John F. Kennedy Round
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, was a larger-than-life figure who inspired a generation and brought with him an era of optimism, youth and idealism. Born into one of the most prominent families of Massachusetts, his presidency was noted for its accomplishments such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Apollo 11 mission that brought man to the moon—but sadly he was assassinated in 1963. As such, he is remembered for his many positive initiatives, but also for the peak of civil unrest and the Cold War which spanned much of his tenure. JFK was born in Brookline, Massachusetts in 1917, to Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. He was the second of nine children and went on to study at Harvard University and then the London School of Economics. After his fathers appointment as Ambassador to the Court of St. James, the family moved to London, where he met and was influenced by some influential British politicians. After his return to his home country, he served in the Navy during World War II, where he earned multiple awards, including the Purple Heart and the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. Following his military service, he entered politics, and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1947. In 1953 he ran for the Senate, winning a narrow victory and serving as Massachusetts senator until 1960, when he announced his candidacy for president. During his election campaign, JFK had a number of notable feuds with his primary opponent Richard Nixon, and later adopted the now-famous phrase “ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” His election, heavily contested and filmed for the first time on television, was the closest in U.S. history. Upon taking office, President Kennedy made civil rights one of his main focuses and he supported passage of the groundbreaking Civil Rights Act of 1964. His foreign policy aimed to promote world peace and put a stop to the Cold War, introducing the controversial idea of a “peaceful coexistence” with the Soviet Union. During his presidency, he also signed the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which was meant to reduce the risk of a third world war by limiting nuclear testing. JFK was also responsible for the creation of the Peace Corps—an organization designed to send volunteers to developing countries in order to help with their needs. Beyond his ambitious domestic and foreign policies, he also appreciated the arts and humanities, and sought support for the country’s artistic and cultural organizations, including funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the restoration of the White House. In addition to his political work, JFK also enjoyed sailing and frequently took part in activities such as sailing around the Cape of Good Hope. In 1963, his presidency was tragically cut short when he was assassinated while riding in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas. The shock of his death stunned the entire nation and left millions of Americans in mourning. Although his life and presidency were brief, Kennedy left a lasting impact on U.S. history, inspiring people for many years after his death. To this day, his legacy remains evident in the plethora of programs and laws that he worked to create, and he will always be remembered as one of the great presidents of the United States.
