Camelot and the Cultural Revolution: How the Assassination of John F. Kennedy Shattered American Liberalism

by James Piereson

Book Overview

James Piereson examines the bizarre aftermath of John F. Kennedy's assassination: Why in the years after the assassination did the American Left become preoccupied with conspiratorial thinking? How... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1594031886
• ISBN13: 9781594031885
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: Encounter Books
• Length: 253 Pages
• Weight: 1.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Compelling and convincing explanation for the emergence of the anti-American left

This is a book I cannot recommend highly enough. Not only is its central thesis well and convincingly argued - that Kennedy's assassination proved to be the catalyst for a dramatic leftward shift in American liberalism in general, and in the democratic party in particular; that this New Left embraced an often anti-American political philosophy and worldview; and that this philosophy and worldview were actually squarely in opposition to the views of John F. Kennedy, a man this New Left (rather ironically in light of his actual views) came to regard as its martyr. But Mr. Piereson also writes in a clear, concise, highly readable style that makes it difficult to put this book down. Moreover, Piereson's thesis also explains the apparent immortality and widespread acceptance of the conspiracy theories surrounding JFK's assassination. Fittingly, Piereson begins by explaining what some of Kennedy's actual views, and the actual policies and programs he promoted were, and thus reminds us that Kennedy, far from being a liberal in the current popular use of the term (like his recently deceased youngest brother Edward Kennedy), was actually a moderate with some views that would today be classed as fiscally conservative (and indeed some of his policies were later adopted by conservatives), as well as a truly ardent cold warrior, whose hawkish stance on anti-communism and national defense would also be embraced by conservatives. Also, while JFK was generally liberal in his views on civil rights, support of labor unions, and some other matters, these views were not extreme in him, and his support for some liberal causes, such as desegregation for example, was cautious, since he feared alienating democrats in the South, and thus imperiling his ability to accomplish things in the areas which really were priorities for him. Given these facts about the man, it's rather ironic that John F. Kennedy was posthumously made into a martyr for the civil rights movement, and a symbol for late 20th century liberalism. Piereson argues convincingly that Kennedy was recast in this image after his death, by liberals trying to come to terms with his assassination and the way it challenged some of their most deeply held core assumption about the United States and its society. Liberals had long regarded the right as paranoid for its insistence on the danger that communism represented, not just as a foreign threat, but also as a domestic one. The true danger to American society, they had always believed very deeply, was not from communism, but from the right's overreaction to communism. McCarthyism, for example, was regarded as far more dangerous to the American way of life than communism ever was (and to be fair, they were certainly not entirely wrong in this either.) With JFK dead at the hands of a communist, however, suddenly those on the right looked a lot less paranoid and extreme in their views, and liberals were confronted with the uncomfortable possibility that

Camelot and the Cultural Revolution

As someone that lived through the events depicted, and someone who was enamored with JFK, I found the book quite good. Its a mixture of fact and opinion and is quite successful in bringing the two together.Its focus is on how the legacy of JFK differs from the facts, and how opinion about him was shaped beginningthe day of his death. I found it to be persuasive.

JFK and the Punitive Liberals.

There are no guarantees when buying books. We often eagerly anticipate a release hoping it will be a classic but soon discover that it belongs on the ash heap of history alongside the collected works of Marx, recordings of the Back Street Boys, and every single movie featuring Madonna. Occasionally however, we unfurl a package and find that its contents widely exceed our expectations. One such work is James Piereson's Camelot and the Cultural Revolution: How the Assassination of John F. Kennedy Shattered American Liberalism. Whatever the angle or line of rumor, the one thing for certain is that a sizable plurality of Americans agree that Oswald was who he said he was...just a pawn in the game. Piereson's text dispassionately, but skillfully, refutes this thesis. In one of his strongest chapters, "Assassin," he reexamines the facts of Oswald's life. To say that his case history lacks nuance is an understatement. The man who liquidated our 35th President was a diehard Marxist and anything but a shill for the military. Oswald's acceptance of Marxism came in 1953 after he was handed a bill advocating clemency for the Rosenbergs. His allegiance to communism meant, as it does for so many angry radicals, that this alienated and troubled young man would no longer be alone. The infamous gunman had nothing but contempt for American history and its institutions. He hated the radical right and attempted to kill segregationist, General Edwin A. Walker, six months before he trained his sights on Kennedy. Oswald went to the Soviet Union to savor the worker's paradise but found a bureaucratic nightmare instead. He returned, albeit begrudgingly, to his homeland. The FBI's refusal to take him seriously was a disgrace and a testament to their incompetence; while the media's refusal to consider the possible significance of his visits to the Cuban and Soviet embassies [in Mexico] is a testament to their bias. That he conferred with KGB agent Valeriy Kostikov a few months before taking aim should be of interest to anyone in pursuit of the truth. Why did Oswald do it? Mr. Piereson's explanation resonates far more than the conspiracies contaminating our public square. His purpose was to get the attention of Fidel Castro and also to preserve the life of the dictator. The Cuban Marxist was the last leader for whom Mr. Oswald had any faith. After he threatened the president in a 1963 interview, the deluded and alienated communist may have interpreted his words in the same manner as King Henry II's deputies. Oswald happily answered the question, "Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest?" by stepping forth to the window of the book depository in Dallas. By itself, reminding the world of who Oswald actually was is an important achievement, but it is just one of the many rejuvenating and provocative arguments elucidated in Camelot and the Cultural Revolution. His discussion of "punitive liberalism" is potent and completely transferable to the present day. The practi

