Kennedy Books

I have purchased this book for my father who is a Beightler and was a cousin to General Beightler, and know that he would absolutely love to add this to the growing number of family books. I have been very fortunate and honored to hear the many stories of my uncles and father regarding their military service during WWII (Europe, Pearl Harbor), Korea, etc. My son, who has served in Iraq and was injured (and recommended for the Purple Heart)is also a very proud American and all things military, so much so that he has named his dog (huge dog) Patton!.

MIRACLE is a specialty book for a special audience. It's the story of the building of the nation's performing arts center in Washington D.C., from President Eisenhower's signing of the Sept. 2, 1958 legislation authorizing a national cultural center to its opening in 1971. It's a story of trial and triumph, of bitter controversy and rivalry, of failure and success.

In 1789 George Washington directed Pierre L'Enfant to design the Federal City as "a cultural and civic center of the United States." National civic matters dominated immediately but culture lagged behind. (Not a new state of affairs!) As distinctive American music, theater and dance developed, however, the need for a national performance hall became more and more obvious and slowly gained recognition.

In the years between 1958 and 1971, General Counsel Ralph Becker was intimately involved in the development of the center. This is his story as well as the center's, for he was not only instrumental in helping solve the problems but his influence and leadership provided a guiding light for the project, which often floundered on the shoals of bureaucracy, tossed on the storms of red tape.

From the beginning there was opposition, sometimes quite powerful, to building a national culture center. Many argued that government had no business dabbling in the arts. Even supporters disagreed among themselves. There were arguments and disputes among builders, politicians, developers and civic leaders. Some didn't like the site on the Potomac, some objected to the design, others objected to the materials and still others argued about the cost. That bugaboo of progress, funding, stood on its back legs and roared.

Presidents formed committees and commissions. Congressmen wrote bills. Senators debated, citizens lobbied. Just about the only thing about the center that everyone agreed on was the name. After November 22, 1963, everyone who was anyone agreed that the name should be changed from the National Cultural Center for the Arts to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Black and white photographs grace these pages. There are pictures of the building under construction and photos of the pols and performers who've graced the grand occasions at the Center since First Night.

If you love the hall as much as I (and it's SO much more than a performance hall) you'll find this an absorbing story. Some of the facts and figures are a little dry but it's a testimony to the persistence and dedication of those who were determined to make it happen.

If you're not familiar with the center, you will be after you read this book. After all, it's yours.

Book arrived in a timely manner and in good shape. I was really pleased.

I loved it...but I've loved all of Nancy Kennedy's books. I identify with her ups and downs. What mother--if honest--has not wanted to pack it in and just run away at some point. Nancy's books are down-to-earth and something I can identify with. They are substantive, and side-splittingly funny.

This is a beautifully illustrated hard cover book. My 3 and 4 year old love the book. This book uses a bible verse and teaches God's principals through different characteristics in animals. Children love animals and it is very educational as well. A must have for the library.

A very good book for those interested in athletic taping. It has pictures with easy to follow instructions. It shows a lot of the common tapings.

This book is an excellent, concise account of Kennedy's policies toward Latin America. Rabe does an exceptional job in presenting the information in a fairhanded manner. The writing is superb and the book is an easy read. It is a must have for those interested in Kennedy, Latin America, or just history in general.

I found this book to be very imaginative in its approach to kids fitness. In today's society of adults attending health clubs while the kids are glued to the tube, this book can be very helpful. I think it might encourage parents to spend more time with their children partaking in physical activites, and becoming more knowledgeable in nutrition.

"My 'o' Sound Box," written by Jane Belk Moncure, is a fun book for beginning readers. Colin King's humorous, colorful illustrations complement the simple story.

In the book, a little boy known simply as "o" rounds up a group of animals, all of whose name's begin with the letter "o": octopus, otters, ostrich, etc. He takes them home for some play time.

Although all of the "o" words in the main story have a short "o" pronunciation, the author includes a supplement of words that begin with an "o" that is pronounced long: okra, opal, ocean, etc. Each word has an accompanying illustration.

The author and illustrator do an effective job of focusing on a single letter of the alphabet. This book is both entertaining and educational.

This book is a easy and delightfully written and illustrated tool for any parent with young children, looking to help guide young minds and hearts toward God, His wonderful creation, and character-building. After my kids listened intently over breakfast to short and interesting lessons about a particular animal, they took turns answering the questions for review, and reading a corresponding verse from the Bible. Approximately 40 devotionals describe some interesting facts about an animal, then a short life-lesson to be learned. Our kids still talk about how strange the platypus is, and that when it was discovered, people didn't even believe it was a real animal and they laughed at it! The devotional goes on to describe God's love for all kinds of people and we are to love and accept each other just as God made us. As a Christian home-schooling family with a love for nature and all of God's creation, we were thrilled to pick up this little gem and share it with our kids. Animals discussed include: aardvarks, ants, bats, bears, beavers, butterflies, cranes, cuckoos, dogs, dolphins, earthworms, frogs, geckos, geese, gorillas, hippopotamuses, horses, hummingbirds, kittens, ladybugs, meerkats......You get the idea.