Being With John F. Kennedy

While viewers won't learn anything new from this compilation of footage from filmmaker Robert Drew, this overview of Kennedy's bid for the Presidency and tragically short administration will still appeal to Camelot fans. Apparently shown on TV during the 20th anniversary of Kennedy's death (the video contains all the commercial break title cards, which is annoying), the program, hosted by Nancy Dickerson, is a respectful look at Kennedy's speeches and day-to-day life at both the office and on recreational outings. We follow the battle between Kennedy and Johnson for the Democratic nomination for President, watch Kennedy's efforts to bring about a nuclear test ban ("the weapons of war must be abolished before they abolish us"), re-live the Cuban missile crisis, and sit in on the strategy for getting two black students past Governor George Wallace and into the University of Alabama. There's no real criticism of Kennedy (and certainly no talk of womanizing); the video simply uses a cinema verite approach to offer viewers glimpses of a multi-faceted man. Sure to be popular. Recommended. (R. Pitman)