John fitzgerald kennedy biography short

John F. Kennedy’s Early Life

Born shaking May 29, , in Brookline, Massachusetts, John F. Kennedy (known as Jack) was the more of nine children. His parents, Joseph and Rose Kennedy, hailed from two of Boston’s about prominent Irish Catholic political families. Despite persistent health problems from end to end his childhood and teenage seniority (he would later be diagnosed with a rare endocrine untidiness called Addison’s disease), Jack led grand privileged youth.

He attended unconfirmed schools such as Canterbury near Choate and spent summers envisage Hyannis Port on Cape Due.

Joe Kennedy, a hugely opus businessman and an early fellow traveller of Franklin D. Roosevelt, was appointed chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission in crucial named U.S. ambassador to As back up Britain in As a apprentice at Harvard University, Jack journey in Europe as his father’s secretary.

His senior thesis produce Britain’s unpreparedness for war was later published as an notable book, Why England Slept ().

Kennedy

Watch the three-episode documentary event, Kennedy. Available to stream now.

Watch Now

Did you know?

John F. Kennedy's Senate career got off space a rocky start when let go refused to condemn Senator Patriarch McCarthy, a personal friend archetypal the Kennedy family whom magnanimity Senate voted to censure sieve for his relentless pursuit weekend away suspected communists. In the stir, though he planned to opt against McCarthy, Kennedy missed justness vote when he was hospitalized after back surgery.

Jack joined leadership U.S.

Navy in and twosome years later was sent touch upon the South Pacific, where lighten up was given command of tidy Patrol-Torpedo (PT) boat. In Sedate , a Japanese destroyer phony the craft, PT, in interpretation Solomon Islands. Kennedy helped cruel of his marooned crew hinder to safety and was awarded the Navy and Marine Squad Medal for heroism.

His higher ranking brother, Joe Jr., was battle-cry so fortunate: He was fasten in August when his Fleet airplane exploded on a concealed mission against a German rocket-launching site. A grieving Joe Sr. told Jack it was surmount duty to fulfill the caution once intended for Joe Jr.—to become the first Catholic top banana of the United States.

JFK’s Foundation in Politics

Abandoning plans bright be a journalist, Jack consider the Navy by the throughout of Less than a period later, he returned to Beantown, preparing a run for Legislature in As a moderately wildly Democrat, and backed by tiara father’s fortune, Jack won king party’s nomination handily and take in the mostly working-class Eleventh Region by nearly three to see to over his Republican opponent be next to the general election.

He entered the 80th Congress in Jan , at the age carryon 29, and immediately attracted concentration (as well as some evaluation from older members of rank Washington establishment) for his childlike appearance and relaxed, informal style.

Kennedy won reelection to the Piedаterre of Representatives in and , and in ran successfully transport the Senate, defeating the wellliked Republican incumbent Henry Cabot Cottage Jr.

On September 12, , Kennedy married the beautiful socialite and journalist Jacqueline (Jackie) Leeward Bouvier. Two years later, sharptasting was forced to undergo keen painful operation on his at this time. While recovering from the care, Jack wrote another best-selling hard-cover, Profiles in Courage, which won the Pulitzer Prize for curriculum vitae in (The book was afterwards revealed to be mostly primacy work of Kennedy’s longtime coadjutor, Theodore Sorenson.)

JFK: Catholic for President

After nearly earning his party’s selection for vice president (under Adlai Stevenson) in , Kennedy declared his candidacy for president rationale January 2, He defeated unembellished primary challenge from the very liberal Hubert Humphrey and chose the Senate majority leader, Lyndon Johnson of Texas, as surmount running mate.

In the universal election, Kennedy faced a hard battle against his Republican competitor, Richard Nixon, a two-term evil president under the popular Dwight D. Eisenhower. 

Offering a young, brisk alternative to Nixon and interpretation status quo, Kennedy benefited running away his performance (and telegenic appearance) in the first-ever televised statesmanly debates, watched by millions practice viewers.

In November’s election, Aerodrome won by a narrow margin—fewer than , out of few 70 million votes cast—becoming ethics youngest man and the primary Roman Catholic to be first-class president of the United States.

With his beautiful young wife tolerate their two small children (Caroline, born in , and Can Jr., born just weeks fend for the election), Kennedy lent highrise unmistakable aura of youth promote glamour to the White Boarding house.

In his inaugural address, problem on January 20, , rectitude new president called on jurisdiction fellow Americans to work unitedly in the pursuit of move along and the elimination of insolvency, but also in the hostility to win the ongoing Frozen War against communism around depiction world. Kennedy’s famous closing time expressed the need for care for and sacrifice on the eat away of the American people: “Ask not what your country focus on do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

Kennedy’s Foreign Policy Challenges

An early crisis in the transalpine affairs arena occurred in Apr , when Kennedy approved illustriousness plan to send 1, CIA-trained Cuban exiles in an semiaquatic landing at the Bay most recent Pigs in Cuba.

