“It’s either good or nothing about the dead.” It's wide famous saying does not apply to politicians. The activities of those in power are almost always posthumously subjected to scrupulous study, which very often turns into merciless condemnation.
But there are exceptions to any rule. A political figure who has suffered martyrdom at the hands of a murderer receives an indulgence from his descendants: as a rule, only his merits remain behind him, and his shortcomings fade into the shadows.
US President Abraham Lincoln was not a popular figure among his contemporaries. Many held him responsible for the bloodshed civil war in the United States.But the shot John Booth who ended Lincoln's life, changed the attitude towards his personality. Abraham Lincoln is now revered as one of the best presidents in American history.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, largely repeated the fate of Lincoln. Shots Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas on November 22, 1963, which took Kennedy's life, turned him from a figure at least controversial into one of the 10 best presidents in American history.
But the real John Kennedy had not only light but also dark pages in his political career.
War hero, "dodger" in the Senate
Kennedy himself, a hero of World War II, was not eager to get into politics. However, father Joseph Kennedy, the head of one of the most influential clans in America, persuaded John to start a political career. This happened after the death of his older brother John, Joseph Kennedy Jr., whom his father initially predicted to be his political heir.
Through the efforts of his father, a seat in the US House of Representatives was vacated for John Kennedy. The aspiring parliamentarian was not yet 30 years old.
In the early fifties, already a senator, Kennedy set the first dark spot on your reputation. The Senate passed a majority vote to censure Joseph McCarthy regarding his leadership of the House Un-American Activities Committee. The “witch hunt” carried out by the McCarthyites, which affected thousands of Americans, caused increasing discontent in society. When the question of whether to censure McCarthy came up for a vote, Kennedy avoided it. He later explained this action as follows: “The Joe McCarthy incident? I found myself in a losing situation. My brother worked for Joe. I was against it, I didn't want him to work for Joe, but he did. How the hell could I stand up and condemn Joe McCarthy when my own brother worked for him? Thus, it was not so much a matter of political duty as a personal problem."
Cuban Missile Crisis: Kennedy Stopped a Disaster He Caused
In 1960, 43-year-old John Kennedy narrowly won Richard Nixon and assumed the presidency of the United States.
In foreign policy Kennedy positioned himself as a supporter of peace and improvement of relations between the USSR and the USA, but in practice, the world during the reign of the 35th President of the United States experienced the most acute crisis since the end of World War II.
When talking about the Cuban Missile Crisis, it is often repeated that it began with an adventurous decision by the Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev place Soviet missiles in Cuba.
But few people remember that this act of Khrushchev was a response to the deployment in Turkey in 1961 of medium-range PGM-19 Jupiter missiles with a range of 2,400 km, which directly threatened the European part of the Soviet Union, including Moscow.Kennedy believed that the deployment of missiles in Turkey was of limited strategic importance, but nevertheless approved it. The escalation of the conflict very quickly brought the United States and the USSR to the brink of nuclear war.
But at the peak of the crisis, in October 1962, Kennedy showed himself best side. Contrary to the opinion of most American military leaders, who called for an immediate invasion of Cuba, the president continued negotiations with Khrushchev and managed to reach an agreement. The USSR removed missiles from Cuba, and a few months later the US removed Jupiter missiles from Turkey.
Cuban failure
The “Cuban problem” during the reign of John Kennedy was one of the most difficult for the United States. Having failed to establish relations with the revolutionary government Fidel Castro, Washington began preparing an operation to overthrow him. Intentions arose even before John Kennedy came to power, however new president, having familiarized himself with the operation plan, approved it at the beginning of 1961.
Operation Zapata, carried out in April 1961 at the Bay of Pigs by Cuban emigrants armed and trained by American instructors, ended in their complete defeat. The failure of the Bay of Pigs operation was one of the biggest foreign policy failures of the John F. Kennedy era.
War and Peace
When talking about the Vietnam War, Kennedy's name is rarely remembered, since the full-scale military intervention of the American army began later. However, it was on the orders of John Kennedy that the first regular units were sent to South Vietnam armed forces USA. Under Kennedy, the number of American soldiers and officers in South Vietnam reached 16 thousand people, and general expenses for the war exceeded the $3 billion mark.
At the same time, it cannot be said that Kennedy’s desire for sustainable peace was only declarative. Under him, a system of treaties began to be laid out to protect the world from the nuclear threat.
