[Rarebooks] fs: Early JFK and PT-109 item by Hersey

[Back Creek Books]

Greetings Booklovers,

We are pleased to offer:
~
(No. 2996 )  [Kennedy, John F.] Hersey, John. SURVIVAL: FROM A PT BASE IN 
THE SOLOMONS COMES THIS NIGHTMARE EPIC OF THE WILL-TO-LIVE (PAGES 75-80, 
READER'S DIGEST, V. 45, AUGUST 1944).
Pleasantville: Reader's Digest Assoc., Inc., 1944. Magazine, Duodecimo, 128 
pages. Fine.
      Complete issue of Reader's Digest magazine containing John Hersey's 
story of John F. Kennedy and PT-109. To put it simply, this is the article 
that launched Kennedy's political career. Hersey, a Kennedy family friend, 
first published this flattering account in the 'New Yorker.' But Joe 
Kennedy, unhappy with the New Yorker's relatively small circulation, pressed 
editor Paul Palmer for this appearance in the much more widely read 
'Reader's Digest.' It was a shrewd move, and this condensed version of the 
PT-109 incident proved crucial to Kennedy's early political success. Indeed, 
this version was reprinted for each of JFK's subsequent campaigns, including 
his 1960 presidential run. As to the story itself, few would argue that 
young Lt. Kennedy acted heroically in his efforts to rescue his men after 
his PT boat was rammed by a Japanese destroyer. But veteran PT commanders 
were incredulous that such a quick and maneuverable craft could not escape 
being struck by a much larger and slower enemy in the first place. In fact 
no other PT boat was ever rammed by an enemy ship before or since Kennedy's, 
and he narrowly escaped court-martial for the incident. The magazine is 
bound in green printed covers with a stapled binding. Only the slightest 
extremity rubs and a touch of browning to the text. A truly lovely copy of 
this landmark Kennedy item.    $100.00
See photo: http://www.backcreekbooks.com/bookphotos/2996.jpg

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Thank you for your interest.

Best regards,

Rock Toews
Back Creek Books
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Today's featured book from our stock at the booksellers' cooperative, 
TomFolio.com:
 Houser, M[artin]. L[uther].  'The Books That Lincoln Read (Signed).'
 Details and secure ordering: 
http://www.tomfolio.com/mall/backcreekbooks/bookdetails.asp?book=9387
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'The very ink with which all history is written is merely fluid 
prejudice.' - Mark Twain