The book is strongest when it explores Kennedy’s day-to-day life, providing the reader with new insights into his final weeks…both his frustrations and joys. The book’s final chapter (“After Dallas”) reviews the reaction to Kennedy’s death, briefly considers his possibly-evolving presidential stature and ponders “what might have been.” A prologue tackles the eight days preceding Kennedy’s last “hundred days” with the book’s remaining chapters devoted to chronologically covering the events of the remaining days of his life.

But in the end, “JFK’s Last Hundred Days” is less about a hypothesized transformation of the 35th president than it is about providing a unique way to see the last weeks of Kennedy’s life and presidency.Ĭlarke’s controversial contention aside, this 362-page book is lively, entertaining and easy to read. Surprisingly, however, the claim is only briefly addressed – in the book’s final pages – and little supporting evidence is ever offered. The book’s sub-title suggests an intent to demonstrate that JFK was on the verge of presidential greatness when he was assassinated. Clarke is a journalist and the author of about a dozen books, including two on JFK and one covering Robert Kennedy’s 1968 presidential campaign. Thurston Clarke’s “ JFK’s Last Hundred Days: The Transformation of a Man and the Emergence of a Great President” was published in 2013, four months before the 50th anniversary of Kennedy’s death.

The Last Campaign by Thurston Clarke