Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero

By Chris Matthews

Simon & Shuster, 2011, 479 pages, $27.50.

So, she speaks of events of a half-century ago, and some controversy may surround her statements. In any case, the allegations remind us that other biographers have touched on the alleged sexual adventures of this president. It has been fairly established that he sometimes neglected his wife Jackie, and that he had extramarital involvements with more than one woman.

Now comes Chris Matthews with his review of Kennedy's life. Can he add anything to the discussion?

Matthews is a popular television commentator on MSNBC's Hardball. He is articulate, opinionated, intelligent and biased. His bias is toward the Democratic side, and his analysis is very critical of those to the right of him politically. His style is to question people who are on either side of the political picture, and who hold strong views.

I like him. His wit and acerbic manner may make me uncomfortable at times, but an old Dem such as I can appreciate his positions. In his book he reminds the readers that he once was a strong Republican.

That being said, I am not uncritical of Matthews' approaches. Sometimes the bones of his opinions show almost too much. He is a pundit. He is a curmudgeon. When he is right, he is very, very right, but when he is wrong, he can be horrid.

Chris Matthews has a strong interest in Kennedy. He has written a book about Kennedy and Nixon, and quoting many sources, he seeks in his biography of Kennedy to present a talented and flawed man.

In short, Matthew presents a man who lived his life in compartments. At one moment he could kneel at his bed in the evening and say his prayers like a little child. In another moment and circumstance, he could ignore his beautiful wife while he "worked the room" as a man seeking election. In yet another instance, Kennedy could seek sexual favors from more than one woman, usually a young one. Then, in the same breath he could call a troubled Mrs. Martin Luther King to console her upon her husband's incarceration for promoting racial justice.

The subtitle of the book "Elusive Hero" captures what Matthews tries to do. Kennedy is his hero. They both grew from Irish roots, profess Christian and Catholic faith, and give witness to a strong sense of equality and justice for all.

So, Kennedy is a hero, according to the admiring Matthews. But he is also elusive.

I was in my 20s when Kennedy was shot in Dallas, Texas. I had no knowledge then of his complex life. He was not my personal hero, though I liked his wit and banter. I was a supporter of Adlai Stevenson and thrilled when he challenged the Soviet representative to the United Nations on the issue of missles in Cuba. I was genuinely saddened when Kennedy died, but was even more deeply moved when Stevenson suddenly dropped dead.

If I had held in my hand Matthews' eulogy of JFK, I might have admired that president more. For, you see, my life's work was helping sinners receive forgiveness. In those bedside prayers, JFK may have asked his god for relief from any guilt he may have had.

Matthews might not agree with me, but it is my opinion that regardless of praise due to him, John F. Kennedy served in the highest office just a thousand days. Is that brief period enough to give our dead president a laurel wreath?

Posey is a retired Presbyterian-USA minister who lives and writes in Charleston.