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Henry Kissinger

JFK on the morning of his assassination.

We know from declassified JFK files that there may have been some credence to rumors that RFK had made a deal with FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover to target Dr. King in exchange for burying some damaging information about the president, which may have included his affair with Marilyn Monroe.

Interesting trivia that I've learned in this book regarding John Tyler:

--He was the first president to take office after the former president died
--He was the first president to be born in the new United States.
--He was the first president to become a widower
--He was the president with the most children
--He hated Great Britain so much that he refused to see Niagra Falls from the Canadian side, despite it having a better view.

If anybody really wanted to shoot the president of the United States it was not a very difficult job-- all one had to do is get a high building someday with a telescopic rifle, and there was nothing anyone could do to defend against such an attempt.
-- John F. Kennedy to an aide on the morning of his assassination

This book was fascinating. I never really thought before about the function of a Vice President and what he (so far) would have to do to get up to speed when a president suddenly leaves office. #NFNov

#TIL about the sheer amount of advice Vice Presidents get when Presidents die in office. Everyone suddenly thinks they can speak for the former Presidents and wants to tell the new guy what he should do. #NFNov

Pictured is a bust if FDR from the D Day memorial in Bedford, VA. We visited yesterday and I highly recommend it if you‘re ever near by.

#TIL about an attempt to shoot FDR just before he took office that was stopped by a 100 pound lady. Why isn‘t that a movie or something? Nice work lady. #NFNov

My TBR for #24b4Monday readathon this weekend is this stack plus the tagged audiobook. I have one kid away camping and another who is really in need of a pajama day, so I‘m hoping for a productive weekend in my reading world.

We learned so much about the eight Vice Presidents who became President upon the death of the President. The author explained so many scenarios surrounding the circumstances of each. The chapter “Near Misses” was enlightening also.

Goes to show that picking the right vice-president is just as important as the right president. Some were great successes and went on to be elected presidents in their own right, Teddy Roosevelt & Harry S. Truman, while others were utter disasters that nearly ruined the nation. 4 💥💥💥💥 out of 5

This happened 95 years ago during the Warren G. Harding admin, but damn doesn't it sound like something you'd reading today about Donald Trump??

#whatgoesaround #onlythenameschange

1. Tagged, plus Doctor Who: The Also People by Ben Aaronovitch
2. "According to the old women there had once been a Leopard that fell into a trap." - DW: The Also People
3. The Screwtape Letters

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

Book that chronicles the 8 VPs that succeeded 8 presidents who died in office was really interesting. Part biography, part policy, part history of the US, it didn‘t restore my faith in humanity, but it made me appreciate the progressive and competent presidents. Scandals abound, egos and game playing are explained, and historical gems are readable. Interesting book!