Cara Ferguson
Profiles in Courage
Book by President John Fitzgerald Kennedy
President John F. Kennedy left the world with several pieces of literary genius and a legacy that transpires throughout time. One such novel that is well regarded of his is Profiles in Courage, which is famous for demonstrating Kennedy’s exceptional writing abilities and paving the way for his candidacy for president. The novel won the young Massachusetts senator a Pulitzer Prize in 1957, for good reason. It analyzes the actions of several U.S. senators, whom Kennedy deemed heroic for their service to their country. Although the book is captivating and well written, it is hard to move past the fact that it was not written by President Kennedy, but instead by Ted Sorensen.
The opening title of the first section “Courage and Politics” provides key insight to the reason behind this book-to highlight the actions of certain senators throughout American History, and explain how their contributions altered the course of events that have brought us to where we are now. The author explains the struggles of politics, including the sacrifices politicians are forced to make. A critical similarity shared by many of the senators Kennedy selected is that they resisted coercion to do what would be best in regards to self interest, but instead fought for the American people,‘ “The way to get along” I was told when I entered Congress “is to go along” ’ (Kennedy, 1955). Profiles in Courage reevaluates the principles that Americans hold, both in themselves and those they elect to represent their state. The book does an eloquent job at addressing the conflicts within Congress that involve opposing ideals. President Kennedy is very blunt about issues regarding the history of our Senate. His attempts to inspire his audience come across as genuine, making them all the more effective, confirmed by Kennedy’s daughter “He believed that telling the stories of those who act on principle regardless of the cost can help influence future generations to follow their example” (Caroline Kennedy, 2002). Although the book is successful at captivating the audience, making sure to explain various topics in detail so that all can understand, Profiles in Courage is overrated because it is not written by John F. Kennedy. In reality, Kennedy’s speechwriter Theodore Sorensen was the driving force behind the assemblance of the book.
When the book was first released, Kennedy was praised for his work, but soon after its publication, many speculated that he was not the true creator. In the preface, one of the final notes Kennedy makes is a tribute to Mr. Sorenson, “The greatest debt is owed to...Theodore C. Sorensen, for his invaluable assistance in the assembly...of the material upon which this book is based.” (Kennedy, 1955). This statement allows for speculation into what the senator meant by “the greatest debt”, and how much of a role Sorensen played into the writing of the book. This inadvertently leads to a strain between the senator and the audience, only weakening his reputation and ability to be transparent with the American people. Without the Kennedy name to propel it into to the spotlight, it is unknown whether or not Sorensen’s work would have reached as large of an audience as it did. The authorial influence over the success of the book nationwide leaves room for doubt as to how outstanding it would have been unadulterated. Despite its several redeeming qualities, Profiles in Courage is heavily overrated, for it would not have been the same story without John F. Kennedy, even though his involvement was glorified for the sake of notability.
After reading the book myself, I found that in spite of the controversy plaguing it’s reputation, I was pleased with the eloquent writing style throughout the novel. Kennedy highlights the struggles of American senators on both side of the political spectrum-opening the book with a chapter on President John Quincy Adams who defied the status quo of the Federalist party, and following this with a chapter discussing Senator Thomas Hart Benton, a loyal Democrat whose allegiance to his party was unwavered, even though he opposed the expansion of slavery to western territories and states. This decision is admirable for an author to do as his country is approaching an intense decade of political controversy. It was refreshing to read a piece of historical literature that isn’t geared towards one party or the other, but finds revolutionary members of each side to showcase. I would recommend that anyone who is knowledgeable about the history behind the Pulitzer prize winning book, to find themselves a copy, because it can give any person a more well-rounded perspective of how the people of Congress think and how it thrives on the back of trailblazers, from 1803 to 1955.
CITATION:
Kennedy, John F., et al. Profiles in courage. Harper Perennial, 2016.
