Amid the recent cascade of new books on John F. Kennedy, Thomas Whalen has managed a rare and notable feat -- to offer a fresh and original perspective on the 35th president. By offering colorful profiles and vivid vignettes of the foreign and domestic leaders who confronted Kennedy at various stages of his career, the author briskly and skillfully illuminates his life and times, reminding us that a good way to judge a political figure is by the enemies he makes.

Michael Flamm, Professor of History, Ohio Wesleyan University

In a clear and fast-paced narrative style, Thomas Whalen convincingly illustrates that to understand John F. Kennedy, you have to appreciate his complex relationships with his many rivals. JFK and His Enemies depicts Kennedy’s role in the defining conflicts of his era, from civil rights to the Cold War, while shedding light on his personal charm, power, foibles, and contradictions.

Aram G. Goudsouzian, author of Down to the Crossroads: Civil Rights, Black Power, and the Meredith March Against Fear

Authored by a veteran presidential scholar, JFK and His Enemies is a clearly written introduction to Kennedy's myriad "enemies," ranging from Henry Cabot Lodge, Richard Nixon, Lyndon Johnson, Nikita Khrushchev to J. Edgar Hoover and Lee Harvey Oswald. Readers will find it interesting and absorbing.

James N. Giglio, author of The Presidency of John F. Kennedy

Thomas Whalen in this carefully crafted, admirably concise study demonstrates again that a man may be judged by the enemies he makes. Or, to paraphrase Sun Tzu, know your enemies and you will know yourself. Indeed, Whalen’s captivating analysis of John Kennedy’s adversarial relationships with the likes of J. Edgar Hoover, George Wallace, Richard Nixon and Lyndon Johnson illuminates the man and his times, deepens our comprehension of how JFK reached the pinnacle of power, and broadens our awareness of the complications he faced as president.

James W. Hilty, Professor Emeritus, Temple University, Author of Robert Kennedy: Brother Protector

If we can judge a man, in part, by the enemies he made, JFK will go down as a great one. His enemies were powerful men, with deadly weapons at their disposal. But JFK took them on without fear or hesitation. Thomas Whalen's book reads like a novel of political intrigue mostly because that was the fabric of Kennedy's life.

Randy Roberts, Distinguished Professor of History, Purdue University