John f. kennedy short biography
John F. Kennedy
President of the Leagued States from 1961 to 1963
Several terms redirect here. For different uses, see John Kennedy (disambiguation), Jack Kennedy (disambiguation), JFK (disambiguation), and John F. Jfk (disambiguation).
John F. Kennedy | |
|---|---|
Oval Office portrait, 1963 | |
| In office January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963 | |
| Vice President | Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Preceded by | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Succeeded by | Lyndon B.
Johnson |
| In office January 3, 1953 – December 22, 1960 | |
| Preceded by | Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Benjamin Fastidious. Smith II |
| In office January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1953 | |
| Preceded by | James Archangel Curley |
| Succeeded by | Tip O'Neill |
| Born | John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917-05-29)May 29, 1917 Brookline, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | November 22, 1963(1963-11-22) (aged 46) Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Manner of death | Assassination |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4, including Carolean, John Jr., and Patrick |
| Parents | |
| Relatives | Kennedy family Bouvier kindred (by marriage) |
| Education | Harvard University (AB) |
| Signature | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1941–1945 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | |
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – Nov 22, 1963), also known owing to JFK, was the 35th chief honcho of the United States, dollop from 1961 until his traducement in 1963.
He was illustriousness youngest person elected president tiny 43 years.[a] Kennedy served kindness the height of the Chilly War, and the majority round his foreign policy concerned dealings with the Soviet Union pointer Cuba. A Democrat, Kennedy signify Massachusetts in both houses catch the fancy of the United States Congress previous to his presidency.
Born get tangled the prominent Kennedy family suspend Brookline, Massachusetts, Kennedy graduated evade Harvard University in 1940, joined the U.S. Naval Reserve class following year. During World Contest II, he commanded PT boats in the Pacific theater. Kennedy's survival following the sinking promote to PT-109 and his rescue use up his fellow sailors made him a war hero and just the Navy and Marine Team Medal, but left him keep an eye on serious injuries.
After a little stint in journalism, Kennedy professed a working-class Boston district whitehead the U.S. House of Representatives from 1947 to 1953. Operate was subsequently elected to grandeur U.S. Senate, serving as primacy junior senator for Massachusetts getaway 1953 to 1960. While surprise the Senate, Kennedy published queen book, Profiles in Courage, which won a Pulitzer Prize.
Airport ran in the 1960 statesmanly election. His campaign gained hurry after the first televised statesmanlike debates in American history, impressive he was elected president, searchingly defeating Republican opponent Richard President, the incumbent vice president.
Kennedy's presidency saw high tensions competent communist states in the Chilly War.
He increased the matter of American military advisers remove South Vietnam, and the Deliberate Hamlet Program began during enthrone presidency. In 1961, he licenced attempts to overthrow the State government of Fidel Castro advance the failed Bay of Widespread Invasion and Operation Mongoose. Monitor October 1962, U.S. spy planes discovered Soviet missile bases difficult been deployed in Cuba.
Probity resulting period of tensions, termed the Cuban Missile Crisis, approximately resulted in nuclear war. Give it some thought August 1961, after East European troops erected the Berlin Go bust, Kennedy sent an army marshal to reassure West Berliners incessantly U.S. support, and delivered upper hand of his most famous speeches in West Berlin in June 1963.
In 1963, Kennedy shipshape the first nuclear weapons alliance. He presided over the arrangement of the Peace Corps, Pact for Progress with Latin U.s.a., and the continuation of prestige Apollo program with the rationale of landing a man throng the Moon before 1970. Operate supported the civil rights transit but was only somewhat work out in passing his New Edge domestic policies.
On November 22, 1963, Kennedy was assassinated cattle Dallas. His vice president, Lyndon B. Johnson, assumed the wheel. Lee Harvey Oswald was pinch for the assassination, but take action was shot and killed unreceptive Jack Ruby two days afterwards. The FBI and the Author Commission both concluded Oswald abstruse acted alone, but conspiracy theories about the assassination persist.
Back end Kennedy's death, Congress enacted patronize of his proposals, including say publicly Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Revenue Act draw round 1964. Kennedy ranks highly tidy polls of U.S. presidents defer historians and the general collective. His personal life has anachronistic the focus of considerable unbroken interest following public revelations skull the 1970s of his continual health ailments and extramarital dealings.
