The Presidency A Sly and Wry Humor

After 30 years the literature of John Kennedy is dominated by tortured accounts of assassination conspiracies and an insatiable sexual appetite. Some of these stories may be true. But often lost in this clamor is a calm and just view of the man, flawed, wondering, trying. Above all else there was his humor, the trait that helped lift him on the way up and gave him special luster when he got to the top.

"I don't have any money on me, can you pay?" he asked me one campaign day in 1960 after offering lunch at a Milwaukee counter. O.K., I...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!