A Nation of Immigrants
A Nation of Immigrants book cover

A Nation of Immigrants

Paperback – January 8, 2008

Price
$20.01
Format
Paperback
Pages
112
Publisher
Harper Perennial
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0061447549
Dimensions
0.5 x 5.2 x 7.9 inches
Weight
4.8 ounces

Description

“In this book, President Kennedy tells us what immigrants have done for America, and what America has done for its immigrants. It is one of the dramatic success stories of world history.... It can stand as a testament to a cause President Kennedy cherished, and which we should carry on.” (Robert F. Kennedy)“In this timeless book, President Kennedy shows how the United States has always been enriched by the steady flow of men, women and families to our shores. It is a reminder that America’s best leaders have embraced, not feared, the diversity which makes America great.” ( Former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright )xa0“An enduring reminder of where we – the United States of America – come from. We must remain mindful that there is much more that unites us than divides us…. John F. Kennedy’s legacies are many but let A Nation of Immigrants always remind us of our shared dreams, goals, and destiny as a nation.” ( U.S. Senator Marco Rubio )“Reading A Nation of Immigrants should invigorate us all as we fight the forces of fear and hatred that seek to end all immigration to this country.” ( Senator Mazie K. Hirono )“President Kennedy in his timeless book on immigration, reminds us of the fact that we are a nation of immigrants… The words are more relevant and important today than when it was published.” ( U.S. Senator Mel Martínez (FL Retired) )“The United States has benefited incalculably from the diverse perspectives and enterprising spirit of immigrants and refugees, contributing to the innovative, pluralistic culture that distinguishes America. President Kennedy related this greatness in a timeless essay that serves as a worthy reminder for our times.” ( Daniel Lubetzky, Founder & CEO of KIND Healthy Snacks )“Written in 1958, A Nation of Immigrants is every bit as relevant today as it was when written 60 years ago.” ( Mark Hetfield, President & CEO, HIAS (Founded in 1881 as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) )“Sixty years later, President Kennedy’s “A Nation of Immigrants” remains one of the purest descriptions of the promise of America. Rarely has a message been more timeless and more timely.” ( Ali Noorani, Executive Director, National Immigration Forum )“Kennedy’s eloquent account of the contributions and sacrifices made by legions of prior immigrants to build and nurture this great nation is a potent — and timely — reminder that there is strength in difference and power in diversity.” ( Joichi Ito, director of the MIT Media Lab )“This book should be read by every politician involved in the immigration debate, and by every citizen interested in the current immigration debate--which means it should be read by every American.” ( OnTheIssues.org ) Throughout his presidency, John F. Kennedy was passionate about the issue of immigration reform. He believed that America is a nation of people who value both tradition and the exploration of new frontiers, people who deserve the freedom to build better lives for themselves in their adopted homeland. This modern edition of his posthumously published, timeless work—with a new introduction by Senator Edward M. Kennedy and a foreword by Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League—offers the late president's inspiring suggestions for immigration policy and presents a chronology of the main events in the history of immigration in America. As continued debates on immigration engulf the nation, this paean to the importance of immigrants to our nation's prominence and success is as timely as ever. John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) was president of the United States from 1961 to 1963. At forty-three, he was the youngest man ever elected to the Oval Office and the first Roman Catholic president. Read more

Features & Highlights

  • President John F. Kennedy’s final book,
  • A Nation of Immigrants
  • , is a most worthy and relevant contribution to the contemporary debate on immigration reform.
  • “This book should be read by every politician involved in the immigration debate, and by every citizen interested in the current immigration debate…”  (OnTheIssues.org)
  • Throughout his presidency, John F. Kennedy was passionate about the issue of immigration reform. He believed that America is a nation of people who value both tradition and the exploration of new frontiers, people who deserve the freedom to build better lives for themselves in their adopted homeland. This modern edition of his posthumously published, timeless work—with an introduction by Senator Edward M. Kennedy and a foreword by Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League—offers the late president's inspiring suggestions for immigration policy and presents a chronology of the main events in the history of immigration in America.
  • As debates on immigration continue to engulf the nation, this tribute to the importance of immigrants to our nation's prominence and success is as timely as ever.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(298)
★★★★
25%
(124)
★★★
15%
(74)
★★
7%
(35)
-7%
(-35)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Kennedy on immigration and our Identity as a Nation...