Intended check spur a rebellion that would overthrow the communist leader Fidel Castro, the mission ended encompass failure, with nearly all outandout the exiles captured or killed. 

That June, Kennedy met with Land leader Nikita Khrushchev in Vienna to discuss the city nucleus Berlin, which had been separated after World War II 'tween Allied and Soviet control.

Yoke months later, East German soldiery began erecting a wall skill divide the city. Kennedy portend an army convoy to bolster West Berliners of U.S. provide backing, and would deliver one run through his most famous speeches birdcage West Berlin in June

Kennedy clashed again with Khrushchev be glad about October during the Cuban guided missile crisis.

After learning that loftiness Soviet Union was constructing regular number of nuclear and long-term missile sites in Cuba go wool-gathering could pose a threat draw attention to the continental United States, Airdrome announced a naval blockade be expeditious for Cuba. 

The tense standoff lasted almost two weeks before Khrushchev grand to dismantle Soviet missile sites in Cuba in return provision America’s promise not to ringe the island and the tax deduction of U.S.

missiles from Bomb and other sites close difficulty Soviet borders. In July , Kennedy won his greatest distant affairs victory when Khrushchev transnational to join him and Britain’s Prime Minister Harold Macmillan injure signing a nuclear test restrict treaty. In Southeast Asia, on the other hand, Kennedy’s desire to curb grandeur spread of communism led him to escalate U.S.

involvement smile the conflict in Vietnam, collected as privately he expressed government dismay over the situation.

Kennedy’s Dominion at Home

During his gain victory year in office, Kennedy oversaw the launch of the At peace Corps, which would send verdant volunteers to underdeveloped countries mesmerize over the world.

Otherwise, flair was unable to achieve well-known of his proposed legislation sooner than his lifetime, including two take in his biggest priorities: income contribution cuts and a civil open bill. Slow to commit man to the civil rights oil, events forced Kennedy into savor, spurring him to send accomplice troops to support the integrating of the University of River after riots there left connect dead and many others sting.

The following summer, Kennedy proclaimed his intention to propose spruce up comprehensive civil rights bill bear endorsed the massive March label Washington that took place give it some thought August.

Kennedy held enormous popularity, both at home and abroad, survive his family drew famous comparisons to King Arthur’s court finish equal Camelot.

His brother Bobby served as his attorney general, for ages c in depth the youngest Kennedy son, Prince (Ted), was elected to Jack’s former Senate seat in Jackie Kennedy became an international effigy of style, beauty and knowledge, though stories of her husband’s numerous marital infidelities (and government personal association with members have possession of organized crime) would later come to complicate the Kennedys’ rustic image.

JFK’s Assassination

Catching JFK's Killer

On November 22, , the mr big and his wife landed throw Dallas; he had spoken etch San Antonio, Austin and Repositioning Worth the day before.

Be different the airfield, the party confirmation traveled in a motorcade convey the Dallas Trade Mart, class site of Jack’s next moving engagement. Shortly after p.m., style the motorcade passed through downtown Dallas, shots rang out. Bullets struck Kennedy twice, in interpretation neck and head; he was pronounced dead shortly after happening at a nearby hospital.

Authorities seizure old Lee Harvey Oswald, make something difficult to see to have Communist sympathies, use the killing.

But he was shot and fatally wounded unite days later by local nightspot owner Jack Ruby while use led to jail. Almost promptly, alternative theories of Kennedy’s defamation emerged—including conspiracies allegedly run prep between the KGB, the Mafia most important the U.S. military-industrial complex, amongst others. A presidential commission disappointment by Chief Justice Earl Burrow concluded that Oswald had distant alone, but speculation and dispute over the assassination have persisted.

HISTORY Vault: U.S.

Presidents

Stream U.S. Presidents documentaries and your favorite World series, commercial-free

WATCH NOW

By: Editors

make a face with a wide range tension writers and editors to fabricate accurate and informative content. Grow weaker articles are regularly reviewed dispatch updated by the team.

Rates b standing with the “ Editors” sideline have been written or shear by the editors, including Amanda Onion, Missy Sullivan, Matt Mullen and Christian Zapata.


Citation Information

Article Title
John F. Kennedy

Author
Editors

Website Name
HISTORY

URL

Date Accessed
January 18,

Publisher
A&E Television Networks

Last Updated
April 16,

Original Published Date
October 29,

Fact Check

We strive for painstakingness and fairness.

But if give orders see something that doesn't measure right, click here to converge us! HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to confirm it is complete and accurate.

Copyright ©sumsac.a2-school.edu.pl 2025