Kennedy is the most fresh U.S. president to have monotonous in office.
Early life deed education
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was inherent outside Boston in Brookline, Colony, on May 29, 1917,[3] fifty pence piece Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., excellent businessman and politician, and Red Kennedy (née Fitzgerald), a donor and socialite.
His paternal grandparent, P. J. Kennedy, was stupendous East Boston ward boss person in charge Massachusetts state legislator.[5] Kennedy's careful grandfather and namesake, John Fuehrer. Fitzgerald, was a U.S. civil servant and two-term mayor of Beantown. All four of his grandparents were children of Irish immigrants.[1] Kennedy had an older sibling, Joseph Jr., and seven junior siblings: Rosemary, Kathleen, Eunice, Patricia, Robert, Jean, and Ted.[7]
Kennedy's holy man amassed a private fortune person in charge established trust funds for monarch nine children that guaranteed alltime financial independence.[8] His business reserved him away from home use long stretches, but Joe Sr.
was a formidable presence fit in his children's lives. He pleased them to be ambitious, emphatic political discussions at the carousal table, and demanded a elevated level of academic achievement. John's first exposure to politics was touring the Boston wards comprehend his grandfather Fitzgerald during ruler 1922 failed gubernatorial campaign.[9][10] Toy Joe Sr.'s business ventures undivided on Wall Street and Feel and an outbreak of poliomyelitis in Massachusetts, the family certain to move from Boston advance the Riverdale neighborhood of Newborn York City in September 1927.[11][12] Several years later, his fellow-man Robert told Look magazine give it some thought his father left Boston being of job signs that read: "No Irish Need Apply."[13] Interpretation Kennedys spent summers and at autumns at their home prosperous Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, a district on Cape Cod,[14] where they swam, sailed, and played young football.[15] Christmas and Easter holidays were spent at their chill retreat in Palm Beach, Florida.
In September 1930, Kennedy, 13 years old, was sent harmony the Canterbury School in Modern Milford, Connecticut, for 8th stage. In April 1931, he locked away an appendectomy, after which why not? withdrew from Canterbury and recuperated at home.
In September 1931, Airdrome started attending Choate, a introductory boarding school in Wallingford, U.s..
Rose had wanted John survive Joe Jr. to attend unembellished Catholic school, but Joe Sr. thought that if they were to compete in the state world, they needed to fur with boys from prominent Christian families.[19] John spent his precede years at Choate in wreath older brother's shadow and remunerated with rebellious behavior that interested a clique.
Their most open stunt was exploding a closet seat with a firecracker. Trim the next chapel assembly, dignity headmaster, George St. John, brandished the toilet seat and beam of "muckers" who would "spit in our sea," leading Airdrome to name his group "The Muckers Club," which included roomy and lifelong friend Lem Billings.[21] Kennedy graduated from Choate of great consequence June 1935, finishing 64th apparent 112 students.[12] He had antediluvian the business manager of integrity school yearbook and was progressing the "most likely to succeed."
Kennedy intended to study under Harold Laski at the London College of Economics, as his elder brother had done.
Ill welfare forced his return to glory U.S. in October 1935, in the way that he enrolled late at Town University, but had to bin after two months due next gastrointestinal illness.[22]
In September 1936, President enrolled at Harvard College.[23] Type wrote occasionally for The Philanthropist Crimson, the campus newspaper, on the other hand had little involvement with college politics, preferring to concentrate fury athletics and his social dulled.
Kennedy played football and was on the JV squad meanwhile his sophomore year, but proposal injury forced him off magnanimity team, and left him congregate back problems that plagued him for the rest of climax life. He won membership prickly the Hasty Pudding Club predominant the Spee Club, one be more or less Harvard's elite "final clubs".[25]
In July 1938, Kennedy sailed overseas constant his older brother to check up at the American embassy gradient London, where his father was serving as President Franklin Run.
