America's Reluctant Prince

An unvarnished portrait of the Kennedy scion who seemed to command all his parents' charisma--and who met a tragic, early end. History Channel scholar-in-residence Gillon (History/Univ. of Oklahoma; Separate and Unequal: The Kerner Commission and the Unraveling of American Liberalism, 2018, etc.) writes as both professional historian and friend--not close friend, he allows, but close enough to have had plenty of face time--of John F. Kennedy Jr. (1960-1999), who "understood what he represented to millions of people, and he was willing to assume that burden." That self-awareness took some time to develop. By the author's account, the usual adolescent rebellion blended with unusual privilege, and John Jr. was somewhat slow in attaining adulthood in a whirl of partying and slacking off. (Still, he was much better behaved than Bobby Kennedy's offspring, who "were overly wild.") In the end, breaking with the family's Harvard tradition and going to Brown, John Jr. emerged as a person of substance, someone who was able to weave the stories of his father's and relatives' iconic lives into "a coherent narrative" and to figure out how to make a place for himself in that line. He did so with the magazine George, launched in 1995, which, Gillon ventures, was ahead of its time in many ways, pointing to the emergence of politicians as not just politicians, but also as figures in pop culture. Bill Clinton provided plenty of gossip, but while the timing of the magazine was right in some ways, it was soon supplanted by political talk shows that "turned talking heads into media stars." Gillon writes with a practitioner's appreciation for historical narrative, but he doesn't hesitate to pitch a little dirt here and there, as when he writes of family feuds, marital discord, and other things publicists like to keep out of view. Poignant reading on the 20th anniversary of Kennedy's death and of broad interest to students of American political dynasties.

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August 2, 2019

John F. Kennedy Jr. (1960-99) struggled throughout his life to establish his own identity apart from the roles imposed on him by society and the media, writes Gillon (history, Univ. of Oklahoma; Separate and Unequal). This deeply researched biography from the History Channel scholar in residence flows like a novel, relying heavily on more than 50 interviews and hundreds of documents released to Gillon in a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the Secret Service. The focus is on Kennedy's years as the editor of George magazine, a publication that had difficulty finding its niche linking politics and pop culture. Gillon covers Kennedy's challenges in prep school, as well as Brown and New York University, along with the added stress of constant paparazzi. Also included are stories of Kennedy's complex relationships with his mother, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, and sister, Caroline; his rocky marriage to Carolyn Bessette; his maturing into a compassionate activist; and his legacy for the country and for Gillon himself. A unique feature are the stories the author relates about his friendship with Kennedy, whom he met as a teaching assistant at Brown. The two remained close until Kennedy's death. VERDICT Readers fascinated by the Kennedys will be delighted by this captivating portrait. See Randy Taraborelli's The Kennedy Heirs: John, Caroline, and the New Generation--A Legacy of Triumph and Tragedy for a comprehensive account of the third-generation Kennedys.--Karl Helicher, formerly with Upper Merion Twp. Lib., King of Prussia, PA

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