Early Life:
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, otherwise known to some as Jack Kennedy was born on the 29th of May 1917 in Brookline, Massachusetts in America to Irish parents Joseph Patrick Kennedy and Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald-Kennedy and was the 35th president of the United States. Jacks father Joe was a respectable businessman and an avid politician of the time whilst Jacks mother Rose was a philanthropist. Jack was born into a very wealthy family and was the second eldest of 9 children, 5 of Jacks siblings were sisters (all of which were younger), and 3 of which were Jacks brothers (one being older, one being younger.) Jack grew up in a healthy family environment that subsequently was showered in wealth, due to jacks Irish decent he was brought up strictly Catholic which would have a large affect on his future in terms of presidency. Throughout his childhood, Kennedy was plagued by sickness as in 1931 while attending Canterbury School in Connecticut Jack required an appendectomy and afterwards withdrew from Canterbury to recuperate at home. After recuperating Jack was sent to Choate which was a very respectable school for children from wealthy family's. Throughout Jacks years at Choate he was plagued by sickness which culminated in 1934 to Jack being rushed to hospital as doctors suspected he had Leukemia which fortunately wasn't the case. Regardless of his sickness Jack was a constant menace to Choates disciplinary system as he often played many pranks for attention. Still despite Jacks playful attitude when he graduated he was voted "most likely to succeed" by his peers. In 1935 Jack went overseas with his parents and sister Kick for the first time to London with the intention of studying under Harold Laski at the London School of Economics as his older brother Joseph Jr. had done. However once again sickness prevented Jack from doing so as he had to return to the US on account of the sickness that would not let him alone. In 1936 Jack attended Harvard University where he worked tirelessly both academically and in his sporting pursuits as he tried out for the football, golf, and swimming teams. Jack got his first taste of politics as in 1938 he sailed overseas once again to London with his father and older brother while his father worked at the American Embassy as president Franklin Roosevelt's ambassador. In 1939 Jack toured Europe in preparation for his senior honors thesis at Harvard. Upon returning to America in 1940 Jack buttoned down as a student at Harvard and completed his senior thesis which became a bestseller under the title "Why England Slept" which was about England's heavy appeasement of Germany at the Munich agreements. Joe, Jacks father had actually been a big figure promoting appeasement which consequently had a large affect of Jack throughout his presidency. Jack had a very busy childhood but was not short of any privilege, his father being a very important political figure had only the highest expectation of his children, but the two eldest Joseph Jr. and jack in particular especially in terms of pursuing a political based career. This meant that throughout every aspect of their childhood, the two siblings made everything a competition whether it be sporting, political, or academic based.
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Military Service:
When America entered World War 2 in 1941 following the attack on Pearl Harbor Jack felt compelled to join the army. However due to his persistent health problems and chronic back pain he was medically disqualified. With the help of his fathers connections Jack managed to make it into the US Navy. Kennedy served in the Pacific ocean fighting the Japanese as a captain of a PT Boat under the rank of lieutenant. Throughout Kennedy's time serving in the Navy he was always plagued by back pains but endured regardless. On August 2nd, 1943, Kennedy revealed the extent of his resolve while commanding his team in PT-109 while they were carrying out a night patrol close to New Georgia and the Solomon Islands. During the night the boat was rammed by a Japanese Destroyer named the Amagiri and as a result was reduced to floating wood. Following this, Kennedy and the remaining survivors decided to retreat by swimming to a nearby island and Kennedy swam while carrying an injured soldier by holding the strap of his life jacket between his teeth. Jack this whole time was experiencing intense back pain that reignited following the collision however he decided to continue regardless. As a result of such courage Jack was rewarded with the Navy and Marine Corps medal. Early in January 1945 Kennedy spent three months recovering from back pain at a temporary military hospital in Arizona and just prior to Japans surrender was honorably discharged and was rewarded with a decoration of medals and rewards including the Purple Heart, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars and the World War 2 Victory Medal. During Jacks military time the Kennedy family suffered a major loss as Joe Jr, the eldest child and elder brother to Jack was killed in action during the war while serving as a pilot. This left Jacks father distraught but also turned all eyes onto Jack to lead the political life that his brother Joe Jr. was meant to fulfill especially in terms of seeking the role of president of the United States.
Road to Presidency:
In 1946 Kennedy's political crusade began as an opportunity to join the U.S house of representatives arose. Kennedy seized the opportunity and ran for the seat. Running for the seat under the democratic party Kennedy won, beating his republican opponent with little if not any fear of loss. Kennedy held that position for 6 years (1947-1953). Further pursuing his promising career in the political world, Kennedy competed against, and beat, Republican Henry Cabot Lodge once again by a large margin for a seat on the U.S Senate in 1953. Kennedy served on the senate for 7 years to 1960 from 1953. Throughout Kennedy's time on the senate he was hindered by his many illnesses and back problems. This meant that the hospital was a second home to Kennedy and more often than not Kennedy was critically ill which even resulted in the Catholic last rites being performed on him. In 1958 Kennedy was re-elected into the senate as he once again beat his republican opponent who was a Boston lawyer convincingly. Kennedy was a loved figure among the public due to his young charismatic attitude and in particular his devotion to meeting people etc. despite his excruciating back pain and constant illness. In 1960, Jacks fathers dream started to come together as Kennedy began his presidential campaign. Kennedy's primary opponent in fighting for the right to represent the democratic party in the presidential race was Lyndon Johnson who was not scared to admit his obvious contempt for Kennedy and also his brother Bobby. However Kennedy once again emerged victorious and despite their differences, asked Johnson to be his vice president in the presidential campaign as Kennedy knew he needed the votes that Johnson could bring him from the south. Turning his sights onto the role of president, Jacks opponent from the republican party was Richard Nixon. People speculated that this years presidential election would be the closest since 1916. Those who opposed Kennedy often exploited his age and particularly his religion of Catholicism as most of America was generally Protestant but Kennedy attempted to put this issue to rest by making a public statement that dictated that his religion did not rule him. By the end of the election Kennedy emerged victorious against Nixon but only by a very small amount. Kennedy succeeded Eisenhower as the youngest president of the United States at 43.
President John F. Kennedy:
Kennedy faced a lot of criticism upon winning the presidential election especially regarding his pro civil rights movement standpoint. Throughout his time as president Kennedy was hailed as a charismatic and positive leader that was changing America for the better. Kennedy faced a lot of adversity throughout his time as president especially considering he took up the role amidst the cold war. Key events that occurred during the time of Kennedy's presidency included the civil rights movement, the Cuban missile crisis, the building of Berlin wall, the Bay of Pigs invasion, the space race, and early aspects of the Vietnam war.
President Kennedy's trip to West Berlin in 1963 was a very crucial and important event to Kennedy while he was in office as he delivered the speech within the heated context of the cold war with the USSR
Page 99 of “John F. Kennedy” by Howard S. Kaplan
In June 1963, Jack goes to Germany to talk about democracy in this divided land where communists rule on half of Berlin and there is democracy in the other half. Since WWII, more than three million people have fled East Berlin for West Berlin. In 1961, Kruschev erects a huge concrete wall topped with barbed wire through the city to stop the flow of freedom seekers. When Jack goes to West Berlin the crowds are wild for him. More than one and half million people line the streets to hear him speak. They shout “Ke-ne-dy! Ke-ne-dy!”
As depicted in the cartoon above by Gerald Scarfe, not everybody took a liking to the enthusiastic and somewhat controversial decisions that the young Kennedy made as president especially considering many relevant events occurred during his presidency such as the Black Civil Rights Movement, The Cuban Missile Crisis, The Bay of Pigs Invasion, and many more.