He was an avid, attentive listener who kept careful notes and records. “Tip” O’Neill (D) of Massachusetts, the successor to Kennedy’s seat in the House, Matthews had ample opportunities. And as longtime chief of staff to the late House Speaker Thomas P. He is both pathfinder and puzzle, a beacon and a conundrum.”įor many years, Matthews collected and analyzed the recollections of people who knew and worked with Kennedy. He writes: “A half century of political life later, my fascination with the elusive spirit of John F. Over time, however, his political loyalties shifted to the Democrats, and his interest in Kennedy and what made him tick increased. Political commentator Chris Matthews admits that in the 1960 presidential election (when he was 11 years old) he was a solid Nixon supporter despite the fact that he and the Massachusetts senator were both Roman Catholic Irish-Americans. Was he an inspirational hero who avoided nuclear war or a reckless gambler who took us to the brink of Armageddon? Was he pragmatic or idealistic? A hard worker or a dilettante? Did he deserve the success he achieved or was it largely a product of his father’s fortune? But in important respects he remains an enigma. Kennedy is one of the most admired presidents in American history. Public opinion polls repeatedly find that John F.
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