Kennedy and King

The President, the Pastor, and the Battle over Civil Rights

By: Steven Levingston

Narrated by: Dan Woren

A New York Times Editors' Choice Pick

"Kennedy and King is an unqualified masterpiece of historical narrative . . . A landmark achievement." -- Douglas Brinkley, New York Times bestselling author of Rosa Parks

Kennedy and King traces the emergence of two of the twentieth century's greatest leaders, their powerful impact on each other and on the shape of the civil rights battle between 1960 and 1963. These two men from starkly different worlds profoundly influenced each other's personal development. Kennedy's hesitation on civil rights spurred King to greater acts of courage, and King inspired Kennedy to finally make a moral commitment to equality. As America still grapples with the legacy of slavery and the persistence of discrimination, Kennedy and King is a vital, vivid contribution to the literature of the Civil Rights Movement.

Critic reviews

"Comparing and contrasting disparate historical figures can easily be artificial, misleading, even gimmicky. Steven Levingston, however, has walked this tightrope magnificently. In his important new book, Kennedy and King, the rest of us get an unusual chance to study each leader in part through the other over a tumultuous, pivotal eight-year period. As is always the case with major contributions to our understanding, Levingston's is grounded in diligent research and detail.... Levingston's account of Birmingham, which chronicles the city's impact on each protagonist, is simply riveting. He is especially illuminating in following Kennedy's final steps when his attorney general brother nudged him to become 'the nation's first civil rights President.'"—Thomas Oliphant, The Washington Post

"Kennedy and King tells the story of two brilliant leaders who injected new meaning into the veins of American society. Together, their influence created a moral imperative that changed the U.S. and the world. Levingston's book is both historical and visionary. By reminding us of these great leaders and their accomplishments, this book will fuel your passion for the new work we still need to do in our society today."—Congressman John Lewis (D-GA)

"In this fascinating and timely book, Steven Levingston examines how these two young leaders in the early 1960s were being tested on the national scene--and testing each other. Despite their disparate backgrounds and personal styles, they came together to make history. Anyone who wants to understand America, the Civil Rights Movement, and the nature of leadership should read this book."—Walter Isaacson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Steve Jobs and The Innovators

"Steven Levingston's Kennedy and King is an unqualified masterpiece of historical narrative. Every page sparkles with literary verve, eloquent storytelling, and keen analytic judgment. It might be the best dual biography I've ever read. A landmark achievement which elevates civil rights history into a high art form."—Douglas Brinkley, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Rosa Parks and The Reagan Diaries

"A riveting episode in American history."—Booklist (starred review)

"As the moral courage of Martin Luther King Jr. came up against the political instincts of President John F. Kennedy--with both men trying to save their nation--a new history was set in motion. It's all brought to fascinating light in Steven Levingston's righteous book."—Wil Haygood, New York Times bestselling author of Showdown: Thurgood Marshall and the Supreme Court Nomination that Changed America

Important American History

Enjoyed Very Much! Remarkable And Terrible Time In The United States.


True and Important History!

A captivating "listen"

I have read many books on the Civil Rights Movement of the 60's, and have traveled to Alabama to see where "history happened." This story however, by focusing on the two primary characters presents a very different spin on how change actually happened. Throughout this book, you see how JFK morphed from a politician looking for votes to a man of principle...and how RFK was actually one of the true heroes of this era. The narrator was spectacular, changing accents to reflect the different characters. This is truly one of those audio books where every thing just comes alive.

Kennedy and King in Context

This book strips away the noise, the reverence, and the mythological cloaks. It shows the relationship between Kennedy and King as it really was. Excellent history. The audio was BRILLIANT!

Voices Too Much

The reader Dan Woren does dramatic impersonations for King, Kennedy and other historical figures in the book which can get grating at times. Woren's impersonations of female voices were especially silly. The text could be repetitive. Number of times King was described as "the civil rights leader" was very high.
On the good side, the interactions between King and Kennedy were fascinating but not terribly numerous so a lot of background was required. As someone who has read a Kennedy bio there was new information to digest.
If you can stand the impersonations this is a good book for you. If not you should give it a pass.

Great Book!

I've only recently gotten into audio books. Over the past 2.5 years, I have listened to about 30 audio books. This by far, was the best performance in the reading of a book. I loved the different voices used for each major character. It being a well written story helps in providing the reader with such a great book to read.