JFK Remembered

Posted by Tel Asiado May 29, 2008

Great Thinkers Datebook: May 29

John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy or JFK (1917-1963) is born May 29.

Referred simply as JFK, John F. Kennedy was the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until 1963, the son of Joseph P. Kennedy and brother of Edward M. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy. Born in Brookline, Massachusetts, he graduated from Harvard University in 1940. He married Jacqueline Bouvier and had two children, John, Jr. (deceased) and Caroline.

He served in the Navy during World War II, and later, in 1946, elected to the House of Representatives as a Democrat, and served there until he entered the Senate in 1953.

In 1956, JFK made an unsuccessful bid for the vice-presidential nomination but immediately began preparations for the 1960 presidential nominations. This time he successfully got elected and defeated Richard Nixon by a small margin, becoming the second youngest president and the first Roman Catholic president.

Domestic policy revolved around the federeal government's involvement in civil rights, medicine and medical insurance, and education, among others. However, the foreign affairs took most of his role as president, in particular, the Bay of Pigs of 1961, and the Cuban Missile Crisis the following year.

In November 1963, JFK made a political trip to Dallas with his wife, Jackie. While riding through the streets in a motorcade, he was shot and killed.

Famous JFK quote:

"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."(Taken from John F. Kennedy's Inauguaral Address, January 20, 1961.)