A Nation of Immigrants by John F. Kennedy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was interested in reading this because JFK was the grandson of Irish immigrants. The Irish (and Italians, Chinese, and others) at one point were the targets of the kinds of language we saw just recently during the 2016 presidential election. He also was a senator and president who had to consider policy. From what I knew about him, his speeches expressed faith in American ingenuity and ability to tackle the greatest challenges.
This book did not disappoint. Well written, it is an easy read. He explains the history of immigration to the Americas both before and after we became a county. He describes how immigrants brought American systems, shaped values, and influenced our identity. He laments the resistance and advises the alteration of arbitrary immigration policy so that we can bring in the best instead of limiting ourselves to reflecting the demographics of 1920. His prescription seems to have been enacted in the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965.
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