CC@H Guest Speaker: Jeff Shesol on John Glenn, John Kennedy, & the New Battleground of the Cold War
At the height of the Cold War, John F. Kennedy saw the race to explore outer space as a race for survival—a race that America was losing. The Soviets seemed unstoppable in space. As historian Jeff Shesol described, drawing on his new book, “Mercury Rising,” when John Glenn blasted off aboard Friendship 7, on February 20, 1962, he carried America’s hopes into orbit—into a new and perilous Cold War battleground. Glenn’s historic flight did not, in itself, win the space race, but it did shift the momentum. It put the United States on the path to the moon. In addition to writing history books, Jeff Shesol formerly served as one of President Bill Clinton's speechwriters. Part of Chevy Chase At Home's Guest Speaker Series.
At the height of the Cold War, John F. Kennedy saw the race to explore outer space as a race for survival—a race that America was losing. The Soviets seemed unstoppable in space. As historian Jeff Shesol described, drawing on his new book, “Mercury Rising,” when John Glenn blasted off aboard Friendship 7, on February 20, 1962, he carried America’s hopes into orbit—into a new and perilous Cold War battleground. Glenn’s historic flight did not, in itself, win the space race, but it did shift the momentum. It put the United States on the path to the moon. In addition to writing history books, Jeff Shesol formerly served as one of President Bill Clinton's speechwriters. Part of Chevy Chase At Home's Guest Speaker Series.