John F. Kennedy
by Krysta CardinaleJohn F. Kennedy, often referred to as JFK, was the 35th President of the United States. He was a member of the well-known Irish-American political Kennedy family. Before his presidency, Kennedy served in the United States Navy, and was both a member of the House of Representatives and the Senate for the state of Massachusetts. From 1960-1963 JFK served as President. He won his presidency in what is considered one of the closest elections in history. On November 22, 1963 Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald during a parade. He was not only the youngest President ever elected, but also the youngest to die. Many historians grade JFK as above average, but many people rate him as one of the greatest Presidents in history. John F. Kennedy is considered an American icon for liberalism.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born on May 29, 1917 in Brookline, Massachusetts. He was the son of Joseph P. Kennedy and Rose Fitzgerald. He was first sent to Edward Devotion School for three years, but then his parents sent him to Choate and Rosemary Hall in Connecticut. It is one of the country’s most elite private boarding schools, and it was two separated schools, one for boys and one for girls. Kennedy graduated in 1935.
Upon his graduation, JFK decided to travel with his parents and sister, Kathleen, to London, England. Once here, he enrolled at the London School of Economics to study political economy. However, Kennedy soon became sick and his father sent him back to the United States. Later in the fall of 1935, he enrolled in Princeton University but was forced to leave after coming down with jaundice. The following fall he attended Harvard University where he graduated in June 1940 cum laude with a degree in international affairs. He also attended Stanford University’s business school for a few months before traveling to South America. During his college years, Kennedy suffered from other health problems such as colitis. His colitis medicine gave him osteoporosis and lower back problems for the rest of his life.
In 1941, John F Kennedy volunteered himself for the United States Army. He was rejected from the army because of his health problems, but was accepted to the navy instead. He served his duty in the office where information was briefed for the Secretary of the Navy. He was assigned here when the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred and brought the United States into World War II. JFK was transferred to South Carolina where he was trained and then out on active duty in Panama and the Pacific Ocean. John F Kennedy’s ship, the PT 109, was taken down at nightfall by a Japanese cruiser in August 1943. He was severely injured, but still managed to rescue three fellow sailors. For this, Kennedy received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. For other actions throughout World War II, JFK received the Purple Heart, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
Once the war ended, John F Kennedy involved himself in politics. In 1946, he ran for the House of Representatives and beat his Republican opponent by a lot. He served the House for six years before deciding to run for the Senate. In 1952, JFK won the seat as senator for Massachusetts. Over the next few years he had several surgeries to try and correct his back problem; he almost died a few times during them. On September 12, 1953 John F Kennedy married Jacqueline Lee Bouvier. Three years later, in 1956, he almost received the vice presidential nomination. Four years later he won first ballot nomination for President under the Democratic Party.
John F. Kennedy and the Presidency
The 1960 Presidential Election was one of the closest in United States history. Democratic JFK ran against Republican Vice President Richard Nixon. Knowing that it was going to be a tight race, Kennedy named Lyndon B. Johnson as his Vice President. He had clashed with Johnson in the primaries, but he knew he needed him to win the south. In September and October the first publicly televised Presidential debate took place. Many say that this is where Kennedy won the election. The actual debate over issues was said to be pretty even. However, JFK made a handsome and composed impression, while Nixon looked uncomfortable and tense. Some blame Nixon’s poor appearance on the fact that he had a leg injury. This was a milestone for physical appearance and speaking skills as a major factor in political elections.
John F. Kennedy won the 1960 election by a very narrow margin, and became the first and only Catholic President of the United States. There were allegations of fraud in several states, but Nixon decided not to contest because he was afraid it would put the country in danger. Kennedy’s inaugural address included the memorable line, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” He immediately set out to redeem what he promised during his campaign.
JFK launched economic programs that caused the longest expansion since WWII, and he set plans for attacks against privation and poverty. He also took action in the equal rights movement. Kennedy called for new civil rights legislation from Congress. He supported racial integration and even had Federal Marshalls and troops ensure that black students could enroll at previous all-white schools. Kennedy also employed Federal Marshalls to protect Freedom Riders, a group of people who went to the Deep South testing the 1960 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that outlawed all racial segregation in public facilities. On the evening of June 11, 1962 John F. Kennedy gave what became his famous civil rights speech on nationally publicized television. This address became the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
JFK also took an active roll in international affairs. He brought American aide to developing nations along with the Alliance for Progress and the Peace Corps. He also made attempts in fighting Communism. On April 17, 1961 Kennedy gave his permission for the planned invasion of Cuba. 1,500 Cuban exiles, trained by the United States, attacked Cuba in what became known as the “Bay of Pigs Invasion.” The attempt failed and the U.S. was forced to pay $53 million in reparations with food and medicine for the release of 1,189 captured exiles. Soon after that, the Soviet Union began construction on the Berlin Wall, separating East Berlin from the West. Kennedy sent troops to reinforce western Berlin sighting a violation in the “Four Powers” agreements. His efforts did not have much impact. The Soviet built the wall and then sought out other offensive plans.
The Cuban Missile Crisis began on October 14, 1962. American spy planes took pictures of Soviet nuclear missile launchers being built in Cuba. Kennedy established a quarantine of all weapons bound for Cuba. Fortunately, Russia backed down and took the missiles away. The world took a deep sigh, knowing that it had been on the brink of a nuclear war. Kennedy then began to seek out a ban on nuclear weapons and warfare.
During his short Presidency, Kennedy had a lot of events that went down in history. Another one of these was his involvement in the Space Race. In 1961 Russia was far ahead of the United States in space technology. By 1963, the U.S. approached a joint venture with the Russian space program for a second time. This time they approved because of the American advancements in technology. Kennedy asked Congress to pass the $22 billion Apollo Project. However, he died before seeing the formal agreement from Russia and the passing by Congress of this plan, which occurred in November 1963. This program turned into Neil Armstrong being the first man to land on the Moon.
JFK Assassination
After several attempts at his life, John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963 at 12:30pm. He was on a political trip through Texas. The JFK assassination took place while Kennedy was participating in a parade through Dallas, Texas. He was fatally shot by Lee Harvey Oswald. It became the first live broadcasting of a homicide. At 7:00pm that same night, Oswald was charged for “murder with malice,” and later for “murder of the President.” However, Oswald was fatally shot two days later by Jack Ruby.
A week after the JFK assassination, President Lyndon B. Johnson created the Warren Commission. He appointed Chief Justice Earl Warren to lead this investigation of the JFK assassination. It concluded that Oswald was the only assassin; however that it was likely part of a conspiracy.
There are several JFK conspiracy theories about the assassination. Among the supposed conspirators includes the Mafia, the CIA, the KGB, Fidel Castro, and Vice President Johnson himself. The Mafia JFK conspiracy was the most popular theory. Both Lee Harvey Oswald and Jack Ruby had close connections with mobster bosses. Both John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert were activists against the mob, and taking them down. Robert Kennedy put infamous Al Capone in jail, and the JFK assassination was apparently to get back at him. A few years later Robert Kennedy was publicly assassinated as well, also thought to be done by the Mafia. This murder only supported the previously believed JFK conspiracy.
After the JFK assassination there were several memorials built to honor the beloved President. On March 14, 1967 John F Kennedy’s body was moved to a memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. His wife, Jackie, their deceased children, and his brother Robert are also buried close by. Engravings of his addresses are also seen in spots around Arlington. JFK is voted by the American people as one of their most beloved Presidents, in the same category as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