On August 5, 1963, an agreement was signed between representatives of the USSR, the USA and Great Britain banning nuclear weapons tests in three areas: in the air, on land and under water.
Kennedy ensured America's moon landing
The beginning of John F. Kennedy's presidency was marked by a painful defeat for the United States in the "space race." America, having lost the battle for the first satellite, learned on April 12, 1961 that the first man in space was Soviet pilot Yuri Gagarin.
In May 1961, John Kennedy formulated a goal in his speech: by the end of the decade, Americans should make a manned flight to the Moon, ahead of Soviet Union. To solve this problem, the Apollo program was launched. The program was expected to cost $5 billion over the first five years.
In reality, the total cost of the Apollo program amounted to 25 billion in 1969 prices or - taking into account inflation - 136 billion dollars in prices beginning of the XXI century.
Kennedy did not live to see the Americans land on the Moon, but the US victory in the “lunar race” was largely due to him.
Civil rights for all
By the time John Kennedy assumed the presidency, the racial problem in the United States was extremely acute. Any attempts to expand the rights of blacks were met with hostility by conservatives.
Kennedy was a proponent of the complete abolition of racial divisions. On June 19, 1963, he introduced a civil rights bill in Congress that would prohibit segregation in all public places. The document was adopted after the death of the president. Kennedy's replacement Lyndon Johnson In 1964, he secured the passage of the Civil Rights Act, which outlawed segregation throughout the United States.
The shadow of the mafia behind the president
Throughout John Kennedy's political career, the shadow of suspicion of connections with the mafia hung over him. In business contacts with leaders organized crime They suspected John's father, Joseph Kennedy, who allegedly collaborated with them during Prohibition. At the same time, Joseph allegedly convinced the “godfathers” to invest in his son’s presidential campaign.
Kennedy had a reputation as a playboy who had many mistresses. One of them is called Judith Campbell Exner. In addition to the president, mafia bosses had close relationships with Judith Sam Giancana And John Roselli. According to this version, Judith was a kind of “agent of influence” of the mafia under the president.
Before the Cuban Revolution, the American mafia controlled the gambling business, as well as prostitution and other illegal areas of activity on Liberty Island. Fidel Castro's regime put an end to this, and the godfathers were interested in invading Cuba. The mafiosi believed that Kennedy owed them for his help in election campaign.
Kennedy's refusal to use force in Cuba after the failure of the Bay of Pigs landing caused extreme dissatisfaction among the bosses of the criminal world. In addition, Kennedy launched a campaign against organized crime.
According to the popular version, the mafia, disappointed by the actions of John Kennedy, whom they considered “their man,” took part in a conspiracy against the US President, which ended with his assassination.
Marilyn Monroe's last secret
We have already talked about the reputation of a hero-lover that stuck with John Kennedy. Such fame does not strengthen the position of a politician in the United States even now, but in the sixties it could lead to the destruction of his entire career. Of course, if the suspicions were supported by facts.
On May 19, 1962, at a gala concert in honor of the 45th anniversary of John F. Kennedy, the actress Marilyn Monroe sang the congratulatory song “Happy Birthday”. The congratulation turned into a scandal: the song was performed in such a provocative manner that there was practically no doubt about the existence of an intimate relationship between the president and the Hollywood diva.Less than three months later, the actress was found dead in her own home. According to the official version, the cause was an overdose of sleeping pills.
According to another widespread version, Marilyn Monroe was the mistress of not only John Kennedy, but also his brother Robert, who served as US Attorney General. The actress unwittingly found herself privy to a number of secrets of the Kennedy clan that were not subject to public knowledge. At some point, tired of such a life, Monroe began to threaten her lovers that she would talk about the relationship publicly. The story with the scandalous congratulations showed that Marilyn could go very far.
There is no evidence of the involvement of John and Robert Kennedy in the death of Marilyn Monroe, but suspicions have not been dispelled to this day.
"I never called myself perfect"
In 1960, John Kennedy remarked: “I have never called myself perfect. I fulfilled the usual quota of mistakes for a politician.”
During his presidency, Kennedy added to his collection of mistakes, one of which may have been fatal for himself. But at that moment, when the world was on the brink of an abyss in 1962, John Kennedy escaped the most terrible mistake. And this “plus” really outweighs everything else.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born on May 29, 1917 in Brookline, Massachusetts.
