Description[]
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, also known as Jack or JFK (May 29, 1917 - November 22, 1963) was the 35th President of the United States of America from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was the youngest person elected to be President of the United States, and the first Catholic President. His presidency mostly consisted of diplomatic negotiations with the Soviet Union.
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—JFK's Voice | ||
, with his experience on war and his desire for peace[1]. 60 yearslater, there could be no man like Kennedy because most young men are extremist, sadly.
Early Life[]
Kidney was born in the town of Brookline, Massachusetts. He was the second child that his mother, Rose Kennedy, gave birth to. Kennedy's early life has been conflicted with numerous health problems, such as scarlet fever.
Kennedy eventually attends Harvard College and graduates with Latin honors. He originally planned to enter Yale Law School, but progress halted with America's entry into World War II.
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Joseph P. Kennedy Jr, Kennedy's brother who was killed in an explosion.
Kennedy joined the United States Naval Reserve and became an ensign on October 26, 1941. Exactly a year after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Kennedy's first command was now PT-101. PT-101 was deployed in August for patrol around what is present day Solomon Islands. It was wrecked by a Japanese ship and the crew lost two members. Kennedy and the remaining crew made it to an island and was eventually saved. Kennedy later commanded PT-59. Kennedy was regarded as a hero by the U.S government for his heroic acts on PT-101.
In the Second World War, Kennedy's brother, Joseph Jr. was killed in a naval explosion.
Congressional Service - The U.S. House (1947-1953)[]
[2]Representative John F. Kennedy with crutches
After the war, Kennedy became interested in the political landscape of the country, which his family always wanted him to be interested in. The 11th congressional district was vacant and this was a perfect opportunity for Kennedy's election, since the area was heavily Democratic. The 1946 election was an easy win for Kennedy, defeating his Republican opponent, though the Democrats lost their majority to the Republicans.
Jackie and Jack Kennedy
Kennedy threw his support for numerous policies, like the Truman Doctrine and the Labor Management Act of 1947.
In September 1953, Kennedy became married to Jacqueline Lee.
Congressional Service - The U.S. Senate (1953-1960)[]
Kennedy endorsing Adlai Stevenson II for president.
John F. Kennedy in his Senator Office, 1959[3]
In 1949, Kennedy was preparing to run for a senate seat in Massachusetts. The election was in 1952, so he had plenty of time to prepare. His father once again finances his campaign, while his brother, Robert, emerges as a campaign manager. 1952 rolls around, and while Eisenhower leads the state in the presidential election, Kennedy defeats his opponent, Henry Cabot Lodge Jr, in the Senate race.
Once beginning his term, Kennedy focused on state-wide issues, such as fishing, manufacturing, and industries. He also worked on immigration and other major matters. Kennedy has reelected for a second term, eventually.
During his tenure, Jackie gave birth to Caroline Kennedy.
The Race for the White House[]
John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert, and LBJ.
On January 2nd, 1960, Kennedy announce his bid for the presidency. The Republicans already had a front runner, which was vice president Richard M. Nixon. Kennedy's age and religion came into question, but he assured people that it wouldn't get in his way. Kennedy was able to secure a victory in the Democratic primaries, and chose Lyndon B. Johnson as his running mate.
Kennedy and Nixon.
The race then took off. Kennedy and Nixon took part in debates. This was also the first election with televised debates. While people with televisions thought Kennedy won the debates, radio listeners thought Nixon won the debates.
The election finally came, and Kennedy won with 303-219, become the youngest president to be elected and the first Catholic in the office. After his victory, John Jr. was born.
The Presidency[]
Kennedy became president on January 20, 1961, beginning his term in the office. He committed to lowering taxes, scrapping Eisenhower's methods, and creating the Peace Corps system.
Khrushchev and Kennedy at the Vienna Summit
Kennedy waving to a crowd.
Kennedy also dealt with numerous foreign policy issues. The Bay of Pigs invasion was planned under the Eisenhower administration, but green lit by Kennedy. The invasion ended in a humiliating failure, which almost costed Kennedy's reputation. In October of 1942 however, he redeemed himself. The Cuban Missile Crisis almost led to the outbreak of nuclear war, due to the Soviets installing weapons on the island. Kennedy unleashed a naval blockade, which made the Soviets strike a deal. Kennedy met with numerous leaders, discussing world issues in places like Africa or Indochina. At home, he worked to cooperate with both sides.
Kennedy at West Berlin.
Kennedy supported civil rights and a civil rights act, which was signed by his successor, LBJ after his death.
Assassination[]
Moments before JFK is shot dead from a bullet to the head.
JFK in his limousine at Dallas.
Before the assassination, Kennedy was taking a trip through Texas to boost his popularity for the 1964 presidential election. He visited the cities like San Antonio and Fort Worth before landing in Dallas on November 22, 1963. He gave a speech.
At 12:30 P.M. CST, Kennedy was riding down Elm Street with his wife, the governor of Texas, John Connally and his wife. Three shots were then fired. The first one hit Kennedy's neck and went through into Connally's body. According to James Tague, the second shot missed and hit his left cheek. The final shot then hit Kennedy's head, exploding it into pieces. He was rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he was declared dead at 1 P.M. CST. It was recorded by Abraham Zapruder on frame 313.
After The Assassination[]
After Oswald shot the President and injured two more, Oswald walked into his boarding house and was seen at 1:00 PM. Oswald was next seen by shoe store manager Johnny Brewer as he ducked in his store as police cars went by. Suspicious of Oswald's activity, Brewer watched him slip into the nearby Texas Theater without paying. Brewer saw this and alerted the Ticket Clerk who called police around 1:40 PM. One of the Officers M.N. McDonald said Oswald tried to draw his pistol as he was struck to the ground. Oswald denied killing Kennedy and claimed he was a pasty that was arrested because he had lived in the Soviet Union.
On November 24, while being transferred, Oswald was shot by Jack Ruby and was pronounced dead at Parkland Hospital.
Legacy[]
The Kennedy legacy continues on after the death of John F. Kennedy. His wife and the rest of his family were marked in history books forever.
Robert Kennedy at the 1964 convention.
Robert Kennedy after being shot by Sirhan Sirhan
Robert Kennedy moved on to become Senator from New York and even prepared to run for president, but was assassinated in Los Angeles during the California primary.
Ted Kennedy ended up becoming a senator from Massachusetts all the way until his death in 2009.
Jackie remarried with Aristotle Onassis. After his death, she started writing again and died from cancer in 1994.
Jackie and Aristotle's marriage
John Jr. ended up dying in a plane crash in 1999.
Ted Kennedy
John Jr.
External Links[]