"The first oral biography of John F. Kennedy Jr. offers insights and observations from more than 150 people who knew him personally, creating a richly nuanced portrait of the man behind the myth--beloved and recognized by many but truly known by few. Sharing never-before-told stories and memories, his closest friends, confidants, lovers, classmates, teachers, and colleagues reveal how the little boy who saluted became the uniquely charismatic man who still captures the public's imagination decades after his tragic death. In the spotlight from birth, John F. Kennedy Jr. lived a short but remarkable life willed with adventure, ambition, family pressures, love, and very public sorrow. JFK Jr. dives deep into his complicated psyche and explores the what-ifs, elucidating both the cultural and political moment he inhabited and the way this son of a president, so full of promise and possibility, embodied America's most cherished hopes. Contributors include well-known names in politics, media, and entertainment, as well as longtime Kennedy intimates who have rarely if ever spoken publicly about their relationship with him. His gift for real and enduring friendships--and his humor--shine through in these pages. Also shared here are dozens of photographs taken throughout his life, some of them private and seldom seen before. Author RoseMarie Terenzio, Kennedy's executive assistant and chief of staff at George magazine, became one of his closest confidants in the years leading up to his untimely death. That deep connection, in combination with author Liz McNeil's seasoned journalism skills and exhaustive research, made possible an illuminating exploration. Through their interviews, Terenzio and McNeil have built a document of record that shows Kennedy to be a fascinating, multilayered character who constantly struggled to balance his family's fame with his desire to lead his own life separate from the standards and expectations into which he was born."-- Dust jacket flap.