Representations of JFK — Man & Myth Essay

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“The facts speak only when the historian calls on them.” — E H Carr, What is History?To what extent does this statement explain why historians disagree?Refer to at least ONE area of debate from your chosen area of study.Identify your case study at the beginning of your answer. Intro: Representations of Kennedy as a president, reformer, husband and war hero have all been colouredby the facts historians have chosen to give prominence to. From the glowing admiration propagatedby the Camelot school of historians to the heavy criticisms of revisionists and the so-called‘balanced’ interpretations of post-revisionists, Kennedy’s image and legacy have been altered,redefined and appropriated countless times, often to suit the current political climate. As the sourcesuggests, any representations of Kennedy are shaped by the way in which the historians haveapproached their research, and the facts they have chosen to include in order to support theirparticular perspective. As is the case in all areas of history, context, both the historian’s own and thecurrent, has been key to shaping historical interpretations and representations of Kennedy and hispresidency.