John F. Kennedy and the 48 Hours That Made History
In June 1963, John F. Kennedy has been president of the United States for almost two and a half years. That spring he is grappling with the two seismic forces of the early 1960s: the proliferation of nuclear arms and the struggle for civil rights. On two consecutive days, in two lyrical addresses, he appeals to Americans to see both the Russians and the “Negroes” as human beings. His speech on June 10 leads to the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963, the first arms agreement of the Cold War. His speech on June 11 leads to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a watershed in American history.
Andrew Cohen presents a president at a tipping point as he pivots dramatically and decisively on the two biggest issues of his time. Based on new material–hours of recently uncovered film shot in the White House and Justice Department, fresh interviews, and a rediscovered draft speech–Two Days in June elegantly captures Kennedy at the high noon of his presidency in startling, rich, granular detail.
Andrew Cohen will lead a panel about Two Days in June as part of the Author Meets Readers series at 5:30 on April 23, 2015. Author Meets Readers is held at Irene’s Pub at 885 Bank Street.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015 in Communication and Media Studies, Faculty Publications, Journalism, News
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