Admiration Quote by David Halberstam
““The good reporters of that era, those who were well educated and who were enlightened themselves and worked for enlightened organizations, liked the Kennedys and were for the same things the Kennedys were for. In addition, the particular nature of the President’s personal style, his ease and confidence with reporters, his considerable skill in utilizing television, and the terrible manner in which he was killed had created a remarkable myth about him. The fact that a number of men in his Cabinet were skillful writers themselves and that in the profound sadness after his murder they wrote their own eloquent (and on occasion self-serving) versions of his presidency had strengthened that myth.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Best and the Brightest, 1972
The media and close associates amplified Kennedy’s image, turning tragedy into a lasting legend.
In simple terms: Media shaped Kennedy’s myth after his death.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how narratives are constructed.
Themes
media
mythmaking
politics
history
leadership
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
historical
When to use this quote
- political campaigns
- historical analysis
- media studies
Key Concepts
propaganda
legend formation
public perception
Questions to Reflect On
- How does media influence political legacies?
- What responsibilities do journalists have in shaping history?
A Different Perspective
Myths can oversimplify complex realities.
![“Profound sadness is always the result of an unhealthy condition of the body. ... We [should] say, 'I am sad; everything looks black to me; but external events are in no way responsible. It's my body that insists on reasoning. These are the opinions of my stomach.'” quote by Emile Chartier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/150/emile-chartier-26457_black_profound-sadness-is-always-the-result-of_1380029.jpg)
![“Theodore Sorensen wrote for [Robert Kennedy's 1968] announcement speech: “At stake is not simply the leadership of our party, and even our own country, it is our right to the moral leadership of this planet.” The sentence absolutely appalled all the younger Robert Kennedy advisers, who felt it…” quote by David Halberstam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f6e/david-halberstam-9032_communication_theodore-sorensen-wrote-for-robert-kenne_12566.jpg)
