John Fitzgerald Kennedy

1. 35th President 1961- 1963 John Fitzgerald Kennedy

2. Background • Born: May 29, 1917 Brookline, Massachusetts • Party Affiliation: Democrat • Children: Caroline, John Jr., Patrick • Wife: Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy • Career: Writer and a politician

3. An unlikely candidate • According to Richard Reeves, was the first of the “self selected presidents.” • JFK was young– 43 • He was Catholic – there had never been a Roman Catholic president • His record in Congress was nothing extraordinary

4. Path to the White House • Institutionalized his charm • Spent a great deal of his family’s money winning over the Democratic primary voters • Exaggerated his thin biography– promoting himself as a war hero • Served in the House of Representatives from 1946-1952 when he was elected to the Senate

5. As President • Brought flair to the presidency • Greatest challenge: preventing Cold War tensions between the US and Soviet Union from flaring into WWIII • Bay of Pigs Invasion demonstrated his lack of experience • Berlin Wall built during his presidency • Doubled the American troops in Vietnam • Cuban Missile Crisis– Kennedy ordered a naval blockade which kept us from nuclear war

6. Assassination • November 22, 1963 • Dallas, Texas • Officially, Lee Harvey Oswald • Chief Justice Earl Warren led a commission which said Oswald acted on his own but conspiracies and cover-ups have persisted ever since • Buried in Arlington National Cemetery; an eternally burning flame marks his grave

7. Successes and Criticisms Successes Criticisms Accusations of reckless associations Accusations of carelessness involving drugs Numerous affairs Increased involvement in Vietnam • Brought youthful exuberance to the White House • To many represents a mythical view of the “ideal American president” • One of the greatest leaders to many • Admired for his style, wit, and spirit • Created the Peace Corps • Took America into space