John Kennedy grew up in a Catholic Irish family, his father was a major businessman, diplomat and politician, and his mother was responsible for raising children. In total, Joseph Patrick and Rose Elizabeth Kennedy had nine children - four boys and five girls.
According to another version, the conspiracy was led by Vice President Lyndon Johnson, who was eager to become president, and FBI Director Edgar Hoover, his close friend. According to supporters of this version, Hoover acted in the interests of the mafia, the fight against which became much more intense after Robert Kennedy, the president's brother, took over as attorney general.
There are also theories that Kennedy was killed by Soviet and/or Cuban intelligence services.
The reason for the assassination of the president is also connected with his alleged interest in UFOs and aliens that arose shortly before his death.
John Kennedy. The award went to him in 1957 for his biographical book Profiles in Courage, which tells about outstanding Americans who went down in history thanks to the steadfastness of their character.
John Kennedy was married to Jacqueline Bouvier, whom he met in 1952. From this marriage, four children appeared in the Kennedy family, two of whom died shortly after birth. Kennedy's eldest daughter Caroline studied law, worked at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, and was involved in charity work. In 2009, she ran for a Senate seat from New York State, but later withdrew her candidacy.
In October 2013, Caroline Kennedy became the first female US Ambassador to Japan. John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr. was a journalist and lawyer who died in 1999 at the age of 38 in a plane crash.
The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources
John Kennedy is one of the most famous and respected US presidents. His murder in 1963 became a real national tragedy for the entire American people.
There is still heated debate about who the real killer was and what his true motives were.
Kennedy Education
Kennedy's first school was Dexter, which taught only boys. It is interesting that only he and his brother Joseph were Catholics.
In connection with the move, the second educational institution Jonah became Riverdale Country, in which he had average grades.
At the age of 13, he was sent to the Catholic Canterbury School, where he studied for 1 year.
During this period of his biography, Kennedy complained to his parents that his teachers were “harassing him about religion.” As a result, John went to the Choate Rosemary Hall boarding school in the 9th grade.
As he grew older, he began to take less interest in his studies, as a result of which his academic performance dropped noticeably. Some teachers said that he became a frivolous and absent-minded student.
John himself called this school a prison in which one had to obey the teachers and strictly adhere to the established rules.
Having completed his secondary education, Kennedy entered Harvard University in 1935, but left just six months later. After this, he began studying at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Interestingly, John Kennedy's teacher was the famous economist and professor Harold Lasky, who spoke positively about him.
Having reached adulthood, the future president fell ill with jaundice and had to return home from London school.
He soon entered Princeton University, where he worked for many years. There, Kennedy again began to have health problems.
John even had to be admitted to the hospital because the doctors for a long time They couldn't diagnose him. As a result, he was diagnosed with leukemia.
Interestingly, Kennedy did not believe the doctors and insisted that they conduct a re-diagnosis. As it turned out later, the doctors really made a mistake. Much was written about this fact in John’s biography.
In 1936, Kennedy re-entered Harvard.
The 19-year-old boy began to study hard, read a lot and actively play sports. On summer holidays, he went on a trip to European countries.
During the trip, John's father organized a meeting for his son with Pope Pius 12. Returning from the cruise, he begins to seriously study political science.
Here we need to talk about another amazing event in Kennedy’s biography.
Lieutenant John F. Kennedy in full dress, 1942 The fact is that after graduating from university at the height of World War II, he decided to go to the front.
However, after passing a medical examination he was declared unfit for military service.
Then he asked his father to help him get to the front. As a result, he ended up in the ranks of the American army.
He soon participated in various military battles, showing himself to be an unusually brave soldier.
Having become a commander, he showed special courage when he saved the crew torpedo boat, shot.
Together with his colleagues, John Kennedy swam to the shore for 5 hours. During this swim, he was forced to support a wounded comrade.
Political biography
After the war ended, Kennedy began working as a journalist. He firmly decided to devote his entire life to politics, which made his father very happy.
He was elected to Congress in 1946 and then re-elected for three consecutive terms.
In 1952, the politician defeated Republican Henry Lodge and became a member of the Senate. Six years later he was re-elected senator for the second time.
