Robert J. Donovan (1912–2003)

A book which surveys the first term of Harry Truman, covering the period from when he succeeded Franklin Roosevelt to when he won a term in his own right in 1948. I found the book well-laid out and engaging in its presentation. There was one section, on the 80th Congress elected in 1946, that was quite funny. A quirk in the book is the author trying manfully to work Ho Chi Minh into the narrative in a few different spots. Recommended, especially since the author points out areas where Truman himself might not have been completely forthcoming in his memoirs.… (more)

PT 109 is one of the very best if not the best stories of WW II. JFK's swimming in the dangerous waters of the Pacific to save his crew from the collision of his PT boat with a Japanese bomber, is one of the most daring act a commander can do to his men. In this book o ne can see what kind of man JFK was and what was it like to be stranded in the pacific amidst the war. There are few heroes in the call of duty and JFK and his elder brother Patrick Joseph, are two of them. Donovan presented the book from an extensive research he did in the islands that JFK and his men were stranded. The book has personally touched me and learn a lot from JFK as a soldier in WW II. One can also read The Kennedys at War, to understand fully this book, about a great American president.… (more)

I scored this book at a little, low key used bookstore that I just came across one day and found this treasure! I had just finished The Autobiography of Teddy Kennedy and was on a real Kennedy kick when I came across this book in that wonderful bookstore! Being young (27 years old) I didn't grow up with the love, appreciation and admiration of JFK like everyone from the older generations do. When I scratched the surface of Jacks heroics in Teddy Autobiography I knew that I needed more.

This book described the entire event and events leading up to Kennedy and crew being stranded somewhere near the Solomon Islands. The author did not get much into who the Kennedys are besides explaining that Kennedys father was an ambassador to Great Britain who we were currently allies with. The book starts with John as a C student at Harvard University and being compelled to join the military like so many brave men did in the "greatest generation". He enlisted in the Navy and the book takes us from his departure from San Fransisco, his one month bout ride to the Solomons and then describes in great detail the events that led to the sinking of PT 109 and all of heroic stuff that President Kennedy did to save himself and 11 crew members. Anyone who is not familiar with this amazing story needs to immediately learn about the events of PT 109 and try to find this book and read it.

The heroics of President Kennedy make me so excited and fills me with such love and respect for one of Americas best presidents! I wish that we could have a candidate in my life time with half of the credentials of this incredible human being! JFK is every bit of the hero that the biggest JFK lover expresses! I will continue on my Kennedy kick with a bigger emphasis on JFK and I must find this movie that I guess was made as a result of this amazing book!… (more)