Counselor: A Life at the Edge of History
by: Ted Sorensen
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In this gripping memoir, John F. Kennedy's closest advisor recounts in full for the first time his experience counseling Kennedy through the most dramatic moments in American history.
Sorensen returns to January 1953, when he and the freshman senator from Massachusetts began their extraordinary professional and personal relationship. Rising from legislative assistant to speechwriter and advisor, the young lawyer from Nebraska worked closely with JFK on his most important speeches, as well as his book Profiles in Courage. Sorensen encouraged the junior senator's political ambitions—from a failed bid for the vice presidential nomination in 1956 to the successful presidential campaign in 1960, after which he was named Special Counsel to the President.
Sorensen describes in thrilling detail his experience advising JFK during some of the most crucial days of his presidency, from the decision to go to the moon to the Cuban Missile Crisis, when JFK requested that the thirty-four-year-old Sorensen draft the key letter to Khrushchev at the most critical point of the world's first nuclear confrontation. After Kennedy was assassinated, Sorensen stayed with President Johnson for a few months before leaving to write a biography of JFK. In 1968 he returned to Washington to help run Robert Kennedy's presidential campaign. Through it all, Sorensen never lost sight of the ideals that brought him to Washington and to the White House, working tirelessly to promote and defend free, peaceful societies.
Illuminating, revelatory, and utterly compelling, Counselor is the brilliant, long-awaited memoir from the remarkable man who shaped the presidency and the legacy of one of the greatest leaders America has ever known.
In this gripping memoir, John F. Kennedy's closest advisor recounts in full for the first time his experience counseling Kennedy through the most dramatic moments in American history.
Sorensen returns to January 1953, when he and the freshman senator from Massachusetts began their extraordinary professional and personal relationship. Rising from legislative assistant to speechwriter and advisor, the young lawyer from Nebraska worked closely with JFK on his most important speeches, as well as his book Profiles in Courage. Sorensen encouraged the junior senator's political ambitions—from a failed bid for the vice presidential nomination in 1956 to the successful presidential campaign in 1960, after which he was named Special Counsel to the President.
Sorensen describes in thrilling detail his experience advising JFK during some of the most crucial days of his presidency, from the decision to go to the moon to the Cuban Missile Crisis, when JFK requested that the thirty-four-year-old Sorensen draft the key letter to Khrushchev at the most critical point of the world's first nuclear confrontation. After Kennedy was assassinated, Sorensen stayed with President Johnson for a few months before leaving to write a biography of JFK. In 1968 he returned to Washington to help run Robert Kennedy's presidential campaign. Through it all, Sorensen never lost sight of the ideals that brought him to Washington and to the White House, working tirelessly to promote and defend free, peaceful societies.
Illuminating, revelatory, and utterly compelling, Counselor is the brilliant, long-awaited memoir from the remarkable man who shaped the presidency and the legacy of one of the greatest leaders America has ever known.
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- The memoirs of JFK's most trusted aide.
It was a much different time in America.As the sun set on the 1950's a new day was dawning.John Fitzgerald Kennedy had been elected the 35th President of the United States in 1960 at the age of 43.As he cobbled together his new administration he was looking for individuals who shared his enthusiasm for the future and the endless possibilities that beckoned.At the top of JFK's list was his right-hand man and trusted friend and advisor Ted Sorensen.It was Sorensen who would be named Special ... Read More
Rating: - A Moving and Intimate Account of Poiltical Life with JFK
Along with Arthur Schlesinger Jr's on the JFK administration "A Thousand Days", Ted Sorensen's memoir "Counselor" is one of the most beautifully written and deeply touching account of the presidency of John F Kennedy. Ted's latest book, Counselor, is a memoir but largely deals with the author's 11 years with JFK.
Ted, JFK's chief speech writer and confidant, is the man who gave the world JFK's immortal words "Ask not what the country can do for....".
The author has not lost ... Read More
Rating: - Stunning insights from a presidential speechwriter
JFK speechwriter Ted Sorensen's book Counselor: A Life at the Edge of History is required reading for anyone calling themselves a speechwriter.
Sorensen witnessed many historical moments in his 11 years as JFK's chief speechwriter and Special Counsel to the President. This book reveals the challenges and rewards of such unparalleled access to one of the greatest American presidents.
There's over 500 pages of compelling narrative in his striking honest autobiography. It covers ... Read More
Rating: - Touching History
There are few books which one reads where there is a connection to the author so real that it evokes the feelings of the times.I have such admiration for Mr. Sorensen, never giving up or in to the pressures of the times and/or his peers.This book should be required reading in all history and ethics classes.
Rating: 
- Eleven Years
Theodore ("Ted") Sorensengraduated from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1951 at age 23 and decided to move to Washington, D.C.After the 1952 election, with his temporary job at the Joint Committee on Railroad Retirement about to expire, he began lookingfor a staff position on Capitol Hill.There were jobs available with newly elected Senators, and Sorensen eventually got offers from two of them: Henry ("Scoop") Jackson of Washington, and John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts.The choice ... Read More
- The memoirs of JFK's most trusted aide.It was a much different time in America.As the sun set on the 1950's a new day was dawning.John Fitzgerald Kennedy had been elected the 35th President of the United States in 1960 at the age of 43.As he cobbled together his new administration he was looking for individuals who shared his enthusiasm for the future and the endless possibilities that beckoned.At the top of JFK's list was his right-hand man and trusted friend and advisor Ted Sorensen.It was Sorensen who would be named Special ... Read More
- A Moving and Intimate Account of Poiltical Life with JFKAlong with Arthur Schlesinger Jr's on the JFK administration "A Thousand Days", Ted Sorensen's memoir "Counselor" is one of the most beautifully written and deeply touching account of the presidency of John F Kennedy. Ted's latest book, Counselor, is a memoir but largely deals with the author's 11 years with JFK.
Ted, JFK's chief speech writer and confidant, is the man who gave the world JFK's immortal words "Ask not what the country can do for....".
The author has not lost ... Read More
- Stunning insights from a presidential speechwriter JFK speechwriter Ted Sorensen's book Counselor: A Life at the Edge of History is required reading for anyone calling themselves a speechwriter.
Sorensen witnessed many historical moments in his 11 years as JFK's chief speechwriter and Special Counsel to the President. This book reveals the challenges and rewards of such unparalleled access to one of the greatest American presidents.
There's over 500 pages of compelling narrative in his striking honest autobiography. It covers ... Read More
- Touching HistoryThere are few books which one reads where there is a connection to the author so real that it evokes the feelings of the times.I have such admiration for Mr. Sorensen, never giving up or in to the pressures of the times and/or his peers.This book should be required reading in all history and ethics classes.
- Eleven YearsTheodore ("Ted") Sorensengraduated from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1951 at age 23 and decided to move to Washington, D.C.After the 1952 election, with his temporary job at the Joint Committee on Railroad Retirement about to expire, he began lookingfor a staff position on Capitol Hill.There were jobs available with newly elected Senators, and Sorensen eventually got offers from two of them: Henry ("Scoop") Jackson of Washington, and John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts.The choice ... Read More
