Share & Save
Meaning
The quote says Kennedy’s reputation seems positive in hindsight because the presidents who followed him were associated with major problems. It suggests that comparisons with Johnson, Vietnam, Nixon, and Watergate make Kennedy look better than he did at the time.
When It Was Said
Not documented yet.
Who It Was Said To
Not documented yet.
Historical Context
Not documented yet.
Source
Not documented yet.
Original Language & Translation
Originally said in English.
Did They Really Say It?
No source found on Wikiquote; the quote is listed as attributed.
Did You Know?
Not documented yet.
About Robert Dallek
American historian
Robert A. Dallek is an American historian known for his work on the presidents of the United States. His writing has focused in particular on Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Richard Nixon. He is widely associated with political history and the study of modern American presidential leadership. On this site, 128 quotes are attributed to him.
More from Robert Dallek (128 quotes) →Keep reading Robert Dallek
- “I think the public can t accept the idea that someone as inconsequential as Oswald could have killed someone…”Robert Dallek
- “Besieged by lawsuits that threatened to engulf almost everyone at the White House, Clinton assistants shunned…”Robert Dallek
- “It's always valuable for someone running for president... to have as much bipartisan support as possible.”Robert Dallek
- “The Atlantic conference in the North Atlantic off Newfoundland is a dramatic moment in World War II history b…”Robert Dallek
Explore Reflections
- “There is no real third party in America. There's this one party that has two sides to it - the Democratic and…”Roseanne Barr
- “We now expect more from technology and less from each other.”Sherry Turkle
- “How one walks through the world, the endless small adjustments of balance, is affected by the shifting weight…”Elaine Scarry