With its Cold War enemies led by dictators who promoted the myth of their heroic leadership, how might democratic America respond? This study looks at how John F. Kennedy confronted this challenge, moulding the narratives of consensus history into the activist rhetoric of the New Frontier. It examines how his image, heroic style of leadership, and legacy - America’s war in Vietnam - impacted upon his successors. From Kennedy’s inauguration to Clinton’s impeachment, the book explores the development of the character of the contemporary presidency during one of the most fascinating and turbulent periods in its history.