Extra Credit
60's Project



bneto1 John F. Kennedy




John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917-1963), was the 35th president of the United States from 1961 to 1963, he was the youngest person ever to be elected president. He was also the first Roman Catholic president and the first president to be born in the 20th century. John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, the second of nine children of Joseph Patrick Kennedy and his wife, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. The other children in the family were Joseph, Rosemary, Kathleen, Eunice, Patricia, Robert, Jean, and Edward. Robert and Edward Kennedy also entered politics. The family was wealthy. By the age of 30, Joseph Kennedy had made a fortune through business ventures that included motion pictures, and stock-market speculation. In 1944 JFK's older brother, Joseph, was killed on a bombing mission over Belgium. Previously Joe Kennedy had planned to make his career in politics. Now John Kennedy, working as a reporter for the Hearst International News Service, decided to enter politics himself. Kennedy won the 1960 presidential election and was inaugurated on January 20, 1961. In his inaugural address he emphasized America's revolutionary heritage. "The same beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe," Kennedy said. Kennedy also challenged Americans to assume the burden of "defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger." The words of his address were, "Ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country." The major American legal and moral conflict during Kennedy's three years in office was in the area of civil rights. Black agitation against discrimination had become widespread and well organized. Although Kennedy wasn't responsible for the growth of the civil rights movement, he attempted to aid the black cause by enforcing existing laws. Kennedy particularly wanted to end discrimination in federally financed projects or in companies that were doing business with the government. On November 22, 1963, President and Mrs. Kennedy were in Dallas, Texas, on his way to a luncheon in downtown Dallas, Kennedy and his wife sat in an open convertible at the head of a motorcade. Lyndon Johnson was two cars behind the president, and Texas Governor John B. Connally and his wife were sitting with the Kennedys. As the motorcade approached an underpass, two shots were fired back to back. One bullet passed through the president's neck and hit Governor Connally in the back. The other bullet hit the president in the head. Kennedy fell forward, and his car sped to Parkland Hospital. At 1:00 PM, he was pronounced dead. He had never regained consciousness after being hit by the first bullet. Less than two hours after the shooting, aboard the presidential plane at the Dallas airport, Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as the 36th president of the United States. On November 24 the body of President Kennedy was carried on a horse-drawn carriage from the White House to the Rotunda of the Capitol. Hundreds of thousands of people filed past the coffin of the slain president. A state funeral was held the next day. Representatives of 92 nations attended. As many as 1 million people may have lined the streets of Washington as the funeral procession made its way slowly to Arlington National Cemetery. The grave was marked by an eternal flame lighted by his wife and brothers.


Sources

JFK Photo History
John F. Kennedy Profile
John F. Kennedy 35th President

bneto2
Created By Bruno Neto, Fall, 2001