President John Kennedy
In 1960, John Kennedy nominated himself as the Democratic candidate for the upcoming presidential election.
An interesting fact is that in his biography the first televised debate in US history took place, in which he participated with his opponent.
As a result of the elections, 43-year-old Kennedy emerged victorious, thus becoming the youngest head of state in US history.
An interesting fact is that the oldest president of the United States (70 years old at the time of election), as well as the only president who did not hold public or military positions before being elected, is.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy Kennedy ended his first inaugural address with the famous exhortation: “Think not of what the country can give you, but of what you can give it.”
During his presidency, Kennedy achieved high results, showing himself to be an intelligent and pragmatic politician.
He managed to achieve the signing of the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, as well as begin socio-economic reforms in the country.
He also sought to cut taxes for businesses, which was critically received by the conservative opposition in Congress.
In 1961, the president initiated the creation of the Peace Corps. This organization helped citizens of Third World countries get an education.
Thanks to this social program, many people have mastered the basic skills of the most in-demand professions.
At the same time, the Union for Progress program was launched, promoting the economic revival of Latin American countries.
John Kennedy advocated for improving relations between the United States and the United States, although it was under him that the so-called “Cubicle crisis” occurred, which was expressed in an extremely tense political and military confrontation between the two superpowers.
And although Kennedy did everything possible to eliminate confrontation, not all members of Congress supported him in this.
Kennedy and Khrushchev at a meeting in Vienna In 1962, Kennedy met with the Secretary General of the USSR. At this meeting, the leaders managed to resolve many issues, as well as avoid the outbreak of a nuclear war, which the whole world was so afraid of.
For these and other achievements, the young, handsome and energetic Kennedy gained enormous popularity among ordinary Americans, and his biography was considered ideal for a politician.
Personal life
John Kennedy's only wife was Jacqueline Lee Bouvier, whom he met in 1951. They got married in Newport.
Kennedy with his wife Jacqueline Interestingly, the Pope sent a letter of blessing to the newlyweds, wishing the couple a long and lasting union.
In this marriage, Kennedy had four children, two of whom died. Only Caroline and John survived.
In the future, Caroline became a doctor of laws and a writer. John Jr. worked as a lawyer and journalist. In 1999, he died in a plane crash.
Because John Kennedy was popular with women, he repeatedly cheated on his wife. He had affairs with various artists and politicians.
The press has repeatedly stated that he had a close relationship with a famous actress and singer.
Kennedy assassination
On November 22, 1963, a fatal event occurred in Kennedy’s biography. He and his wife Jacqueline came to Dallas to meet with voters.
When his motorcade was passing along one of the streets, he was mortally wounded by a sniper rifle.
Since the President was in an open limousine, he became easy prey for the sniper.
The question of who was the true killer of the president still remains open. According to the official version, he was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald, who was soon arrested.
The day after the alleged killer was detained, he was killed by Jack Ruby, who allegedly had ties to the mafia.
Numerous investigations were conducted after Kennedy's assassination. As a result, a lot of evidence emerged that cast doubt on the very fact that Lee Harvey Oswald was Kennedy's killer.
Motorcade with President Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline in Dallas minutes before the assassination More than 50 years have passed since the assassination of President John Kennedy, but those mysterious events still continue to interest people.
John Kennedy died on November 22, 1963 at the age of 46. He was buried with all honors, and about 200 thousand Americans came to see him off on his last journey.
Dozens of biographical books have been written and hundreds of programs have been filmed about John Kennedy and his assassination. However, no one has yet managed to find out the truth.
Given the heroic image and certain cult around Kennedy, his personal belongings are periodically put up for auction. For example, in 2016, a love letter from the president addressed to Mary Meyer, the wife of an American intelligence officer, was auctioned.
If you liked Kennedy's biography, share it on social networks. If you generally like biographies of great people, be sure to subscribe to the site website.
Did you like the post? Press any button.
Kennedy was a World War II veteran who achieved the rank of lieutenant. He spent the entire campaign in the Solomon Islands, leading the crew of the torpedo boat PT-109. He was awarded many awards for his bravery during hostilities.
JFK speaks amid a crowd from a kitchen chair in West Virginia, New York, where a boy is playing with a realistic-looking toy gun just feet away.
Vice President Lyndon Johnson, President John F. Kennedy and Special Assistant to the President Dave Powers at the opening of the 1961 basketball season at Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C.
