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In this magisterial work, celebrated historian David Nasaw tells the complete story of Joseph P. Kennedy, the founder of the twentieth century's most famous political dynasty. The Patriarch tracks Kennedy's astonishing passage from East Boston outsider to supreme Washington insider and key participant in the major events of this times: the booms and busts, the Depression and the New Deal, two world wars, a cold war and the birth of the New Frontier. In this pioneering biography, Nasaw draws on never-before-published archival materials and interviews with family and friends to reveal the full impact of Kennedy's legacy, paying particular attention to the lives of the children he raised. In studying Kennedy's journey, we relive the history of the American Century. -
Since 1962, the White House’s celebrated spaces and rich history have been portrayed for the public in a continually updated guidebook, The White House: An Historic Guide. The guidebook marked the beginning of White House history as a unique field of study. It was the first, and for its time, only comprehensive published work on a place that symbolized the history of America and all that the nation stood for to the American people. The first guidebook was published on July 4, 1962 with a first print run of 250,000 copies. Sales now exceed 5 million copies! It was First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy’s wish that such a book be written, and her letter opened the first edition, the first project of the White House Historical Association. Since that time eleven first ladies have continued the tradition, including First Lady Dr. Jill Biden who has written an opening letter for this new edition. Of the guidebook, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden has said: “As an educator, I hope this guidebook will inspire curiosity about the presidents and first families who reflect their time in history and help us learn from that past so that we can build a more just nation.”
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To truly understand the dynamics and magic of the Kennedy family, one must understand their passion for sailing and the sea. Many families sail together, but the Kennedys’ relationship with Victura, the 25-foot sloop purchased in 1932, stands apart. Throughout their brief lives, Joe Jr., Jack, and Bobby spent many hours racing Victura. Lack of effort in a race by one of his sons could infuriate Joseph P. Kennedy, and Joe Jr. and Jack ranked among the best collegiate sailors in New England. Likewise, Eunice emerged as a gifted sailor and fierce competitor, the equal of any of her brothers. The Kennedys believed that Jack’s experience sailing Victura helped him survive the sinking of his PT boat during World War II. In the 1950s, glossy Life magazine photos of Jack and Jackie on Victura’s bow helped define the winning Kennedy brand. Jack doodled sketches of Victura during Oval Office meetings, and it’s probable that his love of seafaring played a role in his 1961 decision to put a man on the moon, an enterprise he referred to as “spacefaring.” Ted loved Victura as much as any of his siblings did and, with his own children and the children of his lost brothers as crew, he sailed into his old age: past the shoals of an ebbing career, and into his eventual role as the “Lion of the Senate.” In Victura, James W. Graham charts the progress of America’s signature twentieth-century family dynasty in a narrative both stunningly original and deeply gripping. This true tale of one small sailboat is an invaluable contribution to our understanding of the great story of the Kennedys.
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An extraordinary coffee table book for the nautically inclined. This substantial volume has 661 illustrations, many of which are life sized. Using a highly specialized spot UV printing method, the incredible photographs are displayed with a brilliance and sharpness rarely seen. By Dr. Alan Granby, portions of the sale of this book benefit The Cahoon Museum of American Art. Hardcover. 356 pages.
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