[books 2010] The Dark Side of Camelot

[inulro]

18. The Dark Side of Camelot by Seymour Hersh

Gore Vidal's endorsement reads "Hersh has found more muck in this particular Augean stable than most people want to acknowledge", which is a fair assessment.

All the stuff about JFK that got covered up at the time. I already knew a lot about the womanising & the drugs, but less about the political stuff. I always thought the rumours of links to the mafia were urban legends, but it's all true.

The short version: old Joe Kennedy taught his children that because they were filthy rich, the rules of normal society didn't apply to them. This led not only to inevitable corruption, but also to JFK being completely reckless in many aspects of his life (the drugs probably fuelled this) which jeopardised national security on many occasions.

This book is huge, and is quite slow going in places. It assumes a slightly higher level of knowledge of the 50s and 60s than I have, but not so much so that it went over my head. Nevertheless, I loved it and found it hard to put down. Definitely recommended.

Comments

[moral-vacuum.livejournal.com]

I recommend you read "Walt Disney: Hollywood's Dark Prince". Another eye-opener.

I also recommend "Official and Confidential: The secret life of J Edgar Hoover". Blimey, that man was an evil bastard.

[inulro.livejournal.com]

Both of those have been on the periphery of my radar for some time - I'll have to make an effort to get hold of them.

While I've always been aware that Hoover was an evil bastard, the JFK bio almost makes you feel for the man - he was constantly being presented with evidence of JFK's wrongdoings that compromised national security and he had too much respect for the office of the president (and would probably have just got fired anyway) to do anything about it.

[moral-vacuum.livejournal.com]

Hoover had something in his files on pretty much every single successive President, which made him untouchable for 50 years. Not one would dare remove him. So I reckon it was less respect for the Office than knowing which side his bread was buttered.

[girfan.livejournal.com]

I should probably read this.

[inulro.livejournal.com]

You can borrow my copy if you like.

[girfan.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Bring it to the next book club?

[inulro.livejournal.com]

Will do.