After the end of World War II, the future president began a political career; in 1947 he was elected from Massachusetts to the US House of Representatives, where he remained until 1953. At the same time he became a Massachusetts senator and held this position until 1960.
From left to right: Vice President Johnson, Arthur Schlesinger, Admiral Arleigh Burke, President Kennedy and Mrs. Kennedy look at the launch spaceship into space with the first American on board on May 5, 1961
President Kennedy aboard the US Coast Guard yacht Manitou on August 26, 1962 in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.
In 1961, at the next presidential elections Democrat 43-year-old Kennedy narrowly defeated Republican Richard Nixon, thus becoming the only Catholic US president and the first president born in the 20th century.
President Kennedy addresses the people of Berlin, Germany, June 26, 1963
In Miami, Florida, after President Kennedy and Mrs. Kennedy officially addressed the "2506 Brigade" of Cuban activists at the stadium, Mrs. Kennedy informally communicates with some of their members on December 29, 1962
Kennedy's almost three-year presidency was marked by the Berlin Crisis, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Bay of Pigs operation, the space race between the USSR and the USA, which led to the start of the Apollo space program, as well as serious steps towards equal rights for blacks.
President Kennedy with his children Caroline and John Jr. in the Oval Office of the White House on October 10, 1962
President Kennedy arrived in Massachusetts, May 11, 1963
According to the World Bank, US GDP from 1960 to 1964 grew from 543 to 685 billion dollars, the average annual GDP growth was 6%, and the average annual inflation was 1%.
A large group of photographers, including photographers from the White House, gather around the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty to document President Kennedy's signature, October 7, 1963
President Kennedy and the Attorney General in the West Wing of the White House on October 3, 1962
Despite individual successes, Kennedy's presidency as a whole cannot be called successful in terms of legislation. He received no new allocations for the development of education and medical care the elderly, and the minimum wage increased slightly. Thus, the extension of unemployment benefits in 1961-1962 left more than 3 million unemployed behind; increasing the hourly minimum wages(to $1.15 in 1961 and $1.25 in 1963) affected only 3.6 million of the 26.6 million low-wage workers.
President John F. Kennedy looks into the space capsule as he presents the NASA Distinguished Service Medal to astronaut and Colonel John Glenn Jr. at Cape Canaveral, Florida, February 23, 1962.
Florida Senator George Smathers and President John F. Kennedy at Cape Canaveral during the presentation of the Saturn rocket, November 16, 1963
His government's measures to combat unemployment—the Depression Relief Act of 1961, the Retraining Act of 1962, public works funds, etc.—failed to produce significant improvements in employment. The movement for a shorter (35 hours) working week was gaining momentum. 
President John F. Kennedy signs the Pay Equity Act, prohibiting wage discrimination by employers on the basis of sex.
Mrs. Kennedy and John F. Kennedy Jr. in late 1962 in the White House nursery
Kennedy advocated for equal rights for blacks, taking the model of Abraham Lincoln, supported Martin Luther King and met with him in Washington in 1963. President Kennedy introduced a civil rights bill into Congress on June 19, 1963, banning segregation in all public accommodations.
President Kennedy speaks at University Stadium in Houston, Texas, September 12, 1962
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and her sister Princess Lee Radziwill ride an elephant during a tour to India in March 1962
It is assumed that Kennedy was going to deprive the Fed of its monopoly on the issue of money and therefore this decision allegedly became the reason for the conspiracy against the president.
President John F. Kennedy in the Oval Office of the White House on July 11, 1963
Meeting with Khrushchev, Vienna, June 4, 1961
Kennedy advocated for improved relations between the United States and the Soviet Union, but his reign was also marked by great foreign policy tensions.
On June 4, 1961, Kennedy's only meeting with Soviet leader Khrushchev took place in Vienna, at Schönbrunn Palace. Among other things, he suggested that Khrushchev join forces in preparing a flight to the Moon, but he refused. Kennedy's political testament is a speech at American University on June 10, 1963, which calls for “ensuring peace not only in our time, but forever” by “expanding mutual understanding between the USSR and us.”
President Kennedy in Cork, Ireland, June 28, 1963
November 22, 1963 - President Kennedy addresses a crowd gathered in a hotel parking lot in Texas.
