In the early years of his presidency, John F. Kennedy tried to steer clear of the increasingly explosive struggle for legal equality for black Americans.
As Nick Bryant explains in his terrific book, "The Bystander": "At the time of his presidential victory, Kennedy had a unique opportunity to secure a peaceful transition toward a more integrated and equitable society. Instead, Kennedy stood aside.
"... (U)p until the Birmingham riot in 1963, when the crisis ...
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