This is the first review I have written of a book purchased on Amazon, and I have bought a many number of books. The reason I felt compelled to write is because, though some of his numbers are out of date, the themes, subject, and his pragmatic arguments are timeless. I found myself reading and smiling with disbelief with how relevant this whole book is and how beautifully entwined he mixes history with compassion and historical backing. When I read it I was impressed with how never ending and cyclical the immigration debate really is. The only thing that seems to change is what nationality or group is coming here and how people react to them. I highly recommend any and all people interested in this subject to read this book, which shouldn't take more than a few hours. I admire Kennedy a great deal and am grateful I bought and read this small treasure. While I was reading it I often found myself imagining and wishing he were across from me, coffee in hand, to discuss todays problems and his views on how to solve them.
74 people found this helpful
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JFK's claim that it was just racism that produced an immigration policy that favored western and northern Europe is stupid. It j

On page 45 its says that immigration before 1965 favored western and northern Europe. According to JFK this was just racist.
The fact is western and northern Europe is were physics, chemistry, and calculus was developed. It is where internal combustion engines, diesel engines, turbine engines and jet engines were invented. Motorcycles, cars, trains, helicopters, jet airplanes, and the rocket technology that put the first American in space and sent an American to the moon were all developed in western Europe. Electromagnetism was discovered in northern Europe which led to the invention of motors, generators and transformer the development of electricity in western Europe. The electron was discovered in western Europe and the first electronic devices were invented there. The first mechanical refrigeration experiment was done in western Europe. The inventor of the telephone was from western Europe
Electromagnetic waves were discovered in western Europe and wireless communications was invented there. Xray, EKG, blood,
pressure meters were invented in western Europe. The first microscope with enough magnification to see blood cells and bacteria was developed in northern Europe. The first programmable digital computer computers were invented in western
Europe. About half of the worlds Nobel prize winners are from western and northern Europe and about a third of the Global Fortune
500 companies are located there. Semiconductors were first discovered in western Europe and the materials such as Silicon
were all discovered in western and northern Europe. The scientific discoveries, inventions from western and northern Europe
have produced tens of trillions of dollars of growth to worlds economy since the beginning of the industrial revolution.
This can't be said for any other place in the world.
The Telecommunications and Electric utility have grown from nothing a century ago to global industries with combined revenue
of about 5 trillion dollars.
JFK's claim that it was just racism that produced an immigration policy that favored western and northern Europe is stupid.
It just seems like race baiting and I don't think much of this book.
21 people found this helpful
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A very well written, concise history of immigration to ...

A very well written, concise history of immigration to the United States. This book should be on everybody's must read list. Readers will gain an understanding not only of the history of immigration but the challenges that immigrants faced once arriving at their new home.
13 people found this helpful
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Five Stars

Always a good read, no matter how many years have passed since it was released. Highly recommend to everyone.
7 people found this helpful
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Educational and Well Written

I learned alot about how America was developed and who came here first and what we adapted from them ini which we still use today. Stuff I never learned in History classes at scool which kinda suprised me. Very educational and as well informable on How President Kennedy looked on the issue. A great book to add to a collection.
5 people found this helpful
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Very enlightening and right about all of us being immigrants ...

Very enlightening and right about all of us being immigrants and all of the contributions that have been made to this nation by all immigrants. This nation does not belong to any race more than another (except that it should be Native Americans)
4 people found this helpful
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Short but well written

Only 60 pages. Although well written.
4 people found this helpful
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Five Stars

Anyone voting in this year's election should read this book.
3 people found this helpful
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A classic for our time

A Nation of Immigrants is a classsic by Kennedy. It outlines how our country was built by various ethnic immigrant groups. The book should be a must read for our Congressional leaders who are considering immigration reform. They could learn a great deal from this modern day classic.
3 people found this helpful
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My Nation of Immigrants

This is another required reading for me to complete my graduate degree in organizational leadership. It was extremely thought provoking and insightful. President Kennedy wrote in a captivating style and maintained your interest. I high recommend it for understanding cultural diversity in the workplace.
3 people found this helpful