Roosevelt's ambassador to the Have a crack of St. James's. The consequent year, Kennedy traveled throughout Assemblage, the Soviet Union, the Peninsula, and the Middle East instructions preparation for his Harvard prime honors thesis. He then went to Berlin, where a U.S. diplomatic representative gave him put in order secret message about war break out soon to pass adoration to his father, and tackle Czechoslovakia before returning to Writer on September 1, 1939, representation day that Germany invaded Poland; the start of World Contest II.[28] Two days later, high-mindedness family was in the Do of Commons for speeches movement the United Kingdom's declaration help war on Germany.
Kennedy was sent as his father's evocative to help with arrangements funding American survivors of the torpedoing of SS Athenia before flying move away to the U.S. on coronate first transatlantic flight.[29]
While Kennedy was an upperclassman at Harvard, sharptasting began to take his studies more seriously and developed swindler interest in political philosophy.
Explicit made the dean's list pull his junior year. In 1940, Kennedy completed his thesis, "Appeasement in Munich", about British jobber during the Munich Agreement. Depiction thesis was released on July 24, under the title Why England Slept. The book was one of the first on top of offer information about the contest and its origins, and hustle became a bestseller.[33] In putting together to addressing Britain's unwillingness withstand strengthen its military in probity lead-up to the war, honesty book called for an Anglo-American alliance against the rising absolute powers.
Kennedy became increasingly helping of U.S. intervention in Cosmos War II, and his father's isolationist beliefs resulted in primacy latter's dismissal as ambassador.
In 1940, Kennedy graduated cum laude outlandish Harvard with a Bachelor appreciated Arts in government, concentrating parody international affairs.
That fall, take action enrolled at the Stanford Mark off School of Business and audited classes, but he left tail a semester to help potentate father complete his memoirs reorganization an American ambassador. In precisely 1941, Kennedy toured South America.
U.S. Naval Reserve (1941–1945)
Kennedy planned coinage attend Yale Law School, however canceled when American entry secure World War II seemed menacing.
In 1940, Kennedy attempted write to enter the army's Officer Entrant School. Despite months of loyalty, he was medically disqualified pointless to his chronic back distress. On September 24, 1941, Aerodrome, with the help of position director of the Office clamour Naval Intelligence (ONI) and goodness former naval attaché to Joe Sr., Alan Kirk, joined depiction United States Naval Reserve.
Why not? was commissioned an ensign stoppage October 26, 1941,[40] and connubial the ONI staff in Pedagogue, D.C.[41][42]
In January 1942, Kennedy was assigned to the ONI environment office at Headquarters, Sixth Maritime District, in Charleston, South Carolina.[42] His hope was to note down the commander of a High priority (patrol torpedo) boat, but queen health problems seemed almost recognize to prevent active duty.
Kennedy's father intervened by providing incorrect medical records and convincing Grievance officers that his presence would bring publicity to the expeditious. Kennedy completed six months tactic training at the Naval Conserve Officer Training School in Port and at the Motor Roughneck Boat Squadrons Training Center squeeze up Melville, Rhode Island.[41] His leading command was PT-101 from Dec 7, 1942, until February 23, 1943.[42] Unhappy to be determined to the Panama Canal, remote from the fighting, Kennedy appealed to Massachusetts senator David Walsh, who arranged for him damage be assigned to the Southmost Pacific.
Commanding PT-109 and PT-59
Main article: Patrol torpedo boat PT-109
In Apr 1943, Kennedy was assigned stop with Motor Torpedo Squadron TWO,[41] impressive on April 24 he took command of PT-109,[46] then family unit on Tulagi Island in magnanimity Solomons.[42] On the night counterfeit August 1–2, in support subtract the New Georgia campaign, PT-109 and fourteen other PTs were ordered to block or reject four Japanese destroyers and floatplanes carrying food, supplies, and 900 Japanese soldiers to the Vila Plantation garrison on the meridional tip of the Solomon's Kolombangara Island.
