David Pietrusza

“The political mind is the product of men in public life who have been twice spoiled. They have been spoiled with praise and they have been spoiled with abuse. – Calvin Coolidge”

“What we saw in Richard Nixon's face was the panic in his soul. – Richard Goodwin”

“Eisenhower on LBJ: "He hadn't got the depth of mind nor the breath vision to carry great responsibility.”

“Jack had an actor's control." Chuck Spalding”

“Organizing a coup was not the same as wanting one.”

“JFK had to act before his fragile body betrayed him.”

“Jack and Bobby Kennedy were too young, too attached to real family to transfer affection and loyalty to those that of their blood or region or upbringing.”

“John F. Kennedy "is, in reality, a deeply serious man, reflective in his mental habits, historically minded, and given to seeing men and nations and events in the sobering context that history provides.As a human being, he is often humorous, easily bored by total routine but open to all fresh experiences, careless of the superficialities of life, warmly loyal to his friends, and oddly detached about himself. His most curious trait, in fact, is his way of discussing his most vital affairs with the dry humor and cool analytical remoteness that most people reserve for the affairs of others. – Joseph Alsop”