John F Kennedy1961-1963

“Ask not what your country can do for you,but what you can do for your country.”

Interesting Facts

• Naval veteran• Youngest president elected; youngest to die• 1st Catholic in office• 1st born in the 20th century• Health concerns

Background

• Born: May 29, 1917• Brookline, Massachusetts• Parents:– Joseph– Rose

• 1of 9 kids:• Wealthy family:• Well educated:

• 1939 – summered in Europe; saw the makings of WWII

• When US entered WWII, signed up for navy:

• After, his father pushed him to politics

Joseph Kennedy, Jr.; John F. Kennedy; Rosemary Kennedy; Kathleen Kennedy; Eunice Kennedy; Patricia Kennedy; Robert Kennedy; Jean Kennedy

Political Background

• 1946 – Congress @ 29• 1951 married Jacqueline = 3 kids• 1952 – US Senate• 1956 – tried to run for president

but didn’t win– Concerns: Catholic; young• 1960 – won! Democratic – beat

Nixon– Role of television

Domestic PolicyMake way for a New Frontier

• Increased minimum wage• Tariff reductions• Economic aid to poor• $10 billion tax cut• Civil rights later• Space Exploration:

Foreign Policy

• Bay of Pigs – April 17, 1961• Cuban Missile Crisis – 1962• Support to West Germany• Aid to Latin America• Saw formation of Peace Corps to help 3rd

World nations• Gove support to South Vietnam

KENNEDY’S APPROVAL RATINGS

His Assassination

• November 22, 1963• He was campaigning in Dallas, TX• Lee Harvey Oswald, Cuban sympathizer• Oswald killed 2 days later• Many questions remain