Intelligence had been propel to Kennedy's Commander Thomas Blurred. Warfield expecting the arrival robust the large Japanese naval calling that would pass on honesty evening of August 1. Bring to an end the 24 torpedoes fired deviate night by eight of goodness American PTs, not one favourable outcome the Japanese convoy. On renounce moonless night, Kennedy spotted clean up Japanese destroyer heading north defile its return from the result of Kolombangara around 2:00 a.m., mount attempted to turn to invasion, when PT-109 was rammed abruptly at an angle and process in half by the exterminator Amagiri, killing two PT-109 proletariat members.[48][42][b] Avoiding surrender, the bare crew swam towards Plum Second course Island, 3.5 miles (5.6 km) south of the remains of PT-109, on August 2.[42] Despite re-injuring his back in the slap, Kennedy towed a badly tempered crewman to the island sell a life jacket strap clinched between his teeth.
From not far from, Kennedy and his subordinate, Pennon George Ross, made forays pillage the coral islands, searching avoidable help. When they encountered swindler English-speaking native with a canoe, Kennedy carved his location demureness a coconut shell and at once a boat rescue. Seven era after the collision, with significance coconut message delivered, the PT-109 crew were rescued.
Almost immediately, rendering PT-109 rescue became a greatly publicized event.
The story was chronicled by John Hersey beginning The New Yorker in 1944 (decades later it was influence basis of a successful film). It followed Kennedy into government and provided a strong foot for his appeal as grand leader.[56] Hersey portrayed Kennedy restructuring a modest, self-deprecating hero.[57] Make his courage and leadership, President was awarded the Navy added Marine Corps Medal, and rank injuries he suffered during depiction incident qualified him for wonderful Purple Heart.[56]
After a month's turn for the better Kennedy returned to duty, judgment the PT-59.
On November 2, Kennedy's PT-59 took part be a sign of two other PTs in grandeur rescue of 40–50 marines. Say publicly 59 acted as a bulwark from shore fire as they escaped on two rescue alighting craft at the base be unable to find the Warrior River at Choiseul Island, taking ten marines alongside and delivering them to security. Under doctor's orders, Kennedy was relieved of his command inaptness November 18, and sent test the hospital on Tulagi.
Uncongenial December 1943, with his benefit deteriorating, Kennedy left the Ocean front and arrived in San Francisco in early January 1944. After receiving treatment for top back injury at the Chelsea Naval Hospital in Massachusetts differ May to December 1944, proceed was released from active duty.[61][41] Beginning in January 1945, Jfk spent three months recovering getaway his back injury at Hall Hot Springs, a resort essential temporary military hospital in Arizona.[63] On March 1, 1945, Aerodrome retired from the Navy Engage on physical disability and was honorably discharged with the brim-full rank of lieutenant.[64] When afterward asked how he became great war hero, Kennedy joked: "It was easy.
They cut blurry PT boat in half."
On Sage 12, 1944, Kennedy's older monk, Joe Jr., a navy aviatrix, was killed on an curved mission. His body was under no circumstances recovered.[67] The news reached greatness family's home in Hyannis Harbour, Massachusetts, a day later. Airdrome felt that Joe Jr.'s immoral flight was partly an passion to outdo him.
To allay himself, Kennedy set out correspond with assemble a privately published work of remembrances of his fellow, As We Remember Joe.[70]
Journalism (1945)
In April 1945, Kennedy's father, who was a friend of William Randolph Hearst, arranged a pose for his son as dialect trig special correspondent for Hearst Newspapers; the assignment kept Kennedy's honour in the public eye present-day "expose[d] him to journalism primate a possible career." That Can he went to Berlin since a correspondent, covering the Potsdam Conference and other events.
U.S.
Studio of Representatives (1947–1953)
Kennedy's elder friar Joe Jr. had been say publicly family's political standard-bearer and abstruse been tapped by their father confessor to seek the presidency. Equate Joe's death, the assignment cut to JFK as the in a short time eldest. Boston mayor Maurice List. Tobin discussed the possibility read John becoming his running instigate in 1946 as a contestant for Massachusetts lieutenant governor, nevertheless Joe Sr.
preferred a deliberative campaign that could send Gents to Washington, where he could have national visibility.
At probity urging of Kennedy's father, U.S. Representative James Michael Curley vacant his seat in the mightily Democratic 11th congressional district liberation Massachusetts to become mayor surrounding Boston in 1946.
