“It's not what you are, it's what people think you are,” said Joseph Kennedy Sr., father of John F. Kennedy, commenting on the significance of image in American politics. The difference between image and reality is at the heart of filmmaker Kathrin Seelmann-Eggebert's JFK: The Private President, which serves up archival footage—both public and personal—that underscores what life was actually like for the late president and his family during his 35 months in the White House. No new dark secrets or scandals are revealed here: Kennedy's extramarital affairs are touched on and we hear the familiar speculation that he might have had a sexually-transmitted disease that impacted First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's difficult pregnancies. Rather, the emphasis here is more on Kennedy's role as a family man, finding time for his two children and for gathering with the extended Kennedy clan on weekends. Along the way, it also looks at his many medical problems, including the chronic back pain for which he was secretly taking up to a dozen medications. The personal ripple effect of national issues—especially the Cuban Missile Crisis—on the families of JFK and his brother, attorney general Robert Kennedy, are also examined. Home movies of Kennedy at play and in relaxation, particularly the last such footage before his assassination, are touching. Sure to appeal to history buffs and Kennedy dynasty followers, this personal look inside the world of Camelot is highly recommended. Aud: C, P (T. Keogh)
JFK: The Private President
(2013) 53 min. DVD: $24.95. First Run Features (avail. from most distributors). Closed captioned. Volume 30, Issue 1
JFK: The Private President
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