Welcome to the Words Matter Library, brought to you by Audible.

Today I want to talk to you about one of the most important books in my life.

It's a book that is shaped the way I think about the world and who I am as a professional and as a person.

Profiles and courage by John F. Kennedy.

And thanks to our friends at Audible, a version of this amazing title is now available,

narrated by Caroline Kennedy and her late brother, John F. Kennedy Jr.

Profiles and courage is the 1957 Pulitzer Prize winning collection of short biographies,

describing acts of bravery and integrity by eight United States senators.

The book profile senators who defied the opinions of their party and their constituents

to do what they felt was right and as a result suffered severe criticism and significant losses.

By way of background, I grew up in suburban New York City in the 1970s and 80s

by parents taught me the importance of history and the value of public service.

Politics in our house was seen as a noble profession.

From a very early age, President Kennedy loomed large in my world.

One of my earliest memories was a five year old.

When my maternal grandfather gave me a record of President Kennedy's greatest speeches,

courage was always the hallmark of the Kennedy legacy.

Accepting the democratic nomination for President and Los Angeles in 1960,

then Senator John F. Kennedy spoke to the delegates about the new frontier.

It would be easier to shrink from that new frontier to look to the safe mediocrity of the past

to be allowed by good intentions and high rhetoric and those who prefer that course

should not vote for me or the democratic party.

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