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I’ve been reading Alan Brinkley’s new mini biography of JFK, the same series that I’ve been reviewing for the MWDN starting about twelve years ago. My take on these books is that new biographies are great for refocusing the lens on how we relate a historic figure to our times.
I’ve been intrigued by the section on JFK’s attitude toward civil rights. To use the modern parlance, he started out in 1960 being tepid, but he evolved during his first three years into a civil rights champion. As Brinkley notes, RFK made it clear to JFK that once you achieve the status of being an evolved person, you have a moral obligation to do something about it.
Because JFK never had to run for re election, we tend to forget that his civil rights agenda in 1963 flew not only in the face of Southerners, but also a large chunk of JFK’s own party. Nonetheless, by 1963 he was seriously in danger of ruining his chances for re election, or, indeed, of even being renominated by his own party. Why did he do it? Because it was the right thing to do. When you see injustice, you don’t worry about re election, you don’t worry about the fact that the laws won’t make it through Congress, you don’t fret, and ponder and give interviews about your evolution. At that point, you do. you act. Does O’Bama really need a lesson in civil rights activism? In demonstrating courage? In doing the right thing? OHB, you are no John Kennedy.
