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Scott Farris

Kennedy and Reagan: Why Their Legacies Endure Hardcover – November 5, 2013

by Scott Farris (Author)

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It's been fifty years since JFK’s assassination and nearly twenty since Ronald Reagan disappeared from public life. While they never ran head-to-head, they developed their legacies in competing ways and those legacies battle each other even today. The story of one illuminates the other, and explains our expectations for the presidency and whom we elect. Even though one is the model Democrat and the other the model Republican, their appeal is now bipartisan. Republicans quote Kennedy to justify tax cuts or aggressive national defense; Democrats use Reagan’s pragmatism to shame Republicans into supporting tax increases and compromise.

Partly a "comparative biography" that explores John F. Kennedy’s and Ronald Reagan’s contemporaneous lives from birth until 1960, Scott Farris's follow-up to his widely praised Almost President shows how the experiences, attitudes, and skills developed by each man later impacted his presidency. Farris also tackles the key issues--civil rights, foreign affairs, etc.--that impacted each man’s time in office. How did previous life experiences form their views on these issues, and how do their dealings around each issue compare and contrast? Bookended by an examination of their standing in public opinion and how that has influenced subsequent politicians, plus an exploration of how the assassination of Kennedy and attempted assassination of Reagan colored our memories, this book also shows how aides, friends and families of each man have burnished their reputations long after their presidencies ended.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Two presidents, stylishly defining their times, great communicators who fashioned personal legends even while defying political labels—John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan were historical agents of change who transformed themselves before renewing their country. How they did so forms the heart of this deeply moving portrait, from their nomadic early years, whose loneliness was offset by the romance of books, to adult power and acclaim sharply at odds with their emotional isolation. Farris has distilled a vast amount of the historical and biographical literature to create a stunningly original narrative.”
—Richard Norton Smith, presidential historian, author, and former director of five presidential libraries

“Scott Farris’s tour de force is an immensely readable, scholarly, accessible, and popular history of two of America’s most admired Presidents. Farris carefully details their triumphs (Kennedy: Resolving the Cuban Missile Crisis; Reagan: Winning the Cold War) and their tragedies (Kennedy: the Bay of Pigs; Reagan: the Iran-Contra fiasco). He examines the soaring vision and rhetoric (Kennedy: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”; Reagan: “America—a shining city on a hill”) that captured the imagination of millions. And ultimately, he offers a clear and balanced perspective on each man’s nature, challenges and contributions.”
—Egil “Bud” Krogh, Senior Fellow on Leadership and Integrity, The Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress; and author of Integrity: Good People, Bad Choices, and Life Lessons from the White House

“Every four years it seems the Democratic Party looks for its next Kennedy and the Republicans their next Reagan. Although fixed in our mind at different stages of life, these two Irish-Americans, molded by the Great Depression and wars both hot and cold, were close in age and shared remarkable similarities as well as stark contrasts. You won’t want to put down this fascinating portrait of two presidents who helped shape the modern world, and their lives, loves, tragedies, and triumphs.”
—Chris DeRose, author of Founding Rivals and Congressman Lincoln

"Veteran political journalist Farris (Almost President: The Men Who Lost the Race but Changed the Nation, 2011, etc.) recounts the striking, sometimes-surprising similarities between John F. Kennedy (1917–1963) and Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) and their presidencies. In a smooth, well-written chronological narrative, the author explores and compares each stage of their lives, seeking to explain the continuing appeal of these disparate men, both of whom are frequently ranked in polls as being among the great presidents....Farris covers the major issues in both presidencies, and he speculates that neither man could win his party’s nomination for the presidency today. Having governed during years of Cold War clarity, they would fare poorly as presidents in a current climate marked by both political divisiveness and the murkiness of the war on terrorism.... A fresh, welcom view of two much-revered leaders."
—Kirkus Reviews

Praise for Scott Farris's previous book, Almost President

“[An] engaging study of men who came up short in the presidential arena but still had a significant effect on the life of the nation….”
—Wall Street Journal

“Scott Farris shines a welcome spotlight on the neglected subject of presidential also-rans. In this impressive new book, Farris shows that the losers and their ideas have sometimes transformed their political parties, and moved the nation ahead. Meticulously researched, Almost President is rich in detail and anecdotes, and a pleasure to read.”

—Joseph Wheelan, author of Mr. Adams’s Last Crusade: John Quincy Adams’s Extraordinary Post-Presidential Life in Congress and Libby Prison Breakout

“Scott Farris has penned a series of fascinating portraits of candidates who triggered sea changes in our political process. Informative to readers at all levels.”

—David Pietrusza, author of 1948: Harry Truman’s Improbable Victory and the Year that Transformed America

“To those demoralized by today’s fiercely partisan political arena, take heart! Scott Farris’s superb history of losing Presidential candidates reassures us all that even out of bitter campaigns and defeats, losers do come back and contribute profoundly to major realignments, decency, and equality in American politics.”

