Almost a half-century has passed since the brief presidency of John F. Kennedy illuminated the American political scene. His presence is still felt today. He had a special magnetism- flair, aspirations to great deeds, and contagious confidence. And his tenure in the White House occurred in the midst of dramatic world events and personalities. After an initial honeymoon with historians, many of whom were seduced by the Camelot myth, in recent years Kennedy has been more carefully scrutinized, resulting in a wide range of assessments of his presidency and his life.