In his renowned biographies, Portrait of a President and The Death of a President, William Manchester intimately and meticulously detailed the life and death of President John F. Kennedy. One Brief Shining Moment is a celebration of that life, based on Manchester’s own recollections of his time with one of America’s most famous families.
John Kennedy first met William Manchester in 1946, beginning a friendship that would follow him to Washington and eventually the White House. But, beyond the closed doors of the Oval Office, Manchester enjoyed a close relationship with the Kennedys. Pulling from family gatherings in New England to trips along the campaign trail and informal private talks with JFK himself, this is William Manchester’s personal account of the man behind the legend, someone he truly admired, and was proud to call a friend.
One Brief Shining Moment provides a firsthand look at the thought process behind JFK’s most important decisions as president, his drive to move the country in a new direction, and the relationships he had with his family and friends. This is a book about a man, about a life, and about a triumphant moment in American history.
Award-winning historian and biographer William Manchester, author of The Last Lion, an epic three-volume biography of Winston Churchill, brings us an evocative and powerful exploration of the American way of life from 1932 to 1972. Covering almost every facet of American culture during a very diverse and tumultuous period in history, Manchester's account is both dramatic and surprisingly intimate--with compelling details that could only be known by a dedicated historian who lived through and documented this fascinating time in history.
For several decades, William Manchester was the most popular and highly regarded historian and biographer of his time--and this book provides the reader with a powerful example of the reason for that reputation.
"There is no fiction that can compete with good, gossipy, anecdotal history--the inside story of who said or did what in moments of great tensions or crisis... I think you ought to read this history and weep, read it and laugh, read it and don't repeat it." --Anatole Broyard
Written by one of President John F. Kennedy’s greatest admirers and closest confidants, this intimately detailed account provides a rarely seen glimpse into the emotions behind the Kennedy administration—from the elation of victory to the frustrating challenges facing a young president at this pivotal turning point in U.S. history.
Originally published in 1962—before the assassination of JFK—Portrait of a President is William Manchester’s first biography of the 35th President of the United States.
In addition to personal encounters with JFK, the biography draws from over forty interviews conducted in the first year of his presidency. In speaking with those closest to the president, both in his administration and his family, Manchester captures a complete portrait of one of the most highly regarded figures of the twentieth century.
This updated edition includes a new introduction and epilogue written by Manchester in the aftermath of November 1963, adding to the mythos by documenting not just how President Kennedy lived, but also the legacy he left behind.
