John F. Kennedy
Seth Brown
3B
Ms. Preville
January 15, 2015
“My fellow Americans, ask not what your
country can do for you, ask what you can
do for your country.”
- John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961
Background of JFK
• Date of birth- May 29, 1917
• Place of birth- Brookline, Massachusetts
• Date of death – November 22, 1963
• Wife-
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
• Children-
Caroline Kennedy, John F. Kennedy Jr., Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, and
Arabella Kennedy
• Education- Harvard College, Choate Rosemary Hall, Princeton University,
Canterbury School, Riverdale County School
Interesting facts:
• JFK was the first president to dance with black women at an inaugural ball.
• Kennedy gave all his $100,000-a-year White House salary to charity.
• Kennedy was the youngest person ever elected President.
• The Army medically disqualified Kennedy from service.
• Kennedy feared running for re-election against Mitt Romney’s father.
JFK’s Experience
Political Experience:
• Democratic
• U.S. House of Representatives (1947–1953)
• Represented Massachusetts in Congress
• U.S. Senate (1953–1960)
Military Experience:
• Served in WWII (1941-1945)
• Served in U.S Navy
• Earned the ‘Purple Heart’ medal
• On August 2, 1943, Kennedy's boat, was rammed by the
Japanese destroyer Amagiri. Kennedy gathered his surviving
crew members together in the water around the wreckage.
Kennedy on his navy patrol boat,
the PT-109. (above)
JFK’s Presidency
Elected-
1961
Ran against- Richard Nixon
Vice President- Lyndon B. Johnson
Years as president- 3 years (1961-1963)
Accomplishments of presidency:
• Prevented nuclear war with the Soviet Union
• Set goal to put a man on the moon
• Established the Peace Corps
• Established the Navy Seals
Life After Presidency
John F. Kennedy was assassinated at 12:30pm on Friday, November 22, 1963, in
Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas. Kennedy was fatally shot by a sniper while traveling in his
motorcade. The killer was Lee Harvey Oswald.
Jackie Kennedy moments after the assassination (left),
Lee Harvey Oswald (middle),
JFK’s grave at Arlington National Cemetery (right)
Summary
John F. Kennedy was a good president. Although his presidency was cut short, he
accomplished many things. He is the reason that we have NASA, for he made the goal to get to the
moon. JFK also wanted to end segregation. When he was assassinated he was in the process of
getting a civil rights act signed. Also, he helped us evade nuclear war. His greatest strengths were
helping the people. He did many things to establish protection such as the navy seals. His weakness
was the inability to protect his self, so he was assassinated.
Reference
Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 17 Jan. 2015.
"John F. Kennedy." The White House. The White House, n.d. Web. 16
Jan. 2015.
"NASA Moon Landing." - John F. Kennedy Presidential Library &
Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Jan. 2015.