John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)

35th president of the United States of America

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the 35th president of the United States of America. Kennedy's handling of the Cuban missile crisis and his strong television appearance made him a very popular president.

Born in Brookline, Massachusetts

Kennedy was born in Brookline, Massachusetts as second of nine children. Three of those children - John, Robert and Edward - later entered politics. It was a wealthy Roman Catholic family. Father Joseph Patrick Kennedy amassed a fortune through business ventures.

Princeton University

John F. Kennedy went to school in Connecticut and entered Princeton University in 1935, but illness forced him to leave school. The next year he resumed his study at Harvard University. During World War II John F. Kennedy served in the South Pacific and received the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Medal. After the war Kennedy worked as a reporter for the Hearst International News Service, but he soon decided to enter politics.

Congressman

At the age of 29 he became a congressman. After he served three terms in the House of Representatives he decided to run for Senator of Massachusetts in 1952. Kennedy defeated Henry Cabot Lodge.
In 1953 Kennedy married Jacqueline Lee Bouvier. The couple had three children: Caroline (1957), John (1960) and Patrick (1963, lived for only two days).

New Frontier

In 1956 John F. Kennedy nearly became Stevenson's vice presidential running mate. It was a good test for the next campaign and his popularity grew. Photographs of him and his wife began to appear on magazine covers.
In January 1960 Kennedy formally announced his presidential candidacy. He was nominated by the Democrats and chose Johnson as running mate. In his acceptance speech he introduced his famous "New Frontier" phrase.

President of the United States of America

By defeating Nixon by a small margin Kennedy became the First Roman Catholic president of the United States of America. His slogan "Let's get this country moving again" and good looks convinced many television viewers.

Cuba

In 1961 the buildup of nuclear missiles was discovered in Cuba. Immediately John F. Kennedy demanded that the missiles be dismantled. He ordered a blockade of Cuba that would prevent Soviet ships to reach the island. A nuclear war seemed near. After thirteen days the Russians announced that the weapons should be withdrawn.
Within a year the "Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty" was signed by Russia, Great Britain and the United States.

Assassination

John F. Kennedy was the youngest elected president ever. Because he was assassinated in Dallas on November 22, 1963, before he completed his third year as president, his achievements were limited, but his influence was great.

Famous Kennedy quotes

- The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe.
- Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.
- Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.
- Mothers all want their sons to grow up to be President but they don't want them to become politicians in the process.
- I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered at the White House – with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.