JOHN F. KENNEDY SIGNS A BEAUTIFUL EDITION OF HIS HISTORIC BOOK, ‘PROFILES ON HISTORY’.
Kennedy, , John F. Profiles In Courage, New York:- Harper & Brother’s , 1956. Inscribed first edition, early printing of Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy, in the publisher’s near fine dust jacket . Octavo, xix, 266ppp. Blue cloth, black cloth spine, title in gold on spine.
An early printing from March 1957, with the “C-G” code from Harper & Brothers on the copyright page. Lovely condition in the publisher’s first state dust jacket, $3.50 on front flap, with “In Courage” on cover and spine in vibrant red “No. 4622” on back panel and “No. 5922A” on bottom of front flap. Boldly signed on the front free endpaper: “To Mr. Zimmerman / with my best wishes / John Kennedy.” Near fine in near fine dust-jacket. Included are three candid photographs, one of Kennedy with Jackie on the tarmac exiting Air Force 2 and two in black and white, apparently showing Kennedy with the recipient of this book.
John F. Kennedy’s enduring classic resounds with timeless lessons on the most cherished of virtues—courage and patriotism—and remains a moving, powerful, and relevant testament to the indomitable American spirit
During 1954-55, Kennedy, then a junior senator from the state of Massachusetts, profiled eight American patriots, mainly United States Senators, who at crucial moments in our nation’s history, revealed a special sort of greatness: men who disregarded dreadful consequences to their public and private lives to do that one thing which seemed right in itself. They were men of various political and regional allegiances—their one overriding loyalty was to the United States.
Courage such as these men shared, Kennedy makes clear, is central to all morality—a man does what he must in spite of personal consequences—and these exciting stories suggest that, without in the least disparaging the courage with which men die, we should not overlook the true greatness adorning those acts of courage with which men must live.