One of America’s best-loved presidents, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, is born into a politically and socially prominent family in Brookline, Massachusetts, on May 29, 1917. He was the first American president to be born and then serve in the 20th century.
In 1935, Kennedy enrolled at Harvard University and received a degree in international affairs with honors in 1940. While there, he suffered a debilitating back injury that would have life-long repercussions. After college, Kennedy served on a Navy PT boat in World War II. In 1952, he won a seat in the House of Representatives and then served in the Senate for seven years beginning in 1953. Also in 1953, he married Jacqueline Bouvier. In subsequent years, Kennedy underwent several dangerous spinal operations; it was during his recuperation from one such operation that he wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning history Profiles in Courage.
Unfortunately, the operations never succeeded in curing his persistent back pain and, for the rest of his life, Kennedy took a powerful combination of pain killers, muscle relaxants and sleeping pills, a fact he successfully hid from the public. The pain, however, did not prevent him from becoming a rising Democratic star in the Senate; he ran for the presidency in 1960.
READ MORE: How JFK Earned Two Medals in World War II
Kennedy’s support for liberal economic and social policies, such as civil rights and increased funding for education and public housing, in addition to his strong anti-communist stance, appealed to a broad cross-section of Americans during the presidential campaign. In addition to his political philosophy, Kennedy capitalized on his handsome features and charismatic personality to beat Republican candidate Richard Nixon to become the nation’s 35th president. In a televised debate, the well-groomed and relaxed Kennedy had appeared more presidential than a haggard-looking, unshaven, visibly nervous Nixon. Many observers believed this debate was critical to his success.
President Kennedy was the youngest man ever elected to the office. His youth, intelligence and worldliness—along with his beautiful, stylish and much-admired wife–charmed Americans and Europeans alike. His children, Caroline and John Jr., were often photographed cavorting around the White House grounds with their pets or playing under their father’s desk in the Oval Office. Kennedy’s brother, Bobby, also young and enthusiastic, served as his attorney general and closest advisor. The American public increasingly saw the Kennedy family as a kind of American royalty and the press portrayed Kennedy’s administration as a sort of modern-day Camelot, with the president himself as King Arthur presiding over an ideal society.
As president, Kennedy combined a fervent stance against communism with a liberal domestic agenda. He was a strong proponent of civil rights as well as a Cold War hawk. He authorized covert operations to remove Fidel Castro from power and, in 1962, challenged the Soviet Union to remove nuclear missiles installed on Cuba. The resulting Cuban Missile Crisis was a frighteningly tense showdown between JFK and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev that brought the two nuclear superpowers to the brink of war. JFK also sought peaceful means of fighting communism—he established the Peace Corps and funded scientific research programs to fight poverty and illness and provide aid to developing nations. By encouraging American youth to donate their time and energy to international aid, JFK hoped to provide positive democratic role models to developing nations. In a 1961 speech, Kennedy advocated for a vigorous U.S. space program and vowed to send an American to the moon by the close of the 1960s.
In 1963, Kennedy was assassinated while driving through Dallas, Texas, in a convertible. Lee Harvey Oswald shot Kennedy in the head from the sixth floor of a book depository. Texas Governor John Connally and Jackie Kennedy were also in the car. Connally was hit in the back, chest, wrist and thigh, but eventually made a full recovery. Jackie was uninjured.
A bystander named Abraham Zapruder happened to capture the shooting on his 8mm home-movie camera. Zapruder’s film provided graphic visuals of JFK’s death and has been endlessly analyzed for evidence of a potential conspiracy. In 1964, the federally appointed Warren Commission investigated the assassination and concluded that Oswald acted alone. Some scholars, investigators and amateur sleuths, however, still insist Kennedy’s death was a coup d’etat committed by hard-line U.S. anti-communists who feared Kennedy would pull out the U.S. advisors he had sent to Vietnam in 1962 and act soft on the communist threat from the USSR. Another conspiracy theory involves a concerted effort by organized crime, the Pentagon, and the CIA to murder the president; this view was adapted by Oliver Stone into the 1991 film JFK.
Kennedy is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, where an eternal flame burns in his memory.
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As with many leaders the history that is officially known is often untrue or simply corrupted. This is the case with JFK. Yes, he had failings as every human being does, however much of what has been reported about his sexual dalliances has been highly exaggerated. President Kennedy showed more courage and leadership in the short 1,000 days of his Presidency than most show in eight years in office. He actually had a better vision for humanity’s future. Read or listen to his commencement address at American University in June of 1963. It clearly demonstrates that he was setting world peace as a goal to be aimed at for humanity. It is also, undoubtedly a speech that scared the daylights out of the Established powers that be. I also suggest that people read ‘The Unspeakable’ by James Douglass. It reveals a side of Kennedy that many don’t know of and of actions he took that are buried in the official history of the times. I guarantee you that after you read this you will understand why he was killed.
A Poem I wrote many years ago in honor of JFK:
The Eternal Flame
We are like a mote of dust floating in the morning sky
Tiny teardrop that the Angel of starlight cried.
Adorning a frosty Arlington hillock burns the Eternal Flame
Lit by the Archangel Gabriel in Heavenly Father’s Name.
Burning with love and undaunted courage
Defender against iron tyranny’s awful scourge.
Beneath this proud and mighty flame
Rest John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s mortal remains.
Bravely did he master the tiger of oppression’s ride
Becoming a martyred son of freedom’s pride.
With the devotion of an Angel’s chore
He sought an end to a perilous cold war.
Our Thirty Fifth President gave his life
So that the world might see a new birth of freedom’s light.
‘Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation’
He passed the torch of liberty to a new generation.
He saw peace as our sacred responsibility
For without the dream of peace what is liberty?
Proud we are of our ancient heritage
Orphans of a touching celestial marriage
Where love eternal betrothed to mortal strife
In the falling tears of his lovely wife.
For in the depths of her loneliness
God’s hand reaches out to us in holiness.
As Eternal Flame burns proud and sure
We remember the promise of Camelot’s investiture
The President began anew the quest for peace
Before the dark powers of destruction could be unleashed.
For thirteen days in October of Sixty-Two
Humanity was trapped in annihilation’s final queue.
With love’s legacy the President stood strong
Opposing a desperate and warmongering throng.
And communicating with peace and grace
Began a dialogue with the descendants of Peter the Great.
With great courage, vigor and zest
The President wrote to Premier Khrushchev.
They spoke of the tribulation of a hard and bitter peace
And that life on Earth deserved a brand new lease.
Both understanding the ancient truth
‘That the wicked flee when no man persueth.’
And in the hearts of these two men
Was born a peace that only our better Angels tend.
Then the President did with loving apprehension
Say a prayer for our troubled Nation:
‘Oh thou God that heard Solomon in the Night
I cannot guide this Nation without thy light.’
Our President lost his very own life
Because he raised the torch of wisdom’s light.
And knowing he too had a rendezvous with death
Fought for peace until his very last breath.
On film it seemed as if all time froze
In awful cluster of bloody rose
And in the purifying furnace of affliction
Is wrought democracy’s beautiful benediction
As long as God’s light lives in our hearts
From freedom’s promised land we will never depart.
For under mortal strife’s mystical dominion
We gather in the sheaves of holy freedom.
And under fading shadow of Eagle feather
Let Mankind’s love burn together
To share an intimacy heaven sent
Softly kissing the blushing present.
For though Camelot’s dream is no more
Follow the tearful trail of her lost lore
And peace will don your gentle heart
Giving all mankind a brand new start.
In the name of the heavenly host
Bless your servant John Fitzgerald Kennedy
In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Thank you Mr. President