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The Kennedy Assassination--24 Hours After: Lyndon B. Johnson's Pivotal First Day As President (2009)

by Steven M. Gillon(Favorite Author)

3.95 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

046501870X (ISBN13: 9780465018703)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Basic Books

review 1: Very intersting book concerning the first 24 hours after the Kennedy assassination. We follow Johnson as he arrives at Parkland hospital and is placed in a room not really knowing the condition of the president. He recieves various reports from the people there telling him that Kennedy has died but still he hesitates to leave as he doesn't weant to seem to be too anxious to assume power. We see the confusion over wheter he should go back to Washington on Air Force One or Two. The uncertainity of when he should be sworn in and of course the fine line he must work between honoring Kennedy and taking over for him. The author points out that this was the first time a president had died so quickly while in office, also the first time that we had nuclear weapons pointed at ... moreus. All in all a very well written book looking into a very short but enormously important few hours in history.
review 2: Quick, informative piece about the power of the media and the insane actions of the major players in Dallas on that dark day. I especially liked the strange coincidences and occurences that foreshadow the outcome of JFK's death. Growing up with the hype and legends surrounding his assisination,I haven't paid much attention to Johnson. Until this book. Though I think it is hard to judge a person in a moment of tragedy, Johnson did have the eyes of the world on him for what seems to be the first time in his political career.I think many of today's politicians wouldn't have been able to come off looking so heroic. In those first 24 hours, Johnson kept a nation calm,bowed to the wishes of Jacqueline Kennedy and the Kennedy clan and came out on top. At least for awhile! less

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