John F. Kennedy and the Race to the Moon

by Logsdon, John M.

• ISBN13: 9780230110106
• ISBN10: 023011010X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-12-15
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Summary

While there are many biographies of John F. Kennedy and numerous accounts of the early years of US space efforts, there has to date been no comprehensive account of how the actions taken by JFK's administration have shaped the course of the US space program over the last 45 years. This book, based on primary source material and interviews with key participants, is such an account. It tells the story of how JFK, only four months in office, decided that the US national interest required the country to enter and win the space race by reaching the moon "before this decade is out." It traces the evolution of his thinking and policy up until his assassination, which brought to an end his plans to moderate the space program's goals and explore collaboration with the Soviets.

Author Biography

John Logsdon is Professor Emeritus of Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, and until his retirement was the long-time director of GWU’s Space Policy Institute. Author of the seminal study The Decision to Go to the Moon (1970) and the main article for “space exploration” in the newest edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, he is a sought-after commentator on space issues who has appeared on all major broadcast and cable networks, along with many international news shows. He was a member of the NASA Advisory Council from 2005-2009 and remains a member of its Exploration Committee. From 2008-2009 he held the Charles A. Lindbergh Chair in Aerospace History at the National Air and Space Museum. In 2003 he served as a member of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
Prologue "We Should Go to the Moon"	p. 1
Before the White House	p. 5
Making the Transition	p. 15
Getting Started	p. 37
First Decisions	p. 55
"There's Nothing More Important"	p. 69
Space Plans Reviewed	p. 83
"A Great New American Enterprise"	p. 99
First Steps on the Way to the Moon	p. 119
"I Am Not That Interested in Space"	p. 143
Early Attempts at Space Cooperation	p. 159
To the Moon Together: Pursuit of an Illusion?	p. 175
Apollo under Pressure	p. 197
Were Changes in the Wind?	p. 213
John F. Kennedy and the Race to the Moon	p. 223
Notes	p. 245
Selected Bibliography	p. 281
Index	p. 285
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