Listening In: The Secret White House Recordings of John F. Kennedy (IRB 3)

The period of John F. Kennedy's presidency can be best described as "sweet and sour", having both great strengths and glaring weaknesses. However, after reading through the beginning of the book Ted Widmer created to put these events into context, I have found that this book doesn't put the situation into a context that seems relevant and interesting to me, ultimately resulting in my dropping of the book. My problem stems from Widmer's addressing his audience and establishing a viable message for readers to comprehend and latch onto. The American people reading the story on a popular president are looking to find what this favorable man imperfect and discover the stains in his time as the leader of the United States. Not only that, the book should show some value on an entertainment level, as the public can find information to share with others more easily when the author sparks interest and intrigue with their writing. Although the events Widmer displays in his work are historically accurate, I do not find the portrayal of this information engaging and, as a result, have started looking for another nonfiction book to read. Through this experience, I have actually grown rhetorically, since I now understand that my belief that Widmer did not achieve his purpose in his new book could be seen differently by the millions who enjoy this piece of his.