Book Discussion Guide

Kennedy’s Last Days by Bill O'Reilly

Kennedy’s Last Days

“My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country.” This challenge was spoken by one of America’s most honored and loved presidents, John F. Kennedy. This book is about this president beginning with his life as an officer in the US Navy to his assassination. A very interesting and helpful aspect of this biography is that O’Reilly includes many photos, charts, and lists. Every page draws your attention. Information about the culture of Kennedy’s time is also included and your family will enjoy exploring this aspect of the US as you read this fascinating book together.

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Questions To Talk About
While Reading

Vocabulary

It's important to make sure that your child has an understanding of key words in the book. Talking about words while reading is a great way for your child to learn new words.

In this book, you might talk about these words:

  • refined (pg. 3)
  • defector (pg. 11)
  • politician (pg. 33)
  • turbulent (pg. 51)
  • freedom rider (pg. 52)
  • humiliation (pg. 65)
  • menagerie (pg. 79)
  • crisis (pg. 81)
  • escalates (pg. 87)
  • gauntlet (pg. 91)
  • posterity (pg. 237)

Key Ideas and Themes

In addition to words, it's important to talk about key ideas and themes and how they develop over the course of the book.

Here are some examples to get you started:

  • 1

    In the epilogue O’Reilly talks about his own heroes (pages 256-259), and how his ideas changed over time. He includes a quote from the president’s brother (page 259) that helps to define what made JFK special. Read this quote and talk about what it means and how it relates to JFK. Is he a hero? Based on what you read why would/wouldn’t you call him a hero? How would you define a hero? Who are your heroes? Do all of your family members have the same heroes? What influences your ideas of heroes?

  • 2

    JFK had a daily routine that started his day when he became president. (Pages 47 -50) Some of it depended on his personal physical problems. How did daily adversity affect the president? How important was family life to Kennedy? What aspects of his personality, values, up bringing make him the great leader that he was? What is his relationship with Bobbie Kennedy? How does Bobbie influence JFK?

  • 3

    Jackie Kennedy was also an exceptional person. How does public opinion compare with Jackie’s personal opinion of herself? (Pages 55-56) What specific influences from Jackie can be seen in the White House? In the country?

  • 4

    What is The Bay of Pigs? (Pages 59-65) What was the purpose of the invasion? Why didn’t the US just invade Cuba on its own? What are some of the reasons why the invasion failed? What happened to JFK’s rating with the public after the invasion’s failure? Do you think we have a responsibility to get involved with the politics of other countries? Think about the US relationship with Cuba since then. What role has President Obama played in this relationship?

  • 5

    Trace the events leading up to the assassination of JFK that parallel both Oswald and Kennedy. What was Oswald’s motivation for his actions? (Page 169) How did the American public react to the assassination? How did they learn of it? As parents, do you remember hearing family or neighbors talk about it? What did they say?

  • 6

    Compare the lives of JFK and Oswald. Do you feel any compassion for either person? Why or why not? How did the events and people, both positive and negative, in the lives of these two men, influence their values and behavior?

  • 7

    There are both similarities and differences in the worlds of then and now. What are they (surveillance, secret service, culture, security, attitudes, communication, media, and many more)? Do you think that an assassination of a president could happen today?

Extra Activities

  • 1

    Jackie Kennedy was an icon in the fashion world her whole life. (Pages 54-55) Do some research about fashion and how it has evolved. What influence have other first ladies had in fashion? Go to the National Museum of American History in Washington DC and look at all the inaugural gowns of the first ladies. Which one did you prefer? Create some of your designs for the First Ladies.

  • 2

    Oswald was close to his wife, Marina. She is beautiful and talented. Make a chart that compares Jackie Kennedy and Marina Oswald. Compare things like education, upbringing, roles, and personality. Look in the index of the book for specifics and use them as the basis for further investigation.

  • 3

    Many people think that there are many similarities between the assassinations of President Kennedy and President Lincoln. Do some research and decide for yourself. Making a chart might help. Don’t forget to compare the role of civil rights in both.

  • 4

    Interview some family and friends to find out what they remember about the assassination of President Kennedy.