Vincent Bzdek

The Kennedy Legacy: Jack, Bobby and Ted and a Family Dream Fulfilled by Vincent Bzdek seeks to place the late Ted Kennedy firmly within the culture, politics and moral compass of the Kennedy family, especially linking him directly to the respective traditions of JFK and RFK – as the subtitle indicates. In this it mostly succeeds. Yet, the narrative lacks all passion, reading more like a long Wikipedia article than an historical or biographical work.
I am a big fan of JFK and RFK, warts and all, and I have read a number of books on the Kennedys, so I have a relatively strong background to judge this work. Bzdek’s book attempts to present an objective view by never failing to repeat known transgressions – like the widespread womanizing in Camelot – while failing to comment upon them. At the same time, emphasis is placed upon the positive contributions, so what appears to be a paragon of objectivity remains highly subjective. This becomes more obvious than it might be in another book because the prose, while well-written for a magazine piece perhaps, fails to make a compelling narrative.
Much of what he relates about Jack and Bobby is not controversial, and there is really nothing that is new or noteworthy. (Joe Kennedy Sr. mostly gets a pass here that he probably doesn’t deserve.) When Bzdek moves on to focus on Ted after the death of RFK, however, the information presented seems somewhat superficial. It is as if there is a great story to tell, but Bzdek is just not up to telling it. While the greater point of the book, that Ted Kennedy -- despite his shortcomings or perhaps because of them – became a kind of giant in the Senate that made significant legislative contributions, is soundly argued, the author fails to offer much insight into Ted’s complex character and his many failings as a man. Instead, his successes are magnified and he is turned into a hero who qualifies as a character in Profiles in Courage, which I find ludicrous, although I too believe there is much that Ted rightly deserves credit for.
Ted Kennedy did indeed walk straight out of the tradition of his martyred brothers, and he probably did suffer in comparison to them most of his long life (by Kennedy standards), but then he earned that. Jack and Bobby were great men who were marred by great flaws, but yet they were great men nonetheless. Ted Kennedy played a significant role in American politics in the latter half of the twentieth century and the early part of the twenty-first, and he deserves to be credited and memorialized where due, but Ted Kennedy – unlike his brothers – was not a great man.… (mehr)

"Big brother John had challenged people to do something for their country. Bobby had called on them to care for the dispossessed. By the example of his durability, Ted exhorted them to never, ever quit." So states Vincent Bzdek in a wonderful work that not only describes the lives and work of the three Kennedy brothers, Jack, Bobby and Ted, but integrates and contrasts their achievements, styles, and challenges. The book is clearly divided into acts (collection of chapters) featuring the dominate brothers of the respective time period covered. The author is clear and objective in describing the successes and setbacks of the Kennedy brothers and comprehensive in explaining their impacts. A larger portion of the work is devoted in describing the life of Ted Kennedy, but that is only because of the extended length of time in public office as compared to Jack and Bobby. Recommend for anyone interested in presidential history, the Kennedy family, or a history of contemporary times. Excellent reading!… (mehr)

We've all felt it while wandering through a bookstore...That sense that there's nothing new under the sun but hoping there is. Then you stop and stare at a book that proves...You're right. I think it may be time to let the Kennedy's go. If you're new to the subject (really?) or don't know much about the Kennedy's and are looking for a light read, (or a Kennedy love fest) this is it. It's well written, so that isn't the problem. The thing is, we've all heard about JFK's womanizing despite his compassion for others , RFK's love for his brother and and his sister-in-law, and Ted's insecurities, desire to emerge from his brothers' shadows, etc. As a result, despite the fact that, as I said, its well written, its just kinda boring.… (mehr)