In this month of May, we’d like to remember John F. Kennedy for his amazing personality and an even better presidential record rather than his mysterious assassination theories.
Born on 29th May 1917 in Brookline, Massachusetts, John “Jack” F. Kennedy was the second child of other 9 children. Being a child of one of the Boston’s most prominent political families, privilege came easy to him, despite having persistent health issues. Apart from this, Jack was also a successful businessman and was appointed as a chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Surprisingly, he was also the U.S. ambassador to England. A Harvard graduate, his senior thesis “Why England Slept” was about British’s unpreparedness for war.
The U.S Navy:
He later joined the US Navy and was successful in rescuing some of his crew when their boat was struck by a Japanese destroyer. This earned him a Navy and Marine Corps Medal heroism. Sadly enough, his elder brother, Joe Jr., was killed when his Navy airplane exploded on a secret mission. It was his last wish that Jack became the first Catholic President of America.
His Entry In Politics:
Giving up on his plans to became a journalist, he returned to Boston for his run for Congress in 1946. Backed by his father’s fortune, his moderately conservative Democratic thoughts, his useful appearance and relaxed style helped him garner great attention and entry in Congress.
The Presidential Journey:
Kennedy announced his candidacy for president on 2nd January 1960. He faced a difficult battle against his Republican opponent, Richard Nixon, a two-term vice president under the popular Dwight D. Eisenhower. Young and energetic and being a part of the first ever television debate benefited Kennedy.
He won by a narrow margin–less than 120,000 out of some 70 million votes cast–becoming the youngest man and the first Roman Catholic to be elected as a president of the United States.
In his inaugural address, he asked the people of America to work together in eliminating poverty and to win the Cold War against communism. Some of his famous words were: “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”
His Time As An Popular American Leader:
During his first year, Kennedy was a part of the Peace Corps, a mission that sent young volunteers to underdeveloped countries of the world. He was a hugely popular president both in America and abroad. His wife, Jacqueline Kennedy was an international fashion icon of sophistication and style.
Ever since 1964, Kennedy’s portrait has appeared on the US half dollar coin replacing Benjamin Franklin
The Assassination:
On 22nd May 1963 a 24-year-old warehouse worker named Lee Harvey Oswald, a former Marine with Soviet sympathies, fired upon the car, hitting the president twice. Kennedy died at Parkland Memorial Hospital shortly thereafter, at the age of 46.
While many conspiracy theories have swirled around, the most plausible one suggests that Oswald worked alone.
John Kennedy is now placed with the greats of Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. He is a hero, a visionary politician who died before his time for the people of America.
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