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Learner Reviews & Feedback for The Kennedy Half Century by University of Virginia

4.6
stars
489 ratings

About the Course

When John F. Kennedy entered the presidential limousine at Love Field in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963, he began his ride into history. That journey continues even today and we call it the Kennedy legacy. This course will explore the Presidency, assassination, and lasting legacy of President John F. Kennedy. Students will learn how JFK’s life, administration, and tragic death have influenced the general public, the media, and each of the nine U.S. presidents who followed. Understanding the Kennedy legacy and being able to identify elements of his legacy within the context of modern politics helps understand many of the vexing problems that developed over the last half century as well as many of the challenges that confront us today. November 22, 1963 was so powerful a moment that in the fifty years since the assassination, every U.S. President that followed JFK has used Kennedy’s words and actions in an effort to craft their own political image. Why does Kennedy’s influence persist, and will it continue? What are the effects? We’ll address these questions and more as we explore The Kennedy Half Century. Follow on Twitter: @JFKclass....

Top reviews

JN

Jul 4, 2017

Larry Sabato is a true genius in political thought. Great realizing that he is fascinated by John Kennedy as I am. There was technical difficulty in Coursera realizing that I had finished the course.

KB

Oct 21, 2015

I really loved this class! Professor Sabato taught this class so eloquently and so well. I have studied the JFK Presidency and Assassination for years, and I loved learning more from this course.

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126 - 143 of 143 Reviews for The Kennedy Half Century

By salamades

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Aug 22, 2016

A nice course about Kennedy. I didn't know much about him and this course make me able a little more to understand his qualities and his drawbacks.

By Robert D

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Aug 22, 2020

Excellent and thorough detail from beginning to end. Would have given 5 if not for the constant sales 'plugs' for the book.

By Valentina B

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Jan 24, 2016

History made easy, helps understanding a lot of the things going on now in the scenario of politics in America

By Tom D

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Jun 14, 2019

No other students took the course with me, so there was no interaction with students o professor.

By Mark D

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May 10, 2023

Good concise treatment of President Kennedy's life and aftermath along with his legacy.

By Andy M

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Jun 29, 2023

one of the best subjects by far. good instructor .very professional.

By Maria K

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Jan 3, 2018

It was interesting to learn about the influence of Kennedy.

By Joan E F

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Aug 31, 2015

E

By Vicky

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Oct 31, 2017

Professor Sabato explains everything in a really nice manner, slowly enough to not get confused and fast enough to not get bored. The course in itself is well organised and the material provided (videos, photos, recordings etc) is a "nice touch". I am really glad I followed the course and I would recommend it to anyone, since the topic is important not just for humanities students. Also the workload is so little that allows even the busiest of you to follow it, I promise! I had fun and I cannot wait to buy the book. Thank you!

By Ashley S

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Oct 24, 2022

I really wish he didn't flog his book so much, and looked into why the Kennedy mystique was/is so powerful. He makes a lot of assumptions -- that it really was just that they were stylish and he was assasinated as the basis of his place in history, but I am not sure that's the full story. I do think it was balanced and informative, could have been shorter -- it was a stretch to include some material from latter presidents, and it was a shame to include no outside material.

By Hugh G

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May 16, 2018

The course spent too much time on the details of the assassination; the discussion of the following half century was weak, with a peculiar emphasis on tax cuts and military action -- did terrorism 'restore purpose' to America's foreign policy? The frequent exhortations to consult the professor's book for important details were particularly vexing.

By Gary B

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Jul 9, 2020

I would rate it only 2.5 stars.

This started out as an interesting course on Kennedy during weeks 1 & 2 but then turned into a glorified infomercial on the book written by the instructor.

By Jim C

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Oct 15, 2017

I wish there was more about his life and career, less on following presidents. Half the course focused on the assassination, which is misleading

By Donald B

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May 22, 2020

None of the videos would download.

By kjj2015109044

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Nov 26, 2015

g

By Hanno H

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Jan 31, 2020

Why pay for a course, when every video has the lecturer displaying his book, telling you to "go check out the book", suggest and recommend you "get the app" and over and over again state that "this course cannot go into the details, but go buy the book". Which book you ask? The one with the same title as the course, written by the lecturer.

The course is well done, and fun to listen to, but the constant pushing of the book is kinda ruining it for me. I got so annoyed that I stopped half way through.

By Marin V

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Nov 15, 2020

I enjoyed it at first but then there was too much about professor`s book in which I had actually been interested at first. Sometimes almost nothing was said about the subject - not enough time here, read the book. Instead of this course I recommend a book about two Kennedy brothers by David Talbot.

By Paul J L

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Aug 30, 2015

Between the book plugs,and the seemingly partisan descriptions of later Presidents,the course goes from a factual overview,to a meandering book pitch