The American fascination with the myth of "Camelot" is eerily similar to the fascination the British have with their "royal family."
I actually had neighbors once who were very much like Prince Charles and Diana. The man was sort of effeminate, had big ears, was kind of goofy and wore a lot of sweaters. The woman always was fussing over her hair and wearing fancy clothes. They hired people to do their housework and yard work for them. Not that there's anything wrong with that but I got to thinking that there really wasn't much difference between them and the royal pair over in England.
I've had a few celebrity encounters in my life and they are just regular people. I saw Donald Trump in Atlantic City and said hello to him just like he was anybody else. He returned the favor. In Anaheim, California, I ran into Reggie Jackson and Jim Rice in 1984 after a pre-season ballgame. I didn't ask them for their autograph, just wished them well in their upcoming seasons and went about my regular business. Ric Ocasek of The Cars got in line behind me in a Dunkin Donuts near Kenmore Square and I didn't bother moving aside for him. I let him wait behind me while I ordered a cup of regular coffee and a blueberry muffin. I didn't bother acknowledging him even though others around me were all starstruck. He's just a guy who happens to put nonsense lyrics to bouncy tunes.
So the 50th anniversary of JFK's assassination is coming up and everybody's all a-flutter over Camelot again. I don't have any reason to dislike the guy but basically his whole life was charmed because he happened to be born to a wealthy family whose patriarch had established valuable connections with the mob, politicians and other such influential types. His antics in the PT-109 incident would have gotten a regular Joe court-martialed. If he was a regular Joe, Jacqueline Onassis would not have given him the time of day.
I don't have any reason to dislike JFK (like I do his little brother Teddy) but I'm certainly not starstruck by him. Same goes for politicians I do like. Such as Ronald Reagan. Now Reagan was a fine president so far as presidents go but he made a lot of mistakes too. I don't put Reagan on a pedestal, but I'd definitely vote for him again if I could go back in time and do my life all over again.
I believe I have heard it said before, the Kennedys were sort of like American Royalty. To an extent, I suppose I can accept JFK but most of the rest of the family became very abhorrent in their lifestyles and views. This when they probably could have had a positive impact but chose to be the flagship of extreme left-wing thought and policies.
The difference between Reagan and JFK is night and day, JFK was not real, he was created by the media, Reagan earned his two terms, and was a great and effective leader. When one looks deeply into the behind the scenes Reagan and his life, he becomes a hero, greater than all but few people know, a man that we cannot help but respect, with JFK it is the opposite, when one starts looking into the man, he becomes a disgusting figure, a man that we cannot respect.
The two are night and day.