(Brief Biography)


John F. Kennedy ("J.F.K.") is probably best known as the youngest person ever elected President, at 43 years of age (Theodore Roosevelt was 42 when he became President, though he was not elected at that age). He was assassinated by gunshot from a Dallas, Texas building window while riding in an open car (convertible). His wife, Jacqueline, was in the car by his side. Though the assassination was caught on grainy black and white film, there have been multiple theories about who was responsible for the killing.

Upon J.F.K.'s death, Lyndon B. Johnson ("L.B.J.") took the Oath of Office and was officially sworn in to the Presidency aboard 'Air Force One' (the President's Airplane). J.F.K.'s coffin was loaded onto the same plane to return to Washington, D.C. for the public funeral procession that occurred a few days later. Jacqueline Kennedy stood next to L.B.J. as he recited his oath.

J.F.K. served in the Navy, the House of Representatives, and the Senate, from the state of Massachusetts, prior to becoming President. He came from a very wealthy, powerful, and politically-connected family. His father, Joseph Kennedy, held many positions in government, and was very influential, but never ran for President himself.

J.F.K. was one of nine children. He had many chronic illnesses as a child. He and his siblings were parented in such a way that they were expected to compete and win in all their activities. He was considered a mediocre (average) student at best, and considered 'lazy' by some, but did well when he applied himself. As he grew up, he was considered a handsome man, and a womanizer (a flirt with women).



J.F.K.'s younger brother, Robert F. Kennedy ("R.F.K."), was J.F.K.'s skilled campaign manager who helped him win his U.S. Senate seat. His family’s tremendous wealth and fame helped him win each of his elections. J.F.K. married Jacqueline Bouvier, who became as popular with Americans as J.F.K. was, while he was President and living in the White House. His wife was referred to as ‘Jackie’ Kennedy. J.F.K. was known to have had many extramarital affairs, including with the famous actress, Marilyn Monroe.
He was the first person of the Roman Catholic faith to be elected President of the United States.



In the 1960 Presidential Election, he was able to defeat his opponent, and future President, Richard Nixon, primarily based on his performance in the first-ever series of debates televised to the nation’s voters. J.F.K. was considered by viewers of the debates to be more skilled in his talking points and responses to questions, younger, more energetic and relaxed, and more attractive than his opponent. A majority of people who only hear the debates on the radio thought Nixon had done better.
J.F.K. won the election by a very small margin.

In his Inaugural Address, he offered the memorable quote, “Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.” J.F.K. encouraged young people to serve in the Peace Corps to help people in developing (poor) countries.

He enlisted his brother, Robert F. Kennedy, to serve as his Attorney General (the highest law enforcement official) in his administration. One of R.F.K.'s goals was to prosecute members of organized crime families. R.F.K., in 1968, decided to run for President himself. Tragically, he was also assassinated after making a campaign speech at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, CA.


Due to frequent migraines and persistent back pain, J.F.K. developed a prescription drug dependency.


In a continuation of "The Cold War", Great international tensions were a part of his administration when the country of Russia began installing missiles on the island country of Cuba (not far from the state of Florida). This, ‘Cuban Missile Crisis’ was intended to intimidate the young President, but fortunately nuclear war was averted.

A famous speech J.F.K. made on Space Exploration during the height of the ‘Space Race’ with Russia included this famous quote, “We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.”

J.F.K. and the U.S. participation in the war in Vietnam began under prior Presidents Truman and Eisenhower. Each had committed large sums of American taxpayer dollars, military weapons, and small numbers of military advisors to help the struggling military of South Vietnam. During J.F.K.'s Presidency, he increased the U.S. presence further by sending 500 more military advisors to South Vietnam to fight against the Communist North Vietnamese.


North Vietnam was receiving military support from the neighboring countries of China and Russia. J.F.K. had concerns about whether U.S. involvement there was appropriate. Yet, under his authority, the number of troops grew into the thousands. This led to later Presidents Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon making full U.S. commitment in Vietnam. Under these later Presidents America's involvement in the Vietnam War continued to grow. More than 2,000,000 American men and women served in South Vietnam between the late 1950's and early 1970's. More than 50,000 American soldiers died in Vietnam in a war that lasted over a decade, and ended without victory.

J.F.K. was the first President born after the year 1900.

Sources:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
https://www.whitehousehistory.org/slavery-in-the-presidents-neighborhood-faq
https://www.biography.com/us-president
https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents
https://www.youtube.com
https://www.cnn.com/2013/11/14/us/jfk-assassination-5-things/index.html
https://bit.ly/3shevnk (U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS)

-Compiled by Henry Anker-