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| Counselor: A Life at the Edge of History | 
 enlarge | Author: Ted Sorensen
Publisher: Harper
Category: Book
List Price: $27.95
Buy New: $12.49
You Save: $15.46 (55%)
New (57) Used (15) Collectible (3) from $9.93
Avg. Customer Rating:  33 reviews
Sales Rank: 4352
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 576
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 8.8 x 6.2 x 1.8
ISBN: 0060798718
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.922092
EAN: 9780060798710
ASIN: 0060798718
Publication Date: May 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Book is Brand new (perfect condition) and beautiful with tiny edge wear of cover. .***** We process orders promptly (out from California within same business day or 24 hrs), bubble wrapped for protection and inform to u with delivery tracking number ....
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| Customer Reviews:
 I Don't Think So June 11, 2008
2 out of 20 found this review helpful
Well, I could not finish this effort and so the reader must take that into account. That said, Mr. Sorensen is a marginal reader -- whatever may be said of the text. I was never clear on the vision here except that we all understand just what a swell guy Ted Sorensen is. Point noted.
Classic Memoir June 14, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I listened to the audio of this book, read by Ted Sorensen, the author.
I highly recommend the audio, especially if you lived through this period or would like to know more about it. It will be a classic audio for the ages.
Mr. Sorensen relates some really interesting episodes that I didn't know or had forgotten. He says President Kennedy called the New York Times to get them to fire the late brilliant prophetic journalist and author David Halberstam, because Halberstram was trying to warn America against escalating involvement in the Vietnam conflict.
Halberstram later wrote "The Best and the Brightest", relating the irony of the brightest brains in America under Kennedy and Johnson lead America into such a disastorous war in Vietnam.
Ted Sorensen says, quite credibly, that he advised both President Kennedy and President Johnson against escalation in Vietnam. Tragically Sorensen's advise was not taken by either Kennedy or Johnson. Sorensen was the idealist, the pacifist, in the Kennedy brain trust.
As couselor to President Kennedy says in this book that he knew President Kennedy was thinking of making an overture to Communist China in JFK's 2nd term in office, should JFK be reelected.
In light of this, Serensen may wish to provide a sequel to this book, in which he could give his full analysis of Presdent Nixon's trip of reconcilliation to China, with Henry Kissinger, which effectively laid the groundwork for peace in Vietnam, and hopefully an end to America's wars in the Far East.
Most unfortunately, but understandably, Serensen does not mention Nixon's historic trip to China, in this book. This is a geat disappointment, because Serensen could provide great insight. Nixon and Kennedy were of course direct political opponents.
So the absence of any mention of Nixon's most historic trip to China is understandably not mentioned at all in this book.
Also, in light of Kennedy's near tragic confrontations with the Soviet Union in Berlin and in Cuba, it would be fascinating to learn of Serensen's views of the fall of the Berlin Wall and indeed of the entire Soviet Union and its empire during the Reagan-Bush Administrations.
Serensen does voice his view that Kennedy would not have have made the terribly tragic escalations of the war in Vietnam, had he lived, and his Vice President Johnson not become President upon the death of President Kennedy.
Although Johnson was a Kennedy appointee of course, and Johnson' war cabinet were virtually all Kennedy appointees as well, it is plausible that with Serensen advising Kennedy, Kennedy would have avoided the terribly tragic mistakes of the Johnson Administration in Vietman. Although it is Sorensen's conjecture, we don't know.
It is not hard to believe that JFK would have avoided the major escallation of the war in Vietnam that occurred after LBJ's landslide election of 1964.
With 20/20 hindsight, we wonder about the wisdom of JFK picking LBJ has his Vice Presidential running mate. The argument that JFK needed someone from the South makes sense, but one wonder's whether it would been better judgement to pick another Southern politician whom JFK had more confidence in as a prospective President.
One of the more amazing stories of the JFK era, and its aftermath, is the Nixon-Kissinger trip to China, which may be also one of the most important and brilliant foreign policy events in all of American history. Since Nixon and JFK were closely linked as opponents and as Cold Warriors involved in the Chinese-Vietnamese confict, it is a shame that Ted Soronsen did not mention it at all, or offer his own assessment.
 History at its finest. June 15, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This important book written so beautifully by Ted Sorensen should serve as a "how-to" lesson for anyone who cares about public service. The lesson seems simple.If you do not have a passion for the wellbeing of our citizens pick another profession. I was deeply moved in receiving such a first hand acoount into the great matters of our time. This should be required reading for anyone who has a concern for our institutions.
More Than Kennedy's Speechwriter June 23, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Sorenson
Ted Sorenson's autobiography is told in three parts: his early life, his years with JFK, and his post-November 1963 experiences. Within the three parts, the book deals with episodes or themes of Sorenson's life rather than a chronological, day in and day out retelling of his experiences.
Sorenson's early years are interesting, but the book really takes off when he moves to Washington, DC. His rise is quick, as within a short time of his arrival in DC he is already the confidante and a top aide to a rising star in the Senate. It is in the chapters on JFK's Senate career and presidency that most readers will be most focused. While interesting, there are not too many new insights on the major events here that cannot be found in other works on Kennedy, including Sorenson's own book, Kennedy. What was enlightening for me was the extent of Sorenson's work and relationship with Kennedy. I knew they were close and that Sorenson wrote his speeches, but had no idea that Sorenson was basically Kennedy's Chief of Staff and a top advisor on every major issue. I imagined the Kennedy/Sorenson relationship, from what I had learned, as one where JFK turned to Sorenson at the end of the day to ask his opinion, not one where Sorenson had such a formal, central role.
I also did not realize the extent of Sorenson's career after his departure from the Johnson Administration. Until picking up the book, I did not realize his extensive involvement in RFK's 1968 campaign, his own 1970 race for the Senate, or his brief nomination to be CIA Director (I was born after the Carter Administration). These sections of the book, and many others about his involvement in Democratic politics, demonstrate a continued involvement and impact that was far greater than just his years in the Kennedy White House.
The book makes me nostalgic for a time I never experienced. Intelligent, hardworking people engaging in serious issues and trying to do their jobs well and make the country better, with politics not the driving force. Perhaps it was never as good as Sorenson makes it seem, but it sure looks better than today.
Counselor is a winner June 9, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Ted Sorensen has once again written a memoir filled with insight. His has been a remarkable life, and he has been able to bring so many historical figures to life - the Kennedy brothers, LBJ, etc.
This is a do not miss read for those who remember the magic of the Kennedy years and what could have been.
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