Greenfield, Jeff (2013) If Kennedy Lived, The First and Second Term of President John F. Kennedy: An Alternate History, New York: Putnam and Sons, 214 pages

As the limousine turned the corner, one could see that a bubble top had been placed on the car to protect the president , first lady, and the remaining parties. From a window in the Dallas Book Depository, a lone gunman shot the president. The bubble top had been placed there to protect the riders from the rain in the area. It had been  periodically  rainy throughout the day. The bullet pierced the bubble and hit JFK through the shoulder, close to  the neck.

The Secret Service hurriedly sped to Parkland hospital. Kennedy immediately went into surgery and one wound was near some vital arteries. It was a 2 hour operation. The president was hospitalized and then moved to the White House “up north.” After a time, he gave his first speech in front of congress and the general public on  television. He made the speech standing and there was a fifteen minute ovation. His ratings were very high and his  popularity endured for a few months.

Among the many issues the president had to deal with was Vietnam. JFK came not to trust the generals and the military-industrial complex. What was he going to do?  The majority of the military thought Vietnam should be relatively simple. If it fell then there would a domino effect and other countries in the region would fall to communism. The administration in the south Vietnam finally fell and we did little or nothing. JFK was weak. Worse, he liked or tolerated Negroes (the word of the time. )

As he started to act on domestic relations, he had the solid south against him. However, the Boomers were making their statement in reformist movements. The author even mentions some of the bands like the Beatles and Beach Boys.  Youth appeared to support him, but white ethnics started becoming Republicans so that when  the Civil Rights  was passed, it was watered down. In common parlance, whites did not want to live by or go to school with Negroes. Negroes also took one’s job.

There was the ongoing battle to protect Kennedy’s sex addiction. A whole staff protected him although his relations  with Jacqueline had improved the addiction did not. LBJ was removed before the second election replaced by Stu Symington. They overwhelmingly beat Goldwater.

Throughout the remaining portions of the book one finds the president becoming more ill, but still appeared healthy.  The remaining portions of the book describe an America that was prosperous for white folks and not unduly disturbed by domestic or international  events. In other words in 1965, there was a 20 point spread between the CEO and   the median income of workers. Gallup records this era as the highest in the country.

So Kennedy became a good bet over the years, but Camelot was a useful myth.  What did not happen has begun to be appreciated. The bountiful legislation from the ghost or memories of Kennedy from LBJ must be given credit to both men. LBJ knew more about working in the legislative branch. For President Kennedy,   much of his life is now known. It was not a glorious ending, but it was solid.

Oswald the lone shooter was killed in a movie theater when he was running from the police. Others who may have helped try to kill the president was never discussed. On the whole, this book seems plausible. Whole sections at the end discuss how this or other scenarios may be have happened. If JFK did not die, he ended as a good president.

Further, it is very readable except for a few short sections of fights in and among the congress. This ending and alternative history will make sense to many readers. This is the de-glamorized version of the president. He appears to endure the criticism. It is a good book.

Prof. Joel C. Snell

Kirkwood College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa