John F. Kennedy
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| John F. Kennedy | |
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| Name | John F. Kennedy |
| Caption | Official portrait, 1961 |
| Order | 35th |
| Office | President of the United States |
| Term start | January 20, 1961 |
| Term end | November 22, 1963 |
| Vicepresident | Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Predecessor | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Successor | Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Jr/sr1 | United States Senator |
| State1 | Massachusetts |
| Term start1 | January 3, 1953 |
| Term end1 | December 22, 1960 |
| Predecessor1 | Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. |
| Successor1 | Benjamin A. Smith II |
| Office2 | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts |
| Term start2 | January 3, 1947 |
| Term end2 | January 3, 1953 |
| Predecessor2 | James Michael Curley |
| Successor2 | Tip O'Neill |
| Constituency2 | 11th district (1947–1953) |
| Birth name | John Fitzgerald Kennedy |
| Birth date | 29 May 1917 |
| Birth place | Brookline, Massachusetts |
| Death date | 22 November 1963 |
| Death place | Dallas, Texas |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Jacqueline Bouvier, September 12, 1953 |
| Children | Arabella, Caroline, John Jr., Patrick |
| Education | Harvard University (BA), Stanford Graduate School of Business |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States, 1912 |
| Serviceyears | 1941–1945 |
| Rank | Lieutenant (junior grade) |
| Unit | Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 2, Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 1 |
| Battles | World War II, • Solomon Islands campaign |
| Awards | Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Purple Heart, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal |
John F. Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. His presidency, though brief, was defined by major events in the Cold War, including the Cuban Missile Crisis and the early stages of the Space Race, as well as domestic initiatives like the Civil Rights Movement. A charismatic figure from the prominent Kennedy family, his life and untimely death left a profound and enduring mark on American politics and culture.
Early life and education
Born into a wealthy and politically connected family in Brookline, Massachusetts, he was the second son of Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. and Rose Kennedy. His early education included attendance at Choate Rosemary Hall before enrolling at Harvard University. While at Harvard, he traveled extensively in Europe, and his senior thesis, later published as the book Why England Slept, analyzed Great Britain's appeasement policy toward Nazi Germany. After graduating in 1940, he briefly attended the Stanford Graduate School of Business before the attack on Pearl Harbor drew the United States into World War II.
Military service and early career
He joined the United States Navy and was given command of a PT boat in the South Pacific. In August 1943, his boat, PT-109, was rammed and sunk by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri during the Solomon Islands campaign. He was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his leadership in saving his surviving crew, an event that later became a central part of his political image. After the war, he worked briefly as a journalist for the Hearst newspapers before successfully running for the United States House of Representatives in 1946, representing a district in Boston.
Presidency (1961–1963)
His presidency began with a famous inaugural address that included the exhortation, "Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country." Major foreign policy challenges dominated his term, including the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion in Cuba, the construction of the Berlin Wall, and the tense Cuban Missile Crisis with the Soviet Union. He established the Peace Corps and set the national goal of landing a man on the Moon, leading to the Apollo program. Domestically, he proposed what would later become the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and faced significant opposition from Southern Democrats and figures like George Wallace. His administration is often referred to as "Camelot" due to its association with cultural vitality and optimism.
Assassination and legacy
On November 22, 1963, he was assassinated while riding in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for the murder but was himself killed two days later by Jack Ruby before he could stand trial. The official investigation by the Warren Commission concluded Oswald acted alone, a finding that has been questioned by numerous subsequent investigations and conspiracy theories. His death precipitated a national period of mourning and led to the swift succession of Lyndon B. Johnson. His legacy is preserved in institutions like the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.
Personal life and family
In 1953, he married socialite Jacqueline Bouvier, and their family life, including children Caroline and John Jr., was highly publicized. He suffered from chronic health problems, including Addison's disease and severe back pain, which were largely concealed from the public. As part of the large Kennedy family, his brothers Robert F. Kennedy and Ted Kennedy also became major figures in the Senate. The family has been associated with both great political achievement and profound tragedy, including several premature deaths.
Category:1917 births Category:1963 deaths Category:Presidents of the United States Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II