The main idea of the book was to provide an alluring narrative of the outrageous historical events encompassing the assassination of John F. Kennedy in an entertaining and informative way. “Killing Kennedy” is a follow-up of Bill O’reilly’s bestselling book Killing Lincoln. In chronological order, O’reilly and Dugard recall how Kennedy from youthful elite made the journey to become the President of the United States. Kennedy’s biography in the book is infused with the movements of Lee Harvey Oswald, the accused assassin. The story is captivating, and according to the authors the Camelot myth frequently falsified it. Although they pay homage to the Kennedy’s term as President but they also ratify the darker realities of his life that played a role in his assassination. The authors support the claim that in being more concerned about his appearance, Kennedy put his personal protection at risk. However, it is astonishing how sympathetically Lyndon Johnson, the Vice President at the time, is depicted in the book.
Kennedy’s days in the presidential office were definitely tumultuous, and this has been successfully depicted in the book. As a president, this was both a test and strengthening of his leadership, but at the same time, his viewpoint for the country, his philosophical attitude, and even his obligation to his wife were ultimately altered. It is at moments like these that Kennedy is revealed for the truly complex man that he was, and how he hoped to life in peace although his hopes were nothing but blown out. Even though there is sufficient evidence of conspiracy, the authors do very little to introduce or even debate them. For instance, the authors imply that the fatal shots were fired from the rear of Kennedy’s limousine by noting that the front visors of the vehicle were stained by stained by the brain matter and blood. However, they overlook the fact that the brain motorcycle officers at the rear of the limousine were also splashed with brain matter and blood. The authors strongly agree with the official version of the association and make many other similar assertions, but do not the relevant, genuine counterpoints.
Lee Harvey Oswald, a misguided ex-marine sharpshooter, is pointed out by the authors as the assassin. According to them, Oswald had nothing against Kennedy, he just believed that he was destined to become a “great man” and he needed to assassinate Kennedy to accomplish his destiny. Unfortunately, this logic sounds steep and superfluous, and even though “Killing Kennedy” belongs to the historical nonfiction genre, it will not stop readers from scrutinizing it. Nonetheless, the details of the events during the years before and after Kennedy’s assassination are quite in-depth. At first glance, O’reilly and Dugard’s “Killing Kennedy” might seem like a comprehensive narration of the John F. Kennedy assassination. However, upon a closer inspection, it can be seen that the authors are trying to support the official version of the events as we have read in history books. The authors retell the tale of Kennedy’s assassination quite superficially, yet readers will most likely accept what they have written as fact. Even though the accusation of Oswald as the assassin has been questioned, the book is still worth reading to know about the facts of assassination.
Works Cited
O'Reilly, B., & Dugard, M. (2012). Killing kennedy: The end of camelot. (1st ed.). Henry Holt and Co.
