The story assumes the dimensions of a great drama played out on a stage too vast to comprehend. Rivalry has always fuelled american public life but the antagonism between lyndon johnson and robert kennedy was extraordinary. Neither the title nor the table of contents points to any particular inclination or bias. Jeff shesol is a founding partner of west wing writers, a strategic. Lyndon johnson, robert kennedy, and the feud that defined a decade by jeff shesol and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Drawing on previously unexamined recordings and documents, as well as memoirs, biographies, and scores of personal interviews, jeff shesol weaves the threads of this epic story into a compelling narrative that reflects the impact of lbj and rfks tumultuous relationship on politics, civil rights, the war on poverty, and the war in vietnam. In 1997, president bill clinton read mutual contempt and invited jeff to become one of his speechwriters. Author jeff shesol provides a detailed analysis of the complex relationship between president lyndon b. A founding partner of west wing writers, shesol is the author of supreme power.
Kennedy, which by most accounts was, true to the book. Oct 01, 1997 while there seems to be a very slight tendency to forcefit a couple events to support his thesis, jeff shesols retelling of the epic struggle between lyndon johnson and robert f. Lyndon johnson, robert kennedy, and the feud that defined a decade, 1997, etc. Mutual aid providing better grounds for serving the community. Fear and loathing in the white house the new york times. In 1997, he published his first book, mutual contempt.
In his book, shesol filters johnsons entire vicepresidential and. Mutual contempt is meticulously researched and written in a style that puts lbj, rfk and their mutual contempt under the microscope quite unlike any other book has done before or since. Lyndon johnson, robert kennedy, and the feud that defined a decade, about the rivalry between lyndon johnson and bobby kennedy. The book details the political and personal rivalry between president johnson and senator robert kennedy, which. Lyndon johnson, robert kennedy and the feud that defined a decade, author jeff shesol provides a detailed analysis of the complex relationship between president lyndon b. Lyndon johnson, robert kennedy, and the feud that defined a decade ebook. As jeff shesol notes in mutual contempt, a penetrating and richly detailed account of the feud that shaped the 60s, kennedy despised johnson with a ferocity that startled many observers, while johnson harbored fears of kennedy that bordered on paranoia. Like a greek tragedy played out on a nations center stage, this book provides a prism through which to view two men, their times, and the nature of power. Lyndon johnson, robert kennedy, and the feud that defined a decade 9780393318555 by shesol, jeff and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. The amazon ceo used caution and skill to stay out of the spotlight. Shesol s grasp of the eras history is sure, his tale often entertaining, and his research awesome. Jeff shesol is an american historian, speechwriter, and comic strip author. I felt the book was insightful and explored much of the politics of a crucial time in america.
Lyndon johnson, robert kennedy, and the feud that defined a decade ebook by jeff shesol author, isbn. Yet at 591 pages the book presumably would cover the assassination to some extent, and indeed it does. See all books authored by jeff shesol, including supreme power. Teds time at center stage, so much longer than bobbys, was more varied, consisting of numerous acts, twists, turns and apparent endings. Be the first to ask a question about mutual contempt. Jeff shesols 1997 book is an incisive study of two fascinating men. Lyndon johnson, robert kennedy and the feud that defined a decade, was also a new york times notable book of the year. Jeff shesol is the author of mercury rising, most recently, as well as supreme power. The supreme court, which was selected as a new york times notable book of the year in 2010 and a favorite book. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the. He was a speechwriter in the clinton administration and lives in washington, dc. Jeff shesol is an author, historian, and an accidental speechwriter.
Lyndon johnson, robert kennedy, and the feud that defined a decade. Dec 16, 1998 mutual contempt by jeff shesol, 9780393318555, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Lyndon johnson, robert kennedy and the feud that defined a decade, published. Mar 28, 2010 jeff shesol the author of mutual contempt, an account of the relationship between lyndon johnson and robert kennedy is not the first to chronicle what became known as the courtpacking. Mutual contempt a superb political drama worthy of the stage a sterling book lucid, fair, intelligent written with style and pace. Lyndon johnson, robert kennedy and the feud that defined a decade, was also a new york times notable book of.
After the death of john kennedy, lbj and rfk were the dominant political figures of the 1960s, each. Best sellers todays deals prime customer service home home improvement books electronics new releases. The supreme court, which was selected as a new york times notable book of the year in 2010 and a favorite book of the year by the new yorker. A founding partner of west wing writers, shesol is the author of. Mutual contempt goodreads meet your next favorite book. Jeff shesol books list of books by author jeff shesol thriftbooks. Shesol talked about his book mutual contempt published by w. By my calculations, barack obama should be adequately qualified for his current job around 2072. Oct 24, 1997 in his riveting new book, mutual contempt, jeff shesol the 28yearold creator of the political comic strip thatch reexamines the decadelong feud between kennedy and johnson, arguing. Lyndon johnson, robert kennedy and the feud that defined a decade by jeff shesol, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Jonathan yardley, washington post 1997 critics choice this is the most. Lyndon johnson, robert kennedy, and the feud that defined a decade, both selected as new york times notable books of the year. Mar 22, 2010 while not entirely rejecting the consensus that attributes fdrs courtpacking fiasco to sheer hubris, former clinton speechwriter shesol mutual contempt. About the author 1998 jeff shesol is the author of supreme power and mutual contempt, both selected as new york times notable books of the year.
Lyndon johnson, robert kennedy and the feud that defined a decade, published by w. He is a former speechwriter for president bill clinton and is a. Jeff shesol s 1997 book is a fascinating study of two fascinating men. These two were in combat for the whole course of the 1960s over a whole variety of contentious issues. Apr 14th richard chesnoff, a journalist, has written a dreadful little book, a tirade masquerading as.
Download mutual contempt by jeff shesol pdf epub fb2 mobi. Kennedy for the soul of the reform movement of the 1960s is a superlative example of how to write narrative history. Mutual contempt is meticulously researched and written in a style that puts lbj, rfk and their. America wanted its first unfiltered look at jeff bezos, the worlds richest person. Mutual contempt is at once a fascinating study in character and an illuminating meditation on the role character can play in shaping history. From 1994 to 1998, shesol wrote the nationally syndicated comic strip thatch. Mutual contempt is at once a fascinating study in character and an illuminating. Mutual contempt explores the personalities, politics, and issues that wrenched these men apart, as well as the impact of their feud on civil rights, the war on poverty, and the war in vietnam. At that time i was in college, later the navy, and cared little about what was happening in washington. Jeff shesol is the author of supreme power and of mutual contempt, a study of lyndon johnson and robert f. Jeff shesol, the author, has history degrees from brown and oxford universities and he is a rhodes. Historian jeff shesol presents his new book, mutual contempt. Shesol does an authoritative job of giving us a vivid, almost novelistic sense of both of his protagonists, while at the same time situating their political stands within a historical context. Jeff shesol project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks.
Shesol offers a mountain of evidence to buttress these original claims. Michiko kakutani, new york times lyndon johnson and robert kennedy loathed each other. Mutual contempt by jeff shesol is chronicle of the feud between lyndon johnson lbj and robert kennedy rfk during the years of 19601968. While there seems to be a very slight tendency to forcefit a couple events to support his thesis, jeff shesols retelling of the epic struggle between lyndon johnson and robert f. Jeff shesol is the author of mercury rising, most recently, as well as supreme. In the new york times, michiko kakutani described the book as riveting.
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