This is an interesting short book by JFK (or his writers; I’m not sure how much of this he wrote) which uses cherry picked history to try to justify the upcoming 1965 INA (written before it was law, but definitely from the same pool of thoughts which became the law). Basically, the magic dirt argument. Not the best form of the argument, but worth reading to understand how things had been misrepresented (that massive changes in immigration policy would have no substantial effects). ( )

A potted history of little depth but with relevant information for anyone interested in the 2016, sound bite, election coverage that our estimable mainstream media thinks is all we are entitled to receive through them on this subject. More reading is indicated and there is a useful bibliography included. The photographs included are telling as are the quotes Mr. Kennedy included, this 1834 one in particular: "If you wish to see our whole family living in ..... a country where freedom of speech obtains, where no spies are eavesdropping, where no simpletons criticize your every word and seek to detect therein a venom that might endanger the life of the state, the church and the home, then come here." This jumped out at me because, although the times are different, I believe I detect simpletons in our midst. ( )

This little book was an interesting bit of history. In the introduction Robert F. Kennedy explained that the first edition was published by JFK in 1958 and was meant to explain to the 'man in the street' the enormous contribution to life in the US that the various waves of immigrants had made. The President was working on a revision in 1963 to support the immigration reform that he was urging Congress to pass and after his death in November it was decided to go ahead and publish the new edition. A major reform bill was finally passed in 1965. (see Wikipedia on immigration policy.)

Kennedy gives us a short history of immigration to North America up to 1963 and reminds his readers that everyone (even the 'Native Americans') in the Americas is in fact descended from immigrants. It's just that some got here earlier than others. However it is also true that with each wave of new people coming here the groups already established in North America tended to resent the new arrivals, forgetting that their families were once from somewhere else. This eventually lead to some pretty restrictive laws as to who and how many would be accepted into the US. Included is a picture essay illustrating the history of immigration.

A Nation of Immigrants is an easy and quick read that is a good introduction to the subject. However, 50 years have passed and the laws were revised and the face of immigration has changed although the arguments for and against are still much the same. Further reading is indicated...

I bought this book at Half Off Books on Camelback road as a result of the recent immigration law in Arizona (SB 1070). If immigration reform being in the headlines again and me being on a recent Kennedy kick I thought it only natural to pick up this title. I found JFK's insight into this subject very informative and extremely relevant. President Kennedy pretty much sums up my ideas on Americas history and future with regards to immigration. The president points out how this country was built by immigrants and immigrants were fundamental forces in every important historical event to happen since the birth of this nation. Kennedy wrote this book as a way to spread the word about his immigration policies and I am thankful that he did because I found it to be very interesting and useful. ( )