Ask Not : The Inauguration of John F. Kennedy and the Speech That Changed America

Rating:
Summary: New Insights on Kennedy Speechwriting. And More
Review: "Ask Not" is, without doubt, the most interesting addition to Kennedyana of recent years. Thurston Clarke, a gifted storyteller, takes the reader into a detailed journey into the lives of JFK, his family, friends and advisers on the hectic days of January 10-20, 1961, as Kennedy created an Inaugural address that, 43 years after it was delivered, hasn't lost any of its power and magic. At the center of this quest, Thurston introduces new evidence establishing that Kennedy, and not Ted Sorensen, was the author of the speech's most poetic, stirring and fascinating passages. If it is true that Sorensen has never written or said that he was the author of Kennedy's Inaugural, he has always mantained an ambigous position on the subject. Most historians and scholars have keep this ambiguity alive, and many still believe today that Sorensen was really the author of a message that defined the Kennedy era and launched America into the revolutionary and contradictory sixties.

Clarke writes a captivating day-to-day (almost hour-to-hour) account of when and how John F. Kennedy dictated or wrote the words and sentences that converged in one of the most important speeches of the twentieth century. From the moment during a flight on his private plane to his family's mansion in Palm Beach when he dictated to Evelyn Lincoln, his secretary, the core of the most beautiful lines of the speech, till the very moment when he made minor corrections as he was delivering it, this book reivindicates Kennedy's authorship. It also makes the case that the Inaugural can be seen as a philosophical and spiritual biography of JFK, tracing the origins of its ideas and setences not just to previous extemporaneous speeches delivered during his 1960 campaign, but also to episodes and experiences of Kennedy's life.

"Ask Not", of course, is comparable to "Lincoln at Gettysburg" by Garry Wills, which I think is the most fascinating book on Lincoln (and even speechwriting) ever written. But "Ask Not" can also be read as a shorthand biography that reveals not well-known insights on Kennedy's life and character. It's also a lofty reminder of how Americans lived the dawn of the Kennedy years, the neverending fascination about him and Jackie, his family, and a time when high-flying ideas were so close to politics that it seems almost unbelievable today.

There's no complacency in this book. You wiil find a good amount of well-docummented criticism on Kennedy, but reading it (and, of course, Kennedy's Inaugural once again), one cannot but make a comparison to the present state of not only political rhetoric, but politics in general, and sadly contemplate what has been lost.

Could "Ask Not", as "Lincoln at Gettysburg" did on 1993, win a Pulitzer? Certainly it has the right stuff. If you're a Kennedy fan, or a history buff, or enjoy speeches and speechwriting, or just love to read a very good book, get your hands and eyes on this one.



Rating:
Summary: Insufficient Research
Review: Clarke's glaring research error: Author of The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931), in an article titled "The New Frontier" wrote "Are you a politician asking what your country can do for you or a zealous one asking what can you do for your country?". Clarke sure missed this one, as have so many before him. Did Kennedy just paraphrase, or did he plagarize? I would have liked to have seen Clarke deal with this sticky issue.

Rating:
Summary: A Book That Asked and Answered the Question
Review: Having come of age with JFK's election, having watched that inauguration speech on an old black-and-white television, Thurston Clarke's book brought it all back to me, the hopes and aspirations, all of the energy and goodness in America that we has lost in America in these days of rage and war.

Yes, it was a special moment, and what Kennedy said was very special, and having Clarke recall it now reminds us that it is still possible to do good in the world (i.e. the Peace Corps)and still be a friend to other nations.

What is also impressive about ASK NOT are all the background details that Clarke has collected, the stories no one has told us how Kennedy built his speech, line-by-line, and delivered it to the world on that cold January morning. It is so reassuring to know that once we had a president who actually wrote the words he spoke. How refreshing and surprising. And how refreshing it is to read Clarke's prose. He is someone who writes like an angel and tells his story as if it were a mystery waiting to be solved. If I could, I'd give ASK NOT six ******.


