Fulfills the standard: "Individuals, Groups, and Institutions" from the National Council for the Social Studies Curriculum Standards for High SchoolFulfills the standards: "Historical Comprehension," "Historical Research Capabilities," and "Historical Issues-Analysis and Decision Making" from the National History Education Standards for United States History, Grades 5-12.

Chapter 1: The major influences on John F. Kennedy's development: The Fitzgerald and Kennedy traditions.The Fitzgerald influence: Charm, energy, and hard work / Gail Cameron -- Toughness propels the Kennedys' survival and success / Richard J. Whalen -- The influence of Joseph Kennedy, the President's father / James MacGregor Burns -- Chapter 2: The Kennedy style of politics. The Nixon-Kennedy debate / Christopher Matthews -- The new frontier / Arthur Schlesinger Jr. -- Kennedy: Master of the art of power / Gore Vidal -- Chapter 3: Kennedy's domestic agenda. The President versus the steel industry / Irving Bernstein -- Kennedy's failure to work for civil rights / Henry Fairlie -- Kennedy's civil rights legislation becomes law / Allen J. Matusow -- Chapter 4: Kennedy and foreign policy. The Bay of Pigs disaster / Thomas G. Paterson -- The Peace Corps / Charles Lam Markmann and Mark Sherwin -- The alliance for progress / Bruce Miroff -- Chapter 5: Confronting Khrushchev and waging the Cold War. The Kennedy-Khrushchev meeting in Vienna / Kenneth P. O'Donnell and David F. Powers with Joe McCarthy -- The Berlin crisis / Theodore C. Sorensen -- An overview of the Cuban missile crisis / Raymond L. Garthoff -- The Russian view of the Cuban missile crisis, and Kennedy's response / Nikita Khrushchev and John F. Kennedy -- Chapter 6: Assessing John F. Kennedy. An assessment of Kennedy's policies and programs / William G. Carleton -- An assessment of Kennedy's character / Thomas C. Reeves -- Kennedy's liberal legacy / David Burner.