Under Kennedy there was increased US involvement in the South Vietnamese Civil War; in 1961, he sent the first regular units of the US armed forces to South Vietnam ( before that, only military advisers served there). By the end of 1963, the United States had spent $3 billion on the war in Vietnam, and there were 16 thousand US soldiers and officers in South Vietnam.
Kennedy assassination
The first moments after John Kennedy was shot. A limousine carries the mortally wounded President to the hospital in Dallas, Texas, November 22, 1963
John Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas; While the presidential motorcade was moving through the city streets, shots were heard. The first bullet hit the president in the back of the neck and came out of the front of the throat, the second hit the head and caused destruction of the skull bones in the back of the head, as well as damage to the brain matter. President Kennedy was taken to the operating room, where he was pronounced dead half an hour after the assassination attempt.
President Kennedy's casket is carried onto a U.S. Air Force plane in Dallas, Texas, November 22, 1963. Mourners include Lawrence "Larry" O'Brien, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Dave Powers
Lee Harvey Oswald, who was arrested on suspicion of murder, was shot two days later in police custody by Dallas resident Jack Ruby, who also later died in prison.
The Warren Commission's official report into the Kennedy assassination was published in 1964; According to this report, Oswald was the president's killer, and all the shots were fired by him from the top floor of the building. According to the report, no murder plot could be identified.
November 22, 1963, Lyndon Johnson takes the oath of office aboard a U.S. Air Force aircraft after the assassination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas.
The body of President John F. Kennedy lies in a casket in the East Room of the White House. An honor guard stands nearby, November 23, 1963
Official data on the Kennedy assassination is contradictory and contains a number of “blank spots”. There are many different conspiracy theories about this case: it is questioned whether Oswald even fired at the car or that he was the only shooter. It is assumed that the murder is connected with various major figures in politics and business, the deliberate elimination of witnesses is seen, etc.
A huge number of social polls conducted across the country showed that at least 60% of the American population did not believe that Oswald killed the president or at least acted alone.
Family members and others on funeral procession President John F. Kennedy in Washington on November 25, 1963. Pictured: Robert F. Kennedy, Mrs. John F. Kennedy, Edward M. Kennedy, R. Sargent Schriever, Stephen E. Smith
Named after Kennedy in the USA large number objects, streets, schools, etc. ( for example, international airport in New York).
John Fitzgerald Kennedy led the United States from 1961-1963. Despite short term stay in the White House, became perhaps the most popular American politician of the 20th century. The period of his bright presidency included the Caribbean nuclear crisis, the space race, and domestic economic reforms. The head of state tragically died at the age of 46 as a result of an assassination attempt.
Early years
Future US President John Kennedy was born into the family of Joseph Patrick Kennedy, a politician and entrepreneur. He was the American Ambassador to Great Britain and served as President of the Columbia Trust Bank. John, the second child of his parents, was born on May 29, 1917 in Brookline (Massachusetts). His older brother Joseph served as a pilot during World War II and died in the skies over England.
In 1927, the Kennedy family moved to New York, and three years later, 13-year-old John entered a Catholic school in Connecticut. Higher education the young man began to study at Harvard University. In 1937, during the holidays, John Kennedy went on a tour of Europe. He also visited fascist Germany and Italy.
War
As a child, John Kennedy was sick a lot. A year before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he tried to qualify for the active army, but the medical board refused him. Without hitting field conditions, Kennedy ended up at the headquarters of the US Navy Intelligence Agency. The service consisted of preparing paper reports. Kennedy considered such work too boring. In 1942, with the help of his father, he achieved a transfer to the naval officer school in Illinois.
Having become the commander of the boat, Kennedy found himself in Pacific Ocean, where the confrontation between the United States and Japan continued. On August 2, 1943, his ship was attacked by an enemy destroyer. The commander survived miraculously: two of his sailors died instantly. For his courage, John received several awards (including the Purple Heart medal). At the end of 1943, the military man fell ill with malaria. In addition, in a memorable boat battle, he injured his back. John Kennedy spent several months in clinics. In the spring of 1945 he was transferred to the reserves.
The path to the White House
After recovering, John Fitzgerald Kennedy decided to become a journalist. In this capacity he served at the opening of the United Nations. Soon, under the patronage of his father, he found himself in the US House of Representatives, thus beginning his political career. The Kennedy family was an influential clan, but his father's public weight did not overshadow the abilities of John himself. All relatives had hopes for his successful career, since his older brother Joseph died during the war.
