys, written by Kennedy admirers, Thomas shows that RFK probably was aware that others were actively seeking this result rather than simply stating that no direct evidence of his knowledge or involvement in these plots has ever been produced. However, Thomas doesn't stop there, as other more critical biographys have done. Instead Thomas looks at the forces at play which resulted in RFK's involvement in the plots. This is done not to excuse Kennedy's conduct but to explain it. At the end the reader is left to wonder what Robert Kennedy, who almost certainly would not have even gotten the Democratic presidential nomination in 1968, would have done with the rest of his life. You don't have to admire or hate Robert Kennedy to recognize what a fascinating story that might have been.
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Summary: The complex truth about a national icon
Review: Evan Thomas' extraordinary book about Senator Robert Kennedy's life brings a wealth of new information and surprising insights to the mythic figure of Bobby we all thought we knew. Thomas' careful research, gripping interviews, and well-honed writing make this a "page turner." Written by a prize-winning journalist who also happens to be Norman Thomas' grandson, Evan Thomas' insightful portrait of Robert Kennedy is nonetheless objective and balanced, showing us a political figure of conscience and, at exactly the same moment, hard-bitten practicality. Thomas has opened a new window into the complex and not-always-liberal character, RFK. His book is must reading for anyone seeking to understand the Kennedys and America in the l960's.
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Summary: What Lies Beneath
Review: Evan Thomas's biography of Robert Kennedy, "Robert Kennedy: His Life", will surprise many people who think they know the real Kennedy. There has always been a Good-Bobby/Bad-Bobby controversy swirling around the life of Kennedy. He is a figure who solicits strong opinions one way or the other. Perhaps, as Thomas suggests, those people who are for or against Kennedy are not entirely right but aren't entirely wrong either. The main theme I gathered from Thomas's biography is that Kennedy had to struggle his whole life against immense odds. This may seem incongruous for someone who grew up in a very wealthy family, but the odds that Kennedy struggled against were not those of the material world. Robert Kennedy was the third son and seventh child of Joseph P. and Rose Kennedy. Just having been born the son of Joseph Kennedy could have been a difficult enough of a life by itself. Robert Kennedy also had to struggle for his father's attention. Joseph Kennedy lavished the majority of his attention on his older children, especially his two oldest sons Joseph Jr. and John. Other members of his family often referred to Bobby as the runt. Kennedy had to prove himself time and again before he was accepted by his father and older siblings. Thomas paints him as a man who wanted nothing more than to gain his father's approval, and, who when he finally earned it, no longer thought much of it. In many ways Robert Kennedy led a reckless life. He thought nothing of plunging into 50 degree water to go swimming, getting into fights with men twice his size who bad mouthed his family, and shrugging off death threats by appearing in public without much protection. Thomas describes in detail Kennedy's fatalism which only became more pronounced after John's assassination and his awakening to existentialism. Kennedy was drawn to Greek history and plays, especially the Greek tragedies of Aeschylus (he saw his family as something of a Greek tragedy itself). The layout of Thomas's biography is interesting. Each chapter is titled in such as a way as to discuss a certain aspect of Kennedy's character or persona. Hence, the opening chapter "Runt" discusses Kennedy's childhood of trying to garner his family's attention, chapter 5 "Protector" discusses his finding of a role to play within the family as his brother's keeper, and chapter 15 "Mourner" discusses his depression and withdrawal from public after his brother's death, for which he always wondered if he was ultimately to blame. Thomas has written a biography which depicts Robert Kennedy as a, at first glance, complex figure but who, in reality, was quite simple. Kennedy had a burning desire to "do something". He was at heart a crusader, a crusader for the poor, for the young, for the disenfranchised, for the voiceless. The something that he did, did not always appear to agree with other actions he undertook or things he said; but, his goal was always the same. Kennedy is the great what-if of American politics. Instead of wondering what Robert Kennedy may have done though, perhaps we should, as Thomas has done with this biography, concentrate on what he accomplished and what he meant to so many for whom the power politics of America have no meaning.
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Summary: kennedy book review
Review: first i'll start with the positives. 1) wonderfully written, a very entertaining and easy to read book. 2) great coverage on the martin luther king release from jail and civil rights issues, the war with jimmy hoffa, and cuban missile crisis, informative talk of how the kennedy's used backchannels in the resolution of these issues
the negatives 1) factual errors in the coverage in the bay of pigs, recently released documentation shows that the castro's airforce was to be eliminated before the invasion took place, kennedy never agreed to provide air cover, the cuban air force was to be eliminated prior to the invasion, it is factually inaccurate to put the blame on the kennedys and say they backed out. 2) the book lacks coverage in the kennedy's economic policy, like many other kennedy books this book totally ignores their economic decisions, why? rescinding the pricing of us steel, not covered. signing an executive order to bypass the federal reserve and have the treasurery department issue interest free money, not covered, the kennedy's anti-globalist stance, not covered. 3) the lone nut theory, is total b.s.and i feel insulted to be told otherwise mr. thomas should no better then to spout disinformation, so the book looses points for endorsing this view, 4) no talk of nsam 263 authorizing the release of the first thousand troops from vietnam by christmas of 63 and all military personnel by 65...so all in all an okay but midly disappointing book, i don't think the author really understands the significance of the kennedy's thousand days in the white house and their policies, they had their flaws, but were extremely bright and i feel had the countries best interests at heart, thumbs in the middle, to fill in the large gaps read the kennedy's battling wall street by donald gibson and for an accurate report of bay of pigs read operation zapata, which is the actual government report on bay of pigs
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