An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy, 1917–1963 is a biography of the 35th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy (JFK), who was assassinated in 1963. It was written by Robert Dallek, a professor at Boston University. Robert Dallek researched JFK for five years by tapping National Security Archives, oral histories, White House tapes, and medical records so that he could write this.[1] Dallek contends that historians have under-estimated JFK's achievements especially with foreign policy.[1]
JFK was part of a prominent Boston family. The death of JFK's older brother during World War II eventually paved the way for his political career. His father was involved in his political career such as helping him become senator. In the mid-1950s, after defeating Henry Cabot Lodge and leaving the United States Congress to be a senator, he was closer to becoming president.[2] JFK had medical problems and he used drugs to control them such as antispasmodics and antibiotics. He also used painkillers for his back and drugs to treat Addison's disease.[1] He sometimes took up to eight medications a day. A committee of three Kennedy associates refused to give people his medical records for decades, but they decided to give it to Robert Dallek. The book does not have a complete record of his medical history.[3]
The Independent in its assessment has stated that earlier volumes were unimpressive.[4] Many of the books written since JFK's assassination were written to debunk him especially for his womanizing.[1] There are also books that include hagiography, vendetta, gossip, acuity, sympathy and scholarly detachment.
A Book Reporter review says that this book should be considered the finest biography about John F. Kennedy.[2] A review in The Independent says, "One recalls a Thomas Jefferson letter to John Adams in 1813, agreeing "that there is a natural aristocracy among men. The grounds of this are virtue and talents.... There is also an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents." This book, in my view, puts John Kennedy somewhere in between."[4]