Kennedy planted legal residency at 122 Bowdoin Street across from the Colony State House.[76] Kennedy won goodness Democratic primary with 42 percentage of the vote, defeating niner other candidates.[77] According to Fredrik Logevall, Joe Sr.
spent high noon on the phone with journalists and editors, seeking information, trade confidences, and cajoling them bite-mark publishing puff pieces on Lavatory, ones that invariably played spiral his war record in high-mindedness Pacific.
He oversaw a glossed advertising campaign that ensured ads went up in just say publicly right places the campaign esoteric a virtual monopoly on [Boston] subway space, and on crystal stickers ("Kennedy for Congress") act cars and homes and was the force behind the wholesale mailing of Hersey's PT-109 article.[78]
Though Republicans took control clamour the House in the 1946 elections, Kennedy defeated his Democratic opponent in the general option, taking 73 percent of position vote.
As a congressman, Kennedy locked away a reputation for not deputation much interest in the possible of his office or cap constituents' concerns, with one director the highest absenteeism rates kick up a rumpus the House, although much was explained by illness.[80]George Smathers, assault of his few political new zealand at the time, claimed prowl he was more interested vibrate being a writer than keen politician, and at that firmly he suffered from extreme shyness.[80] Kennedy found "most of sovereign fellow congressmen boring, preoccupied gorilla they all seemed to fur with their narrow political concerns." The arcane House rules station customs, which slowed legislation, resentful him.
Kennedy served in the Household for six years, joining picture influential Education and Labor Board and the Veterans' Affairs Board.
He concentrated his attention flaw international affairs, supporting the President Doctrine as the appropriate feedback to the emerging Cold Contest. He also supported public dwelling and opposed the Labor Manipulation Relations Act of 1947, which restricted the power of have unions. Though not as vocally anti-communist as Joseph McCarthy, Airport supported the Immigration and Tribe Act of 1952, which chosen communists to register with say publicly government, and he deplored leadership "loss of China." During span speech in Salem, Massachusetts potency January 30, 1949, Kennedy denounced Truman and the State Subdivision for contributing to the "tragic story of China whose autonomy we once fought to watch over.
Coupe monica cruz biographyWhat our young men locked away saved [in World War II], our diplomats and our Director have frittered away."[84] Having served as a boy scout before his childhood, Kennedy was enterprising in the Boston Council running away 1946 to 1955 as community vice chairman, member of leadership executive board, vice-president, and Governmental Council Representative.[85][86]
To appeal to nobility large Italian-American voting bloc absorb Massachusetts, Kennedy delivered a story in November 1947 supporting expert $227 million aid package principle Italy.
He maintained that Italia was in danger from break "onslaught of the communist minority" and that the country was the "initial battleground in illustriousness communist drive to capture Brown-nose Europe."[87] To combat Soviet efforts to take control in Centrality Eastern and Asian countries become visible Indochina, Kennedy wanted the Collective States to develop nonmilitary techniques of resistance that would sob create suspicions of neoimperialism unanswered add to the country's capital burden.
The problem, as proscribed saw it, was not intelligibly to be anti-communist but be required to stand for something that these emerging nations would find appealing.
Almost every weekend that Congress was in session, Kennedy would flick back to Massachusetts to reciprocity speeches to veteran, fraternal, bracket civic groups, while maintaining implication index card file on community who might be helpful go allout for a campaign for statewide office.[89] Contemplating whether to run transfer Massachusetts governor or the U.S.
Senate, Kennedy abandoned interest draw out the former, believing that glory governor "sat in an uncover, handing out sewer contracts."
U.S. Convocation (1953–1960)
See also: 1952 United States Senate election in Massachusetts playing field 1958 United States Senate choosing in Massachusetts
As early as 1949, Kennedy began preparing to speed up for the Senate in 1952 against Republican three-term incumbent Speechifier Cabot Lodge Jr.
with grandeur campaign slogan "KENNEDY WILL Untie MORE FOR MASSACHUSETTS". Joe Sr. again financed his son's movement (persuading the Boston Post know switch its support to President by promising the publisher simple $500,000 loan), while John's last brother Robert emerged as crusade manager.
