The Space-Age Presidency of John F. Kennedy

A Rare Photographic History

by John Bisney and J. L. Pickering

Foreword by Christopher C. Kraft Jr.

Published by: University of New Mexico Press

224 Pages, 9.00 x 12.00 in, 528 color photos

Hardcover
9780826358097 | March 2019

$45.00

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EPUB
9780826358103 | March 2019

$39.95

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Description
Contributors
Acclaim
Table Of Contents

This engaging and unprecedented work captures the compelling story of John F. Kennedy's role in advancing the United States' space program, set against the Cold War with the Soviet Union. The stunning collection of history and photographs crafted by authors John Bisney and J. L. Pickering illustrates Kennedy's close association with the race to space during his legendary time in office. In addition to the exhaustive research and rare photographs, the authors have also included excerpts from Kennedy's speeches, news conferences, and once-secret White House recordings to provide the reader with more context through the president's own words. While Kennedy did not live to see the fruition of many of the endeavors he supported, his legacy lives on in many ways--many of which are captured in this important work.

John Bisney is a former correspondent who covered the space program for more than thirty years for CNN, the Discovery Channel, and SiriusXM Radio, among other news outlets. He is also the coauthor, with J. L. Pickering, of Spaceshots and Snapshots of Projects Mercury and Gemini: A Rare Photographic History (UNM Press) and Moonshots and Snapshots of Project Apollo: A Rare Photographic History (UNM Press).

J. L. Pickering is a space-flight historian who has been archiving rare space images and historic artifacts for some forty years. He is also the coauthor, with John Bisney, of Spaceshots and Snapshots of Projects Mercury and Gemini: A Rare Photographic History (UNM Press) and Moonshots and Snapshots of Project Apollo: A Rare Photographic History (UNM Press).

"Different, refreshing views of those familiar events."
--The Space Review

"For the space buff and/or science historian it is a treasure trove."
--The Observatory

"Delve deep into the politics of early space flight with The Space-Age Presidency of John F. Kennedy: A Rare Photographic History."
--Space.com

"If there is one new book you pick up during this anniversary year it should be this one."
--SpaceFlight

"The Space-Age Presidency of John F. Kennedy captures perfectly Kennedy's engagement with the Mercury program."
--Los Alamos Monitor

"If you are a fan of space exploration . . . you won't want to miss this amazing book."
--Dave "Doc" Kirby, On The Bookshelf

Foreword
Christopher C. Kraft Jr.
Acknowledgments
Introduction
John Bisney
Abbreviations

Chapter One. 1961: "Here we are behind."
Chapter Two. February 1962: "The kind of American of whom we are the most proud."
Chapter Three. March-August 1962: "We are glad to see you again."
Chapter Four. September 11, 1962: "Do you think we have bitten off more than we can chew?"
Chapter Five. September 12, 1962: "But why, some say, the moon?"
Chapter Six. October-December 1962: "I'm not that interested in space."
Chapter Seven. January-August 1963: "There are great frontiers still to be crossed."
Chapter Eight. September-November 1963: "Space has lost a lot of its glamour."
Chapter Nine. November 21, 1963: "This space effort must go on."
Chapter Ten. In Remembrance: "For the eyes of the world now look into space."

The Photographers
Bibliography