Profiles in Courage: Decisive Moments in the Lives of Celebrated Americans

As good now as when I read it in the mid-1960s. . . no matter who the real author was.

Purchased as a gift. Good price and good enough condition - Happy

I know it’s not possible for Jeff Bezos to read every single book sold by Amazon, but perhaps he could take a little while to check this one out. If he doesn’t want to spend $25, it is available for free as a Kindle version (I know times are tough and we all have to watch our expenses).Mr. Bezos, I think there are some valuable lessons here for you.

What a great book. Timeless history lessons.

I like this alot....its mainly about senators leading up to the civil war that broke from the south. It feels researched and written initially by Allan Nevins and then given the kennedy sound by Sorenson.

I will skip the part about JFK accepting the Pulitzer Prize for a book he didn't really write. If his speechwriter, Ted Sorenson, who pulled together JFK's notes and wrote most of it, didn't mind, who am I to complain? Just that it seems a bit dishonest but I have ghost-written myself and I know how that goes.But why are there here no women in Profiles in Courage? Not one. No Harriet Taubman. No Sojourner Truth. In fact, no people of color or women at all. I have been looking forward to reading Profiles in Courage for a long time, but find it disappointing.As for the dedication, it simply says "To my Wife". Did JFK forget Jackie's name? Maye she should have edited/written the book!

I ordered 5 copies, to give as presents. Then, I opened the book to find a bizarre introduction, written by a several-times, unsuccessful political candidate, named Sam Sloan. I am not sure what the point of the "Introduction" was, other than to provide a forum for Mr. Sloan to espouse his wacky thoughts, while trying to legitimize them with the impramatur of a Pulitzer Prize winning book. I threw out all 5 of my copies, and ordered an edition that was not ruined with unrelated, irrelevant political pap.

Profiles in CourageThis 1956 book by US Senator John F. Kennedy was a best-seller in its era. I read it then and wondered about its praise of politicians who voted against the wishes of their voters; it seems basically anti-democratic. I’m not talking about adherence to the laws when popular emotion say otherwise. Historian Allan Nevins wrote the ‘Forward’. This book was written while convalescing from a spinal operation in 1954. The ‘Preface’ thanks all those who helped the author. Should a Senator vote for his state’s interests of for the “national interest”? Yes. The national interest is composed of the total of state interests (unless it’s a code word for the Ruling Class). Rule by a committee is rule by compromise. Practical experience says multiple viewpoints are important in evaluating any proposal to avoid overlooking facts.Senator John Quincy Adams voted for Jefferson’s Purchase of Louisiana, the only Federalist to do so. He also objected to impressment of seamen and appeasement of the British. He voted for the Embargo Act which damaged the economy of New England. The Massachusetts Legislature elected his replacement while Adams was still in the Senate. Daniel Webster’s Seventh of March speech helped to preserve the Union in 1850. Postponing secession by ten years saved the Union. But many in the North attacked him. Senator Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri supported the Union against Secessionists although this led to his defeat. Benton’s advice kept Missouri in the Union after his death. Senator Sam Houston of Texas also voted against the Kansas-Nebraska Bill and was also defeated. Senator Edmund G. Ross cast the decisive vote to prevent the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson for firing the Secretary of War. It was to preserve the independence of the executive office. Six other Republican Senators also voted for acquittal.Chapter 7 tells about Lucius Q. C. Lamar of Mississippi, a former Confederate official elected to Congress in 1872. In 1878 Senator Lamar spoke against the “free silver” proposal. [This is comparable to the “quantitative easement” policy of the Fed.] Lamar spoke around his state to explain and justify his vote, and was re-elected. [It is ironic that the policy of “free silver” for an expanded money supply is now the policy of Wall Street!] The Seventeenth Amendment in 1913 allowed the direct election of Senators to prevent corporate lobbyists from electing Senators who then selected Federal judges. Congressman George Norris introduced a resolution to overturn the powers of the Speaker of the House (Chapter 8). He was then elected to the Senate. Norris voted against the Armed Ship Bill in 1917. Norris did not want to give the President the power to declare war (p.170). He was an advocate of public electric power (p.173). In 1928 he supported Al Smith for President because of his call for farm relief (p.177).Chapter 9 tells about Senator Robert A. Taft’s speech against the War Crimes Trial because it used an “ex post facto” law. Taft was “muddle-headed” as the ban is not in the British Common Law or the Civil Law in Europe (based on Roman Law). Was it only poor judgment? Chapter 10 lists other men of courage. Senator Oscar W. Underwood spoke against the Ku Klux Klan in 1924. Senator Humphrey Marshall approved the unpopular Jay Treaty of 1795. Governor John P. Altgeld pardoned three unjustly convicted men. Charles Evan Hughes protested the expulsion of five legally elected NY Assemblymen in 1920. Governor Al Smith vetoed restrictive laws. Chapter 11 discusses the meaning of courage and gives examples.[In 1954 the Senate censured Joseph McCarthy. Senator John Kennedy did not vote or comment from his hospital bed.]