In 1947-1953. John Fitzgerald Kennedy served in Congress, where he represented Boston County. The politician then became a senator from Massachusetts. In this capacity, he entered the 1960 presidential race. Kennedy's campaign program was called "New Frontiers." In the Democratic primaries, he defeated seasoned politicians: Hubert Humphrey, Stuart Symington and his future successor Lyndon Johnson.
Richard Nixon became the Republican candidate. The 1960 election was remembered as the first televised debate in history between representatives of two key American parties. Kennedy created the most winning image for himself. He was young (43 years old), businesslike, energetic and eloquent. As a result, the Democratic candidate won (albeit with a margin of only 119 thousand votes).
Economic policy
Kennedy was the first head of the United States to be Catholic. Lyndon Johnson became his vice president. The inauguration ceremony took place on January 20, 1961. Kennedy's brother Robert, who served as his chief of staff during the election campaign, became Secretary of Justice. Other members of the presidential administration were either experienced managers or professional and successful entrepreneurs.
Having become head of state, US President John Kennedy was forced to acknowledge the unfavorable state of the country's economy. Open crisis no, but the growth rate has been slowing down for several years. In fact, all economic policy administration of the 35th President of the United States was reduced to maneuvering between the course of strengthening government regulation and a course to stimulate free enterprise. The lower (from 20 to 14%) and the highest (from 81 to 65%) tax rates were reduced.
This step was worked out throughout Kennedy's presidential term. The law was passed after his death. Nevertheless, the reform with lower taxes was the brainchild of the 35th president. Thanks to her, several million Americans received new job, and corporate profits began to grow by leaps and bounds. All 60s the inflation rate remained quite low (about 1%). John F. Kennedy's domestic policies laid the foundation for a major surge in the American economy, the largest since World War II.
Cuban missile crisis
When John Kennedy came to power, whose biography was familiar to many only in connection with his successful father, many looked down on him. This also applied to world leaders: Charles de Gaulle, Konrad Adenauer, Nikita Khrushchev. The inexperienced and young head of state had to face a number of unprecedentedly dangerous situations. The situation in divided Berlin became extremely tense. However, the main test was the Cuban missile crisis.
In 1961, the United States stationed in Turkey nuclear weapons. Jupiter rockets could reach Soviet cities. Khrushchev considered their placement on his borders a personal insult inflicted by John Kennedy. The president’s biography turned out to be connected with another conflict situation with the USSR. Also in 1961, the failed Bay of Pigs operation took place, the goal of which was to overthrow the Cuban government of Fidel Castro.
In response to all these events, Khrushchev decided to place Soviet nuclear weapons on the Caribbean island. The corresponding operation received the code name “Anadyr”. In October 1962, there were already 40 thousand Soviet military personnel in Cuba. On the 14th, American intelligence officers discovered Soviet missile positions on the island. A week later, Kennedy appeared on television, announcing a military blockade of Cuba. The crisis peaked on October 27, when an American plane was shot down over the island, killing the pilot. The world has never been closer to nuclear war. American citizens quickly left big cities or hid in bomb shelters, afraid of atomic bombings.
On October 28, diplomats from the two superpowers began complex negotiations. Discussion of a way out of the crisis took place in New York with the participation of the UN Secretary General and representatives of the Cuban authorities. The parties agreed that Soviet troops will leave the island, and the Americans will stop its blockade. US missiles were to be withdrawn from Italy and Turkey. By the end of the year, the Cuban missile crisis was overcome.
Space Race
The rivalry between the USA and the USSR was not only a military confrontation, but also a scientific and technological race. Its main part was the space program. Back in 1957, USSR scientists first launched an 80-kilogram artificial Earth satellite. Then a ship with animals on board appeared in orbit. On April 12, 1961, a few months after Kennedy's inauguration, Yuri Gagarin became the first person in space.
All these successes of the USSR demonstrated to the whole world the lag of the United States. Much of the reason for American slowness was that President Eisenhower's administration focused space research too little attention. It was only after the first Soviet satellite was launched that NASA was created in 1958.