Rating:
Summary: A Sad piece of American History [e-mail]
Review: I don't understand how it could possibly have happened! JFK was given such extreme honor and notoriety for a speech which so obviously stated the EXACT OPPOSITE of what the Democrats and the Liberals believe in. It is the Republicans and the Conseratives who believe in citizens doing for themselves, and the Government NOT giving the citizens loads of free goodies, and welfare, and handouts. - Then why would Kennedy say, "ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY WILL DO FOR YOU, BUT SAY WHAT YOU WILL DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY!" That statement is NOT Democratic, that is Republican! It is not Liberal,it is Conservative! It is probably the biggest JOKE ever laid on the American People!

Rating:
Summary: A fascinating read
Review: I found it a fascinating book. Thurston Clarke's painstaking research and subsequent account of JFK's inaugural address recaptures a moment in time in a unique and intriguing way. I felt transported back to being ten years old, home from school due to heavy snow,watching the television coverage, but with the wisdom of Clarke's story on my side. My daughter, who obviously was not alive in 1961, but is a student of the history of the 60's, was similarly transfixed by Ask Not.

Rating:
Summary: He spoke from the heart
Review: I loved this book. As a New Englander who was only 6 years old at the time of the inauguration, I can no longer tell if I remember watching the Inaugural or if over the years seeing the newsclips and videos at the JFK Library have indelibly stamped his words in my brain. In any case, the book made me want to hear the speech again. A visit to the Library during my next visit to Boston may be in order.

One bone to pick. How is it that a regular person like me constantly finds errors in books that seem to be otherwise well-researched and the editors don't catch them? Henry Fonda's ex-wife who was at Joseph Alsop's party was named Afdera, not Alfreda. Errors like that drive me nuts.

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Summary: The Story Of January 1961 & Kennedy's Inauguration
Review: The author discusses the period in which President Kennedy was inaugurated in January 1961 and the famous speech that Kennedy gave at the inauguration. The famous speech "ask not ......" told Americans that each individual was important. Other terms in the speech repeat that the individual is important, has a purpose and can make a difference. Americans were hungry for the words that Kennedy spoke in the speech. Americans wanted to do more for the Country over and above their own selfish interests. Kennedy had created this spirit of patriotism during his campaign and, therefore, the inaugural speech rang true. Kennedy closes the speech by saying that the listener could ask of his government the same spirit of helpfulness as the Country was asking of its citizens.

The author is a micro historian and densely researched the short period of time surrounding the speech. The book is not broad spectrum but focused on this inauguration period only.

Rating:
Summary: A Moving Speech Remembered By All
Review: This is another wonderful book from Thurston Clarke, who is well known for his meticulous research, rich detail, funny anecdotes, powerful writing. Once again we, the reader, are pulled into a vivid story about which we already have strong memories and impressions. ASK NOT illuminates and refreshes and untangles our memories of Kennedy's inspiring and challenging words. We are reminded of how uplifted we felt on first hearing his inaugural address 45 years ago. Clarke's complete picture of the preparation for the speech and the inaugural celebrations bring alive a wonderful chapter in our history.

Rating:
Summary: Don't miss this book
Review: Thurston Clarke has created a well written account of both this impressive speech and the forces at play that caused it to have an enormous impact on a generation. It is a must read for anyone interested in better understanding the outpouring of altruism fostered by Kennedy's call to service.

Rating:
Summary: Good at recreating 1960-1961.
Review: You must bring several grains of salt to the author's discussion of what exactly JFK might have been doing or thinking here or there, but the main premise (that JFK wrote the speech, not Sorenson) is convincingly laid out. Also, Clarke's overview of that Inauguration Day (Jan. 20, 1961) is fascinating...he provides great sixties details and a keen assessment of what people on that podium (such as his brief but vivid portrait of Mamie Eisenhower) thought about JFK, based on firsthand accounts, memoirs, conversations. Also, this is a good refresher on what real Democrats and real Republicans stood for in Kennedy's time. I really enjoyed reading this book.