Rather than castigating the popular appeasement policy that the British government then pursued, it is notable for taking the uncommon stance that if Great Britain had confronted Nazi Germany earlier it would have been far more disastrous for her than the delay caused by the appeasement policies of Chamberlain and other British leaders.
Influential publishing magnate Henry Luce wrote the foreword
The book was originally intended to be no more than a college thesis. It was rated magna cum laude by Professor Henry A. Yeomans and cum laude plus by Professor Carl J. Friedrich.[2] However, Kennedy's father, Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., keen to elevate his son's reputation, encouraged Kennedy to convert the thesis into book form and publish it. He then enlisted the highly influential publishing magnate Henry Luce to write the foreword,[3] and his friend Arthur Krock, former bureau chief of The New York Times, to assist in redrafting the thesis, which had originally been titled "Appeasement At Munich."[4]
The historian Garry Wills claimed that the assistance amounted to rewriting and retitling the manuscript and finding an agent for its publication.[5] As United States ambassador to the United Kingdom, Kennedy, Sr. supported British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's policy of appeasement during the late 1930s. His stance furthering appeasement would eventually cause Kennedy Sr.'s removal as English ambassador, and prove disastrous for his future political aspirations. By contrast, John F. Kennedy broke with his father's support for appeasement, and was moved when he witnessed firsthand the Luftwaffe's bombings of Britain.
Reception
After it was published in 1940, the book sold 80,000 copies in the United Kingdom and the United States and collected $40,000 in royalties for Kennedy. Income from the British sales were donated to Plymouth, a British city that had recently been bombed by the Luftwaffe. Kennedy bought a Buickconvertible with the income from the book's North American sales.[3]
Joseph Kennedy had initially approached Harold Laski to write the book's foreword, but Laski declined since he felt that it was "the book of an immature mind; that if it hadn't been written by the son of a very rich man, he wouldn't have found a publisher."[6]
Analysis
The book addressed Kennedy's belief in the need for objective and detached calculation in foreign policy decisions. Kennedy historian and foreign relations professor Fredrik Logevall believed the book demonstrates JFK's "commitment to an unsentimental realism in international affairs". Kennedy is telling future policy makers that "foreign threats cannot be dealt with by ignoring them or wishing them away... they must be confronted by clearheaded and informed calculation".[7]
References
^"Typescript". Jfklibrary.org. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
^Raymont, Henry (1971-08-03). "Kennedy Data: Years at Harvard". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-07-04.
^ abO'Brien, Michael (2005). John F. Kennedy: A Biography. Macmillan. pp. 106–109. ISBN978-0-312-28129-8.
^Alterman, Eric (February 14, 2013). "The journalist and the politician". Columbia Journalism Review.
^Wills, Garry (2002). The Kennedy imprisonment: A meditation on power. Boston: Mariner. p. 131. ISBN9780618134434.
^Raymont, Henry (August 20, 1970). "Recordings reveal JFK's lively debate with publisher". Eugene Register-Guard. Eugene, Oregon. New York Times News Service. p. 9A. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
^Kennedy believed objectivism should always be used in foreign policy, in Logevall, Fredrik, JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-1956 (2020) New York, Random House, pg. 254.
External links
Why England Slept New York: W. Funk, 1940
May 09, 2023
england, slept, 1940, published, version, thesis, written, john, kennedy, senior, year, harvard, college, title, allusion, winston, churchill, 1938, book, while, england, slept, which, also, examined, buildup, german, power, kennedy, book, examines, failures, . Why England Slept 1940 is the published version of a thesis written by John F Kennedy in his senior year at Harvard College Its title is an allusion to Winston Churchill s 1938 book While England Slept which also examined the buildup of German power 1 Kennedy s book examines the failures of the British government to take steps to prevent World War II and its initial lack of response to Adolf Hitler s threats of war Why England SleptFirst editionAuthorJohn F KennedySubjectBuildup of Nazi German power and appeasement of Nazi Germany by the United KingdomGenreThesisPublisherWilfred FunkPublication date1940Followed byProfiles in Courage Rather than castigating the popular appeasement policy that the British government then pursued it is notable for taking the uncommon stance that if Great Britain had confronted Nazi Germany earlier it would have been far more disastrous for her than the delay caused by the appeasement policies of Chamberlain and other British leaders Contents 1 Publication 2 Reception 3 Analysis 4 References 5 External linksPublication Edit Influential publishing magnate Henry Luce wrote the foreword The book was originally intended to be no more than a college thesis It was rated magna cum laude by Professor Henry A Yeomans and cum laude plus by Professor Carl J Friedrich 2 However Kennedy s father Joseph P Kennedy Sr keen to elevate his son s reputation encouraged Kennedy to convert the thesis into book form and publish it He then enlisted the highly influential publishing magnate Henry Luce to write the foreword 3 and his friend Arthur Krock former bureau chief of The New York Times to assist in redrafting the thesis which had originally been titled Appeasement At Munich 4 The historian Garry Wills claimed that the assistance amounted to rewriting and retitling the manuscript and finding an agent for its publication 5 As United States ambassador to the United Kingdom Kennedy Sr supported British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain s policy of appeasement during the late 1930s His stance furthering appeasement would eventually cause Kennedy Sr s removal as English ambassador and prove disastrous for his future political aspirations By contrast John F Kennedy broke with his father s support for appeasement and was moved when he witnessed firsthand the Luftwaffe s bombings of Britain Reception EditAfter it was published in 1940 the book sold 80 000 copies in the United Kingdom and the United States and collected 40 000 in royalties for Kennedy Income from the British sales were donated to Plymouth a British city that had recently been bombed by the Luftwaffe Kennedy bought a Buick convertible with the income from the book s North American sales 3 Joseph Kennedy had initially approached Harold Laski to write the book s foreword but Laski declined since he felt that it was the book of an immature mind that if it hadn t been written by the son of a very rich man he wouldn t have found a publisher 6 Analysis EditThe book addressed Kennedy s belief in the need for objective and detached calculation in foreign policy decisions Kennedy historian and foreign relations professor Fredrik Logevall believed the book demonstrates JFK s commitment to an unsentimental realism in international affairs Kennedy is telling future policy makers that foreign threats cannot be dealt with by ignoring them or wishing them away they must be confronted by clearheaded and informed calculation 7 References Edit Typescript Jfklibrary org Retrieved 28 December 2014 Raymont Henry 1971 08 03 Kennedy Data Years at Harvard The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2020 07 04 a b O Brien Michael 2005 John F Kennedy A Biography Macmillan pp 106 109 ISBN 978 0 312 28129 8 Alterman Eric February 14 2013 The journalist and the politician Columbia Journalism Review Wills Garry 2002 The Kennedy imprisonment A meditation on power Boston Mariner p 131 ISBN 9780618134434 Raymont Henry August 20 1970 Recordings reveal JFK s lively debate with publisher Eugene Register Guard Eugene Oregon New York Times News Service p 9A Retrieved April 7 2015 Kennedy believed objectivism should always be used in foreign policy in Logevall Fredrik JFK Coming of Age in the American Century 1917 1956 2020 New York Random House pg 254 External links EditWhy England Slept New York W Funk 1940 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Why England Slept amp oldid 1115849636, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
