INSCRIBED BY SENATOR EDWARD KENNEDY TO KENNEDY FAMILY FRIEND, PT-109 SURVIVOR, JFK CAMPAIGN AIDE, AND RFK'S COWORKER AT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, BARNEY ROSS, WITH KENNEDY'S PRESENTATION CARD LAID IN

KENNEDY, Edward M. Decisions for a Decade. Garden City: Doubleday, 1968. Octavo, original half black cloth, original dust jacket. $1100.

First edition, presentation copy, of Senator Kennedy's first book, inscribed by him on the half title to a Kennedy family friend, PT-109 survivor Barney Ross, who also worked with Robert Kennedy at the Attorney General's Office: "To Barney Ross—A close friend of my brother Jack who [sic] friendship the whole family value. Ted Kennedy December 1968," with Kennedy's presentation card laid in.

Senator Edward Kennedy was born into "one of the most storied families in American politics, a man who knew acclaim and tragedy in near-equal measure and who will be remembered as one of the most effective lawmakers in the history of the Senate" (New York Times). Kennedy's first book, Decisions for Decade, was written after five years of representing Massachusetts in the Senate and addresses key issues such as controlling crime ("the first duty of government"), combating racial inequalities and "the perils of overcommitment" in Asia. Although some viewed his book as prelude to a presidential campaign, Kennedy would not, in fact, seek that office until 1979. With a preface by noted diplomat George F. Kennan. With "First Edition" on copyright page. This copy is inscribed to Barney Ross, a PT-109 survivor. "Ross was a Navy Ensign in the Solomon Islands in 1943 when he asked the future President [John Kennedy] if he could ship aboard the PT 109 during a night patrol. Six hours later, the boat was cut in half by a Japanese destroyer. Ross and Kennedy spent a week on an Island with the other nine crew members. Help came when a coconut that Kennedy had craved a message on and set a float was found by other Americans. Ross went into the insurance business in Illinois after the war. In 1959, Kennedy asked him to help with his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. When Kennedy became President, he named Ross to the President's Committee on Juvenile Delinquency and Youth Crime [headquartered at the Attorney General's Office with Robert Kennedy]. Ross also draft proposals for the Peace Corps and VISTA, its domestic counterpart" (Youngstown Indicator). Ross was considered a Kennedy family friend throughout his life. Ross also wrote a tribute for This Shining Hour, a compilation of remembrances about Robert Kennedy.

Book near-fine, with only light wear and soiling to spine. Dust jacket with only minor edge-wear. A near-fine copy.