A Shot in The Heart of Liberalism

This book is assuredly a must read, especially for any conservative looking for ammunition against the "Left." However, it would serve equally well any person, regardless of political persuasion. What makes this book invaluable is that it accomplishes, in a mere 211 pages, to elucidate likely every key fact that is directly related to the Kennedy assassination. As a result, any "debunking" of conspiracy theories is the product of how the reader perceives the facts of the case as set forth by Piereson. He is especially effective at making use of the opinions of liberals from the '60s to bolster his point; for example, why would a big liberal like Earl Warren fabricate a report that implicated a communist in the death of Kennedy, when other liberals disregarded the facts and suspected a right-wing consipracy? In other words, a reader can apply simple logic in analyzing the facts, and conclude that Lee Harvey Oswald was almost surely the assassin. With regard to the "liberal crackup" aspect of the book, Piereson dances around a thorough assessment of this until the end, although he peppers every chapter with references of how liberals of the day misinterpreted the national attitude as well as the facts of the case. When he puts the final nail in the coffin of New Liberalism, at book's end, the reader is thoroughly convinced. Still, the book ends on a positive note (for those not of conservative persuasion). Piereson notes that neoconservatives (Irving and William Kristol and the like) have reignited the tradition liberals abandoned in favor of a more irrational liberalism. One may be familiar with Irving Kristol's statement that a neoconservative is "a liberal that has been mugged by reality," and thus we can take comfort that all pre-60s liberal progress has not been completely lost. For those who are currently members of the Left, perhaps you should reevaluate your core principles, because you may find that you are part of that clique just because it is "cool." After all, as Piereson asserts, this irrational movement would likely not have come about if not for Kennedy's assassination. Further reading: Neoconservatism: Why We Need It, by Douglas Murray.

John F. Kennedy's Assassination and the Birth of the Self-Hating American Generation

James Pierson convincingly argues that a deceitful left wing campaign turned John F. Kennedy's death into a martyrdom on behalf of fighting racism. This was the exact opposite of the truth. Kennedy was first, last, and foremost an opponent of Communism. He was, at best, mildly interested in racial integration. This unjust situation could not be allowed to become our number one priority. We were perceived to be in an existential fight to the death against Communist totalitarianism. We had to make sure our priorities were kept straight. A committed pro-Castro Marxist, Lee Harvey Oswald, and not a reactionary racist murdered Kennedy. Our national sins had nothing to do with it. Regrettably, however, a large majority of Americans bought into this con game perpetuated by the Communists and their fellow travelers---and some very well meaning individuals close to the assassinated president. Jacqueline Kennedy, adds the author, unwittingly did enormous damage. These efforts to distort the truth resulted in pervasive American self-hating by many members of the Democratic Party. Our nation is allegedly vile and a real threat to peace on this planet. We should be deeply ashamed of ourselves. How could we legitimately oppose Communist tyranny when the United States itself is so morally bankrupt? Is the author exaggerating even slightly? No, he is not. The Democrats today are among our biggest obstacles in the current struggle against worldwide Islamic nihilism. They are inclined towards national suicide and have even essentially excommunicated Connecticut U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman from their ranks. You should immediately order James Pierson's book. Understanding the mindset of these self-hating Democrats is mandatory. Camelot and the Cultural Revolution: How the Assassination of John F. Kennedy Shattered American Liberalism must be on your summer reading list. It is that important of a book.