A short life of the author
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917–1963) was the 35th President of the United States, serving from January 1961 until his assassination in Dallas on November 22, 1963. Before his presidency, he published three books that remain central to both American political literature and the rare book market.
Published Works
Why England Slept (1940, Wilfred Funk) — Kennedy’s Harvard senior thesis, expanded and published, analysing Britain’s failure to rearm against Nazi Germany. The book was commercially successful, partly due to promotion by his father, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., then Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Profiles in Courage (1956, Harper & Brothers) — biographical sketches of eight U.S. senators who risked their careers by taking principled stands. The book won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography, though the extent of Kennedy’s authorship has been debated — his speechwriter Ted Sorensen is widely believed to have done much of the writing.
A Nation of Immigrants (1958, Anti-Defamation League; revised posthumous edition 1964, Harper & Row) — a short book arguing for immigration as central to the American character, written to support immigration reform legislation.
Collecting Kennedy
JFK books are among the most actively collected American political items. Why England Slept (1940) first editions in fine condition with dust jacket bring $2,000–$8,000. Profiles in Courage (1956, Harper & Brothers) first editions with dust jacket bring $1,000–$5,000; inscribed copies $5,000–$20,000+. Kennedy’s autograph is highly valued and frequently forged — authentication is essential. Secretarial signatures and autopens are common.