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Some of It Was Fun: Working with RFK and LBJ | 
 enlarge | Author: Nicholas Deb. Katzenbach
Publisher: W. W. Norton
Category: Book
List Price: $27.95
Buy New: $13.94
You Save: $14.01 (50%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  2 reviews
Sales Rank: 16622
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 352
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.4 x 1
ISBN: 0393067254
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.922
EAN: 9780393067255
ASIN: 0393067254
Publication Date: October 6, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
A lively, intimate memoir that vividly recalls the idealism of the Kennedy administration.
As deputy attorney general under Bobby Kennedy and then attorney general and under secretary of state for Lyndon Johnson, Nicholas deB. Katzenbach offers a unique perspective on the civil rights movement, Vietnam, and other issues of the day. In this engaging memoir, by turns intensely dramatic and charmingly matter-of-fact, we are treated to a ringside seat for Katzenbach's confrontation with segregationist governor George C. Wallace over the integration of the University of Alabama, his efforts to steer the Civil Rights Act of 1964 through Congress, and then his transition to the State Department, where he served at the center of the storm over Vietnam.
In the political climate of this election season, Some of It Was Fun provides a refreshing reminder of the hopes and struggles of an earlier era, speaking both to readers who came of age in the 1960s and to a generation of young people looking to that period for political inspiration. 16 pages of photographs.
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| Customer Reviews:
Counselor November 16, 2008
This book would be a great purchase for anyone with a speck of interest in the politics and policies of the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations.
Mr. Katzenbach, who is very bright, liberal, and calm, reflects back, in a style easy to read, on his own career a the center of some of the central issues of a turbulent time--such as passage of the Voting Rights Act, Vietnam, and the discord between Robert Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. The author is especially good at explaining the widely divergent leadership styles of RFK and LBJ.
This book does not pretend to be a complete history, but is instead the focused memoirs of a now older man who once was entrusted with top positions at Justice and State during a transformational time in our nation's history.
I think Mr. Katsenbach deserves the renewed gratitude of the nation for his quiet leadership and bravery during his entire career in government, but especially for the dangerous spent days upholding the rule of law when helping to ensure voting rights in the South and the racial integration of such higher educational institutions as the University of Alabama.
A Memoir that is also an important historical document November 4, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Now in his mid 80's, Nicholas Katzenbach has authored a fascinating memoir of his years in government service, in the Departments of Justice and State during the JFK and LBJ administrations. In addition to being a fine memoir, his unique perspective on these two presidents, as well as Robert F. Kennedy, combined with the important historical events in which he was involved, render this insider-account an important historical document in its own right. Katzenbach's period of service in DOJ (1961-65), as head of the Office of Legal Counsel, Deputy AG, and finally AG, occurred during some of the most critical periods of American history. Katzenbach recounts his involvement in school desegregation in the South involving George Wallace (even having lived through this period, I found it incredibly bizarre given the election of Barack Obama). But the most valuable perspective the author affords is a really intimate portrait of Robert Kennedy as Attorney General, and later as Senator. RFK is sometimes seen as a distant and cold figure--those holding this view should read this book. The author also was one of those who advocated the creation of the "Warren Commission."
After DOJ, thanks to LBJ, Katzenbach became Under Secretary of State (1966-1969). Much as is true with the Kennedys, Katzenbach intimate portrait of LBJ is invaluable, admiring but tempered with some stringent judgments on Johnson. Given his State Dept. position, he was involved in much higher level policy making than at Justice. He recounts important developments in the Vietnam War policy, African diplomacy, and affords us an unique insight into how these important decisions were made (including the role of the so-called "Wise Men" such as Dean Acheson who served as advisors to LBJ). While this material is interesting, clearly I believe Katzenbach saw his center of gravity in government service as occurring during his DOJ years--at least I hope he does.
This is not meant to be a "scholarly" treatment--there are no footnotes, or bibliography, though the author is not shy about reminding us that he was a Rhodes Scholar, is a Princeton graduate, attended Yale Law School, and taught and wrote at Chicago Law. Rather, it is a relaxed and extremenly thoughtful recollection of the author's government service during the 1960's--tempered with the passage of 40 years. Katzenback is full of judicious opinions and perceptive insights, and focuses upon the events and personalities rather than himself, which is refreshing in a Washingtion memoir. I am very glad that he chose to record his recollections, and so should anyone else who has an interest in this country during the 1960's.
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