The Kennedy Half-Century by Larry J. Sabato Read Free Book Online

Acknowledgments
    The Kennedy Half-Century is the result of a research project stretching over five years, and many people have contributed much along the way. Without generous funding, this book would still be in my hard drive. The essential financial support came from the Reynolds Foundation, with special thanks to J. Sargeant Reynolds, Jr., Richard S. Reynolds III, Randolph N. Reynolds, David P. Reynolds, Glenn R. Martin, Dorothy R. Brotherton, and Victoria Pitrelli; our loyal Center for Politics backers, Paul and Victoria Saunders; McGuireWoods Consulting and McGuireWoods law firm, with special thanks to Frank B. Atkinson, Mark T. Bowles, and Richard Cullen; the Honorable William P. Hobby and Paul W. Hobby of the Hobby Family Foundation; James Falk and Martha Powell of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth; Dan Alcorn, a Center board member; and several sources at the University of Virginia, including the offices of President Teresa Sullivan and Provost John Simon.
    It was my great pleasure to work with Hart Research Associates on the public opinion research that undergirds many of the book’s findings. The pollsters at this firm are Picassos in their field, and their artistry drew out our participants about long-ago events. We extend our gratitude to Peter Hart, chairman; Geoff Garin, president; Molly O’Rourke, partner; Becca Mark, analyst; Kevin Schmidt, assistant analyst; and Leah Stecher, also an assistant analyst.
    I am deeply indebted to the interviewees, reviewers, and professionals who have so willingly shared their time, memories, research, and impressions. Special thanks to former President Jimmy Carter for granting us an interview, as well as Dr. Stephen Hochman and Lauren Gay of the Carter Center. A special mention is also needed for JFK speechwriter Ted Sorensen, who was generous with his thoughts and counsel on several occasions before his passing in October 2010. Former Dallas mayor Tom Leppert and his wife, Laura, also deserve special acknowledgment for their hospitality and graciousness in showing me the critical locales of November 22, 1963, and giving me considerable accessto people who understood the city of that time and our time. In addition, I am grateful to Bill Alexander, Pierce Allman, Hugh Aynesworth, James Barger, Eddie Barker, Barry Webb Battle, Gerald Blaine, Robert Blakey, Aniko Bodroghkozy, Julian Bond, Dan Bongino, David Bowers, Jim Bowles, Stephen Bryce, Joseph Califano, Tommy Caplan, Mortimer Caplin, Jim Carroll, James Carville, Phil Costello, Mal Couch, Senator John Culver, Jim Cunningham, Craig Daigle, Jerry Dealey, John Dean, Ralph Dungan, Frank Fahrenkopf, Dan Fenn, Ari Fleischer, Winfried Fluck, Frank Gannon, Bill Greener, Jeff Greenfield, Ken Holmes, Henry Hurt, Heinz Ickstadt, James Jones, Matthew Maxwell Taylor Kennedy, Ronald Kessler, Sergei Khrushchev, Chris Kincheloe, Mary Moorman Krahmer, Jim Leavelle, Jim Lehrer, Peter Leventis, Fred Malek, Chris Matthews, John McAdams, Paul McCaghren, Dr. Robert McClelland, Senator Mitch McConnell, H. B. McLain, Harry McPherson, Herbert Meza, Jefferson Morley, Bill Moyers, Bill Newman, Michael O’Dell, Robert Orben, Harold Pachios, Jerry Paul, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Perry, Gary Powers, Jr., Sandy Quinn, First Lady Nancy Reagan, Ron Reagan, Richard Reeves, Lynda Bird Johnson Robb, Jason Roberts, James I. Robertson, Jr., Ed Rollins, Jay Root, Sarah Collins Rudolph, Bob Schieffer, Bill Simpich, Gillian Martin Sorensen, Cliff Spiegelman, Oliver Stone, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Judge John R. Tunheim, Sander Vanocur, and David R. Wrone for their time and assistance.
    The following people at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum were helpful to us: Director Thomas Putnam and staff members Stephen Plotkin, Sharon Ann Kelly, Lara Hall, Stacey Bredhoff, Laurie Austin, and Sara Ludovissy.
    Staff in other presidential libraries also lent a hand, and we thank Kevin Bailey at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential