Placing Camelot: Cultivating leadership and learning in the Kennedy presidency

The concept of ‘place’ can play a powerful role in understanding how leadership is socially constructed. This article explores the geographic, symbolic and mythic uses place cultivation distinct style around Presidency John F. Kennedy. It focuses on history social learning event that today might be called development programme: ‘Hickory Hill Seminars’ 1961-4, named after mostly held at specific location Robert Kennedy’s home. These seminars – only lightly touched Kennedy-era literatures were semi-formal occasions organized by historian Arthur Schlesinger brought eminent public intellectuals day to present their work assembled group insiders. functioned as network action, both cultivating projecting certain cultural formations leadership. Bounded geographic places inhabited Washington elites, formed part broader construction ‘New Frontier’ ‘Camelot’. Hickory one broad metaphysical canvas upon which presidential ‘legacy’ was created. Building critical constructivist perspectives, we argue notions central particular styles legacies, but these creations deceptive, remain always vulnerable critique, co-optation distortion opponents rivals.