My book tour, which took me all over the U.S. and the U.K., turned into a raucous debate over the JFK assassination (low point: "Hardball"; high point: "Fresh Air"). But the publication of "Brothers" also became the occasion for a sort of cultural referendum on the Kennedy presidency. Was JFK a Cold Warrior -- or a "warrior for peace," as I argue in the book.
That's the title that Time magazine puts on my lead essay in the current issue, which focuses on Kennedy's legacy. I was surprised and honored that Time asked me to write the piece, instead of choosing a predictable presidential historian. (I was also asked to write a shorter piece on RFK's suspicions about Dallas, as a counterpoint to the inevitable Vincent Bugliosi.) I'd like to think Time's JFK package is part of a broader reevaluation of his beleaguered and heroic presidency.
Pick up a copy of the magazine -- the photos and layout look better in print than online -- and let me know what you think.
