35. John F. Kennedy

by periodicpresidents

“JFK”

Presidential Basics

  • Full name: John Fitzgerald Kennedy
  • Years in office: 1961–1963
  • Political party: Democratic
  • Vice president: Lyndon B. Johnson
  • Age at inauguration: 43
  • Nicknames: “JFK,” “Jack”

Random Trivia

  • Our Pulitzer Prize winning president: JFK won a Pulitzer Prize for his book, Profiles in Courage.

Birth & Death

  • Birthday: May 29, 1917
  • Birthplace: Brookline, Massachusetts
  • Death: November 22, 1963
  • Place of death: Dallas, Texas
  • Place of burial: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia
  • Last words: Unknown

Family

  • Father: Joseph Patrick Kennedy (1888–1969); Financier, diplomat
  • Mother: Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy (1890–1995)
  • Wife: Jacqueline Lee Bouvier (1929 – 1994)
  • Marriage: September 12, 1953 in Rhode Island
  • Kids: Three
    • Caroline Bouvier (1957–)
    • John Fitzgerald, Jr. (1960–1999)
    • Patrick Bouvier (1963)
  • Home: Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

Other Facts

  • Height: 6’1″
  • Eye color: Blue
  • Ancestry: Irish
  • Religion: Roman Catholic
  • Born in a log cabin: No
  • Owned enslaved people: No
  • Freemason: No

Education

  • Early education: Choate School
  • College degree: Yes
  • College: London School of Economics; Princeton University; Harvard University (1940); Stanford University

Career

  • Military Service: Yes
  • Lawyer: No
  • Writer
  • Officer in U.S. Navy (1942–1945)
  • Member of U.S. House of Representatives (1947–1953)
  • Member of U.S. Senate (1953–1961)
  • President (1961–1963)

Writings

  • Why England Slept
  • Profiles in Courage

Election

In the election of 1960, the young war hero, John F. Kennedy, faced Vice President Richard Nixon. The well-known Nixon had the benefit of experience in dealing with the troubles of the Cold War.  Although, election polls showed the two men at near tie.

Kennedy gained the advantage in the race during the first televised debates.  Kennedy looked cool and collected, while Nixon appeared pale and nervous.  This advantage would push Kennedy right into the White House, making him the youngest president ever elected.

Campaign Poster

Kennedy for President: Leadership for the 60’s, poster, 1960 (Library of Congress)
Click to order your copy!

Links

© 2021 Periodic Presidents, PJ and Jamie Creek