2. Father: Invincible Joseph P.
Kennedy, Sr. – head of SEC
and U.S. Ambassador to Great
Britain.
Mother: Rose Fitzgerald
Kennedy – Boston socilate.
Siblings: Nine; five
sisters(Rosemary, Kathleen,
Eunice, Patricia, Jean and
three brothers (Joseph Patrick,
Jr., Robert, and Edward).
Wife: Jacqueline Bouvier
Kennedy – Rich socilate and
photographer.
Children: Caroline and John
Fitzgerald, Jr.
3. Only president born after U.S.
entry into a war; born May 29,
1917, in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Grew up in wealthy family, but
was ill as a child and had health
problems that would continue
through the rest of his life.
Went to private schools his entire
life, which included famous prep
school, Choate.
Went to Harvard University
(1936-40) in Cambridge,
Massachusetts, where he studied
Political Science; was active
undergraduate and graduated
cum laude (with great honor).
4.
5. Served in Navy during World
War II, ending his time as
lieutenant; was granted control
of PT-109.
He and his crew were thrown
into the water when the ship
was attacked by a Japanese
destroyer.
Managed to swim four hours,
saving himself and crewman,
but suffered back injury.
Was presented Purple Heart
and Navy and Maine Corps
Medal and was honored for his
heroism.
6. Worked temporarily as journalist
before he ran for House of
Representatives; he won and was
re-elected two times.
Proved to be independent thinker;
did not always pursue party line.
Was subsequently elected Senator
of Massachusetts, serving from
1953-60; again, he did not always
follow Democratic majority.
Critics were troubled that he did
not stand up to Senator Joseph R.
McCarthy.
Also wrote Profiles in Courage
(1955), which was awarded
Pulitzer Prize, despite some
question about its actual
authorship.
7.
8. Was nominated by Democratic
party to run for presidency against
Republican candidate Richard
Nixon, Dwight D. Eisenhower‟s VP.
Put forward ideas of “New
Frontier”, modification of
Eisenhower‟s Massive Retaliation,
during acceptance speech for
Democratic nomination .
Nixon made error of encountering
Kennedy when the former advanced
as young and vital.
Kennedy won over Nixon in
smallest margin of votes since 1888;
won by merely 118,574 votes, but
secured 303 electoral votes.
9.
10.
11. Was mortally injured while riding in
motorcade through Dallas, Texas, on
November 22, 1963.
Kennedy‟s identified assassin, Lee
Harvey Oswald, also shot and injured
Texas Governor John Connally, who
accompanied Kennedy and his wife
Jacqueline; Oswald was himself shot
and killed by Jack Ruby on November
24 before he could be placed on trial.
Warren Commission was subsequently
asked to investigate Kennedy‟s
assassination and determined that
Oswald was the only one involved in
killing Kennedy, despite ongoing
conspiracy theories by House
Committee investigation, since at least
1979, that Oswald was assisted in the
plot; FBI and 1982 study did not agree,
but speculation persists to this day.
12. John F. Kennedy was more prominent for his
iconic character than for his legislative
actions.
His many influential speeches, including his
Inaugural Address (“My fellow Americans-
ask not what your country can do for you,
but what you can do for your country.”) and
his 1963 “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech (“All
free men, wherever they may live, are
citizens of Berlin, and, therefore, as a free
man, I take pride in the words „Ich bin ein
Berliner‟”).
His young vigor and stylish First Lady are
praised as American royalty; his short, yet
inspirational tenure in office was nicknamed
“Camelot”.
Kennedy‟s assassination was taken on
mythical attribute; this led many to allege
that possible government conspiracies
involving anyone from Kennedy‟s VP
Lyndon B. Johnson to Mafia to Fidel Castro.
His ethical leadership of Civil Rights was
significant part of the movement‟s ultimate
success.
13. Had difficult time pushing many of his
domestic programs through Congress,
but acquired increased minimum wage,
improved Social Security benefits, and
passed urban renewal package.
Established Peace Corps in March 1961,
and his objective of going to the moon by
the end of the 60s was largely supported.
Originally did not confront Southern
Democrats on Civil Rights agenda; Civil
Rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., was
convinced that it was moral obligation for
African Americans to break unjust laws
and accept necessary consequences to
expose true character of their treatment.
Everyday, Press reported brutality
against African Americans resulting from
non-violent protests and civil
disobedience.
Kennedy resorted to executive orders and
personal appeals to help the movement,
but his legislative programs would not
pass until the years following his death.
14. Kennedy‟s foreign policy began in fiasco with Bay of Pigs
invasion of April 1961, in which a small force of Cuban
exiles were asked to wage revolution in Cuba to remove
Fidel Castro from power, only to be captured; U.S.
reputation was severely damaged.
Kennedy‟s encounter with Nikita Khrushchev at the
summit in Vienna in June 1961 led to building of Berlin
Wall; further, Khrushchev started constructing missile
bases in Cuba, and Kennedy, in response, ordered a
blockade of Cuba, warning that any attack from Cuba
would be perceived, by Soviet Union, as act of engaging in
war.
The ensuing direct confrontation in October 1962 led to
dismounting of missile silos in return for promises that the
U.S. would not invade Cuba; Kennedy also agreed to
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1963 with Great Britain and
Soviet Union.
Two other significant events during Kennedy‟s short term
were Alliance for Progress (the U.S. sent aid to Latin
America) and problems in Southeast Asia.
North Vietnam sent troops via Laos to participate in
fighting in South Vietnam; its leader, Ngô Đình Diệm,
proved inefficient.
U.S. increased “military advisors” from 2,000 to 16,000
during this time.
Diệm was deposed in coup and assassinated on
November 2, 1963, by South Vietnamese generals, but new
leadership did nothing to stop any problems; when
Kennedy was assassinated, Vietnam was nearing
worsening point.
