Why have I written this book? Because I have had the rare privilege over a period of 60 years to know JFK and his family, not just as public figures, but as fathers and mothers, husbands and wives, and brothers and sisters, I now share these experiences with my readers so they better can appreciate this extraordinary family, each and every one of whom has devoted his or her life to public service. Despite all the tragedies that have befallen the Kennedys, they always have soldiered on in behalf of their country. This book explains what the Kennedys really were like and how and why they have played such a vital role in American history.