The assassination of President Kennedy was one of the most traumatic moments in American history. Since then, the circumstances of his death have been considered highly controversial and largely mysterious. A recent discovery of lost audio recordings from Air Force One have resurfaced, and are being inspected for possible details regarding this tragic event.

During an appearance on new MSNBC 12 noon offering Now with Alex Wagner, the newly-minted host turned to introduce guest panelist — and opinion media pioneer — Chris Matthews, who is not only an MSNBC stablemate, but also the author of a new JFK biography currently ranked third on the NY Times bestseller list. Wagner’s introduction, however, appeared to come up short in Matthew’s esteem, when she called his new book “one of the best” that’s been written on the subject. Matthews quickly corrected her, declaring “it is actually the best book,” adding for clarity “people who know their business say it’s the best book.”

Hot off his performance moderating last night’s Republican debate, National Journal‘s Major Garrett joined Chris Matthews and his fellow panelists in discussing the effect television has on political candidates. Matthews cited Mitt Romney‘s relaxed demeanor during the Republican debates, and wondered how much his appearance would factor into how much voters trust in him and see him as a confident leader. Garrett believed whoever becomes the Republican nominee will have to show they are confident and trustworthy.

Who knew that almost fifty years later, the legacy of President John F. Kennedy would arouse such passionate feelings in people? Chris Matthews, who was on Real Time with Bill Maher tonight to promote his new book about the late president, was naturally very defensive of the Kennedy legacy, and went at it rather passionately with fellow panelist Andrew Sullivan over Kennedy’s foreign policy credentials and whether he was a militaristic hawk while in office.

As part of our one-part series Project: In Vino, Mediaite set out to capture media elites, gathered to fête Hardball host Chris Matthews‘ Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero, in their alcohol-lubricated natural habitat, and maybe to drink some of it ourselves. With the aid of a hidden camera, I ventured to MSNBC’s book party Tuesday night to tear the lid off of this den of open bars and Wagyu beef hors d’oeuvres.

In an interview with Mediaite Tuesday evening, at an MSNBC book party to promote Matthews’ new tome, Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero, Hardball host Chris Matthews talked about how his book applies to current politics, and had some harsh criticisms for President Obama. Contrasting the President with the Kennedy brand of back-room loyalty brokering, Matthews said that President Obama “should be recruiting an army.”

MSNBC’s Chris Matthews has put together a new book about President John F. Kennedy that offers a revealing glimpse into how a young Kennedy’s prep school experience helped mold him into one of the country’s most remembered Commanders-in-Chief.

Of particular note in Matthews’ Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero is his evidence that Kennedy’s famous and oft-quoted directive to “ask not what your country can do for you,” but, instead, “ask what you can do for your country” may have its roots in lectures given by the headmaster of Connecticut’s exclusive Choate School during Kennedy’s matriculation in the 1930s.

On ABC’s This Week, George Will argued that over the course of Barack Obama‘s term in office, the president has put too much stock in his speeches and the power of persuasion, which has made him a less effective leader overall. Christiane Amanpour introduced the segment with a summation of the Jacqueline Kennedy tapes released last week, proposing that it is in times of crisis when a president’s mettle is put to the test.

A series of recently-released tapes show former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy revealing that her husband, John F. Kennedy, was extremely worried over the possibility of then-Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson someday becoming president.

In the series of oral interviews, recorded in 1964 by historian Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., the former Mrs. Kennedy shares that, in the months before his assassination, her husband met with his brother, Robert, to discuss a means of circumventing a possible Johnson presidency after his second term.

America’s master of the macabre, Stephen King, takes on a momentous moment in American history in his next novel: the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The book, set for release in November, has the simple title 11/22/63 and a premise that may catch King fans by surprise: “On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out in Dallas, President Kennedy died, and the world changed. What if you could change it back? Stephen King’s heart-stoppingly dramatic new novel is about a man who travels back in time to prevent the JFK assassination,” reads the teaser on Simon & Schuster’s website.

Ask not what your Google can do for you, ask what Google can do for its country: Today, Google is celebrating 50 years since President John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address, which contains the legendary phrase referenced above (“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”).

Ted Sorensen, who as speechwriter for President Kennedy was responsible for some of his most famous speeches, died today at aged 82 in New York. From the New York Times.

Fox News’ Trace Gallagher just reported that two F-15 military jets are currently escorting a commercial passenger airliner coming in from Canadian airspace into JFK airport. The flight is reported to have originated in Yemen, laid over in United Arab Emirates and is now entering American airspace. This, on a day when there may have been a possible terrorist attempt, or trial run, that has lead to a number quarantined airplanes and inspections of numerous cargo planes around the country.

On his show Sunday, Chris Matthews noted the similarities between the recent poll about country’s confusion over President Obama‘s religion and the pushback John F. Kennedy received for being Catholic when he ran for office back in 1960. But this time it’s rooted in race.

It’s the last week of August and the media is running out of news stories to fill up the few remaining dog days. So what’s left on the Slow News Checklist? Trumped up folk hero? Check. Rich people in pretty clothes? Check. Overhyped outrage? Check. Cute animals being silly? Check. Crap, we’ve still got a few more days left. Aw, screw it. Lets just dredge up JFK again.

A Russian website has today posted photos of what appears to be an upcoming National Geographic spread, which purportedly uncovers photos of British authorities constructing Stonehenge in….1898. Gasp! The photo spread, which online at least appears totally believable, alas (again) is a fake. Take a look.

What would have happened if TMZ was around during the Kennedy Administration? They very likely could have changed history.

Today they published an image from the 1950s of then-Senator John F. Kennedy on a boat with naked women. And watch out sports stars, this could be your future.

Think those things have nothing in common? Well, then you haven’t seen Newsweek‘s “Interview Issue.” Featuring the sort of cover that you — or nerds like me — want to pick up. Editor Jon Meacham‘s editor’s letter tried to explain why:

As the face of media evolves, it’s important to honor the figures who helped define, shape and set the standards in their industries. These are some of the most prominent members of the media who passed away over the past 10 years. Take a look back with some snippets from their respective New York Times obituaries.

Here is a video and the transcript of President Barack Obama‘s eulogy for his friend and mentor, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, delivered at Senator Kennedy’s funeral yesterday in Boston, MA, before an assemblage of presidents, senators, congresspeople, journalists, constituents, colleagues, friends and family — the Kennedys, frequently likened to America’s Royal Family — who had all come to bid farewell to who Obama called “the greatest legislator of our time” — but also a loving and caring friend, father, uncle and mentor, guardian of those he represented.