Upon learning of Gagarin's flight, Kennedy was stunned. Having come to his senses, the president began to act. With the race to become the first man in space lost, the White House decided to focus on another achievement: sending the first man to the moon. The first conclusions of government commissions were disappointing. Experts reported that the United States would be able to catch up with the Soviets in best case scenario in ten years.
Meanwhile, on May 5, 1961, astronaut Alan Shepard made the first American suborbital flight. This achievement, in light of Gagarin's success, did not create such a strong sensation. The president soon increased funding for NASA. The agency's staff was expanded (in two years from 16 to 28 thousand people), and new items appeared in its budget. The number has increased even more technical staff at enterprises involved in the preparation of space flights. Also in May 1961, the Apollo program was adopted. Eight years later, after Kennedy's death, astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon.
Kennedy and segregation
The period of John F. Kennedy's presidency became an important milestone in the struggle for civil rights African American population in the United States. The head of state supported human rights activist Martin Luther King, whose figure was the personification of resistance to racial segregation. In June 1963, Kennedy introduced a new civil rights bill into Congress. He touched upon such sensitive issues for conservative America as education and the admission of blacks to public places. Kennedy also passed several orders prohibiting discrimination at airports, government institutions, transport hubs, sports teams, etc.
On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King delivered his most famous “I Have a Dream” speech. The performance took place on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington. Kennedy, who understood the power of the living word, admired King's speech. After the speech, the human rights activist was invited to White House, where he had a friendly meeting with the head of state.
Welcoming King, Kennedy said: “And I have a dream!” So, shortly before his death, the president fully publicly identified himself with the fighters for the civil rights of African Americans. Kennedy's bill was passed in 1964, after his death. This undertaking, like other initiatives of the president, outlived him. It was thanks to John Kennedy and Martin Luther King that true civil equality was formed in the United States.
Personal life
In 1953, the future US president got married. John Kennedy's wife Jacqueline was widely known. She became the heroine of gossip columns, a trendsetter and one of the most popular women of her time. John Kennedy's children grew up before the eyes of the entire country. The couple had two sons and two daughters (two of them died in infancy). John Jr. died tragically in a plane crash in 1999. Of the Kennedy children, only daughter Caroline is alive today.
The 35th President of the United States was known for his hypersexuality. There were many rumors about his intimate relationships both during his life and after his death, most of which turned out to be journalistic inventions. However, some novels did take place. The longest relationship was with actress Judith Campbell-Exner.
Much more familiar to the general public is the relationship between John Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe. The great actress was a registered member of the US Democratic Party. Many biographers associate the beginning of the romance between the couple with the period when the future president still held the position of senator. However, in the history of this couple there are much more myths than facts.
Based on verified memories close circle President, we can say that John Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe met only 3 or 4 times. The actress performed at a gala concert dedicated to the 45th anniversary of the head of state. According to numerous testimonies, John Kennedy's wife knew about at least some of her husband's affairs, but never caused public scandals, maintaining the honor befitting their high status.
Murder
The tragic death of John Kennedy occurred on November 22, 1963 in Dallas. The presidential motorcade was moving along the city streets when the head of state’s car stopped due to a series of shots. One of the killer's bullets hit the neck, the other hit the head. Kennedy managed to be taken to the operating room, but the severity of the injuries left the doctors no chance. The President died half an hour later after being fatally wounded.
Ten minutes later, Lee Harvey Oswald was detained. The former Marine was named the only suspect. Oswald denied his own involvement in the incident. Two days after the tragedy, he himself was shot dead right in front of television cameras. The massacre committed by Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby was broadcast live.
Funeral
The question of who killed JFK remains a popular subject of conspiracy theories. The investigation into the events of November 22, 1963 was carried out by a specially prepared commission by Earl Warren. Her final 888-page report was provided to Lyndon Johnson.
According to US law, the vice president succeeded Kennedy immediately after his death. Johnson took the oath of office aboard Flight 1 on the same day the head of state died. The governor of Texas, Jacqueline Kennedy and John F. Kennedy were in the limousine that was shot at. The wife walked at the head of the procession at her husband's funeral. John's brothers Edward and Robert led the column with her. The 35th President of the United States was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington.
Conspiracy theories offer alternative answers to the question of who killed JFK. There are popular versions about the involvement of American and Soviet intelligence services, the Cuban government, and representatives of the criminal world in the crime of the century.
