Doctor Max Jacobson, whom the Secret Service under President John F. Kennedy code-named “Dr. Feelgood,” developed a unique “energy formula” that altered the paths of some of the twentieth century’s most iconic figures, including President and Jackie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis. JFK received his first injection (a special mix of “vitamins and hormones,” according to Jacobson) … Jacobson) just before his first debate with Vice President Richard Nixon. The shot into JFK’s throat not only cured his laryngitis, but also diminished the pain in his back, allowed him to stand up straighter, and invigorated the tired candidate. Kennedy demolished Nixon in that first debate and turned a tide of skepticism about Kennedy into an audience that appreciated his energy and crispness. What JFK didn’t know then was that the injections were actually powerful doses of a combination of highly addictive liquid methamphetamine and steroids.
Author and researcher Rick Lertzman and New York Times bestselling author Bill Birnes reveal heretofore unpublished material about the mysterious Dr. Feelgood. Through well-researched prose and interviews with celebrities including George Clooney, Jerry Lewis, Yogi Berra, and Sid Caesar, the authors reveal Jacobson’s vast influence on events such as the assassination of JFK, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Kennedy-Khrushchev Vienna Summit, the murder of Marilyn Monroe, the filming of the C. B. DeMille classic The Ten Commandments, and the work of many of the great artists of that era. Jacobson destroyed the lives of several famous patients in the entertainment industry and accidentally killed his own wife, Nina, with an overdose of his formula.
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Not a particularly well written book but I enjoyed the historical information presented and it was a quick read.
I found it very interesting that so many people fell under this doctors spell even after some episodes of behavior that would dictate to the rational person that it would be a good idea to not take “the cocktails”. It goes to show you that addiction and the so called opioid epidemic is nothing new … I’d have given it five stars but it was a tad bit repetitive.
A book that forces you to realize how easy drug addiction can become-especially for those in politics and the arts.
Hitler had his Dr. Morell. Kennedy had his Jacobson. Very informative.
Dr. Feelgood injected his patients with a cocktail of vitamins and speed back in the 50s, 60s and 70s (hence his name). He made most of his patients into addicts. His patients were mostly the rich and famous – President Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, etc. This book includes a lot of quotes and information from direct sources (not anonymous sources), which are listed in the book.
The good – this book includes a wealth of information about Kennedy and how the drugs affected his decision-making.
The not-so-good – the first 1/3 of the book is the history and childhood of Dr. Feelgood. While this may be of interest to some, I found it a bit too much and breezed through much of it to get to the more interesting parts. While I understand that childhood and tragic events can affect people in adulthood, I don’t think this needed quite so many pages in the book that could have been devoted to other subjects.
One wonders how people get away with playing god in the lives of others. Good information and probably factually correct. Quite an amazing story.
I say scary as the high profile people who we admired and who ran our country we clients of Dr. Feelgood. Could this happen today. I don’t know.
A disturbing reality check for our nation and the far reaching effects of amphetamine addiction. History was changed because of one doctor and his laboratory as addiction catapulted across the country. I believe Dr Feelgood was a major contributor to the opioid crisis today.
I found the book very interesting in content but found it to be redundant in statement of facts. It seemed to jump around in chronology and was making me think I missed something along the way. Dr Feelgood indeed touched many lives and was the source of many supposed addictions, but nothing is said of recovery from them. Many of the names dropped as victims are still alive and functioning.
Addiction is not something one can resolve on their own and it makes me wonder how many of these patients were truly addicted to the meth cocktails.
President Kennedy’s plotted assassination is stated as fact, is this theory or fact?
If everthing the author tells us is true, it’s shocking!!!
I was unaware of the significant impact Dr. Feelgood and his “energy injections” had on JFK (as well as so many other prominent individuals). I can understand how those in powerful positions in the government (CIA, FBI, Secret Service, Pentagon) felt something had to be done to save the country from an out-of-control president on meth. Well worth reading!
I didnt find this to be a good read. It just didnt flow right. Lot of big names mentioned but didnt impress me at all m
Very interesting, tragic, and “what might have been” if this Monster-doctor had been investigated and stopped much sooner. Has left me thinking days after completing the book…
The most compelling explanation behind the JFK shooting.
Fairly shocking at the level of drug use, even decades ago.
Just okay, repeated a lot of material.