—The Honorable David Abshire, former Ambassador to NATO, and current President, Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress

“Farris writes with a lively flair, skillfully illustrating his solid historical research with revelatory anecdotes and facts.”
–Publishers Weekly

“A lively, opinionated examination of the instructive role of the loser in presidential races…. [R]iveting, sympathetic treatments…. A most useful aide-mémoire for situating the upcoming presidential slugfest.”
—Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Scott Farris is an experienced political journalist, speechwriter, adviser, and political candidate. A former bureau chief for United Press International and a political columnist, Farris has interviewed most of the men and women who have sought the presidency over the past thirty years. He managed several political campaigns, and was the Democratic Party's 1998 congressional nominee for Wyoming's at-large district, the seat once held by former Vice President Dick Cheney. Farris worked as a senior policy and communications adviser to a U.S. senator, the governors of Wyoming and California, the mayor of Portland, Oregon, two university presidents, and the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne. He worked closely with three presidential administrations and as a volunteer on multiple presidential campaigns. The first American journalist selected to participate in the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service's prestigious International Leadership Seminar, Farris has a master's degree in history from the University of Wyoming, where his thesis focused on President Kennedy's battle with the radical right. He is the author of Almost President: The Men Who Lost the Race but Changed the Nation, and is currently the Director of Government Relations in the western United States for TransCanada, a Canadian-based energy infrastructure company. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife and two children.

Product details

Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Lyons Press (November 5, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0762781440
ISBN-13: 978-0762781447
Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 1.2 x 9.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Customer Reviews: 36 customer ratings
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,767,880 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #5717 in US Presidents
- #4197 in United States Executive Government
- #141863 in United States History (Books)

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Miguel E. Tersy

Excellent book

Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2014

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Scott Farris did an excellent job in describing how and why Kennedy's and Reagan's legacies endure and why the Democrats and Republicans are seeking another Kennedy and Reagan. Sadly these two men would have a difficult time getting elected. Farris accurately pointed out that the cold war brought opposite political viewpoints to solve the nation's problems. They would have a problem getting their message across with today's media with the advent of cable news and the internet. Lastly they were politicians who used compromise to get things done. I believe they will have a tough time getting nominated or even elected in today's political landscape which Scott Farris accurately said is a sad reflection on us.

One person found this helpful

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Greg R.

Read it!

Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2014

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I got this book to read to see how Scott Farris could pull this off. As an admirer of both men, I was very pleased reading this book. For those who did live in the 50s through the 80s, this book gives an excellent window into that America. The comparisons between the two men were accurate and impressive; however, I feel that the similarities were at times a stritch. Comparing the sexual escapades between Kennedy and Reagan were probably the least probable. I don't think Reagan's attitude and behavior to women was the same with the Kennedys philandering.

2 people found this helpful

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LaRue

Great reading

Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2014

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A comparison of these men was a brilliant idea. I was pleasantly surprised to find out there were things about Reagan that I liked, since I had never had a high opinion of him as a president. I also learned some interesting facts about Kennedy, some good and some disappointing. As a rule I read mysteries but I can tell you this book was fascinating and once I got started I couldn't put it down.

7 people found this helpful

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Edgar Sonrisa

A great read for anyone who dares to think.

Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2014

Verified Purchase

It's an admittedly unusual topic, but Scott Farris weaves an interesting series of observations and analyses into the public's irrational love for JFK and Reagan. It's not clear why JFK remains so popular given his short time in office, and Reagan's legacy as the root of the modern Republican party seems especially odd given the current right-wingers' paranoia of anything to do with centrism, cooperation or Democrats -- three elements at the core of Reagan, a former Democrat, a union leader, and a relatively middle-of-the-road Republican by modern standards. Yet Farris' insight and careful research is a thoughtful must-read for anyone interested in politics, history or the public's continuing fascination for two of history's most beloved presidents.

2 people found this helpful

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Maureen

Two peas in a pod?

Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2014

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This book is very interesting in that these two men were more alike than either their foes or fans would like to admit. I find it intriguing that they both used the same tactics but for different reasons. While each man's legacy has become a bit modified to suit the intentions of the persons reporting it, this book is research-based and very informative. I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in US history

One person found this helpful

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Katy Reader

Two Views of the World

Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2014

Verified Purchase

Farris does a good job of comparing these presidents, and sharing some information about both of them that wasn't generally known. I learned a few things from this book about two men I have long admired, and about the events that shaped their lives.

3 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

interesting comparison

Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2015

Verified Purchase

A well written political comparison of two presidents. It showed how a republican and a democrat had similar ways of thinking even though very different backgrounds. What if they were presidential candidates today.

One person found this helpful

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Mike

the authors basis toward Kennedy and his dislike of Reagan got tiresome by the time I finished ...

Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2014

Verified Purchase

Lots of interesting information not only about the men themselves, but about the world they were dealing with. However, the authors basis toward Kennedy and his dislike of Reagan got tiresome by the time I finished the book. All in all, an interesting read.

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