Kennedy's mother and sisters contributed as highly effective canvassers by hosting a series confront "teas" at hotels and parlors across Massachusetts to reach conscientious to women voters.[94][95] In grandeur presidential election, Republican Dwight Recycle. Eisenhower carried Massachusetts by 208,000 votes, but Kennedy narrowly cringing Lodge by 70,000 votes embody the Senate seat.[96] The closest year, he married Jacqueline Bouvier.
Kennedy underwent several spinal operations ask for the next two years.
Many a time absent from the Senate, of course was at times critically exercise and received Catholic last rites. During his convalescence in 1956, he published Profiles in Courage, a book about U.S. senators who risked their careers goods their personal beliefs, for which he won the Pulitzer Affection for Biography in 1957.[98] Rumors that this work was ghostwritten by his close adviser obtain speechwriter, Ted Sorensen, were established in Sorensen's 2008 autobiography.[99]
At justness start of his first designation, Kennedy focused on fulfilling depiction promise of his campaign be adjacent to do "more for Massachusetts" elude his predecessor.
Although Kennedy's scold Lodge's legislative records were in like manner liberal, Lodge voted for position Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 take Kennedy voted against it. Illustration NBC's Meet the Press, Airdrome excoriated Lodge for not evidence enough to prevent the acceleratory migration of manufacturing jobs alien Massachusetts to the South, keep from blamed the right-to-work provision hold giving the South an undeserved advantage over Massachusetts in get costs.[100] In May 1953, Aerodrome introduced "The Economic Problems care for New England",[101] a 36-point promulgation to help Massachusetts industries much as fishing, textile manufacturing, watchmaking, and shipbuilding, as well primate the Boston seaport.
Kennedy's method agenda included protective tariffs, hindrance excessive speculation in raw cloth, stronger efforts to research arm market American fish products, modification increase in the Fish bracket Wildlife Service budget, modernizing reserve-fleet vessels, tax incentives to ban further business relocations, and picture development of hydroelectric and 1 power in Massachusetts.[104][105][106] Kennedy's suggestions for stimulating the region's conservatism appealed to both parties newborn offering benefits to business challenging labor, and promising to stifle national defense.
Congress would at last enact most of the syllabus. Kennedy, a Massachusetts Audubon Homeland supporter, wanted to make villainy that the shorelines of Plug Cod remained unsullied by industrialisation. On September 3, 1959, Airport co-sponsored the Cape Cod Own Seashore bill with his Politician colleague Senator Leverett Saltonstall.[107][108]
As ingenious senator, Kennedy quickly won natty reputation for responsiveness to requests from constituents (i.e., co-sponsoring codification to provide federal loans calculate help rebuild communities damaged fail to see the 1953 Worcester tornado), prep also except for on certain occasions when honourableness national interest was at stake.[109][110] In 1954, Kennedy voted drain liquid from favor of the Saint Saint Seaway which would connect birth Great Lakes to the Ocean Ocean, despite opposition from Colony politicians who argued that representation project would hurt the Hope of Boston economically.
In 1954, while in the manner tha the Senate voted to remonstrate with Joseph McCarthy for breaking Sen rules and abusing an Herd general, Kennedy was the exclusive Democrat not to cast cool vote against him.
Kennedy drafted a speech supporting the criticize. However, it was not untied because Kennedy was hospitalized use back surgery in Boston.[113] Granted Kennedy never indicated how noteworthy would have voted, the affair damaged his support among men and women of the liberal community engage the 1956 and 1960 elections.
In 1956, Kennedy gained control appreciate the Massachusetts Democratic Party, impressive delivered the state delegation show consideration for the party's presidential nominee, Adlai Stevenson II, at the Selfgoverning National Convention in August.
Author let the convention select high-mindedness vice presidential nominee. Kennedy ripened second in the balloting, disappearance to Senator Estes Kefauver complete Tennessee, but receiving national exposure.[117]
In 1957, Kennedy joined the Senate's Select Committee on Labor Rackets (also known as the McClellan Committee) with his brother Parliamentarian, who was chief counsel, blow up investigate racketeering in labor-management relations.[118] The hearings attracted extensive ghettoblaster and television coverage where significance Kennedy brothers engaged in stage arguments with controversial labor front, including Jimmy Hoffa, of distinction Teamsters Union