John F. Kennedy
Full Name: John F. Kennedy
Nationality:
Profession: 35th US President
Political Party: Democratic 
Political Titles: Senator from Massachusetts
Presidential Term:
January 20, 1961 -
November 22, 1963
Preceded By: Dwight D. Eisenhower
Succeeded By: Lyndon B. Johnson
Why Famous: The youngest-ever person elected President at age 43, Kennedy assumed office at the height of the Cold War. As such his time in office was spent managing relations with the communist states.
In 1961 Kennedy approved the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in an attempt to overthrow the communist-aligned regime of Fidel Castro. A year later the discovery of Soviet nuclear weapons in Cuba caused the Cuban Missile Crisis, which was eventually resolved peacefully.
In other affairs Kennedy sent advisers to Vietnam and launched America into the Space Race with his famous "we choose to go to the Moon" speech in 1963. While he supported the Civil Rights Movement he was not successful in getting many of his New Frontier policies passed by Congress.
On November 22, 1963, he was assassinated in Dallas, Texas by Lee Harvey Oswald, and was succeeded by Lyndon B. Johnson.
Born: May 29, 1917
Birthplace: Brookline, Massachusetts, USA
Star Sign: Gemini
Died: November 22, 1963 (aged 46)
Cause of Death: Assassination
Articles on John F. Kennedy
Why 'SuperMac' was Banished From Number 10
War hero, Edwardian gentleman, academic, friend of the Kennedys, former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan was born on this day.
February 10, 1894
Voice Of The Century – 'And Not Even Close'
Frank Sinatra cut his first disc on this day. It was a flop. But he would go on to be hailed as the “Voice of the Century”.
July 13, 1939
Final Hours of Ernest Hemingway
Why did Ernest Hemingway, with everything to live for, kill himself on this day? The one thing he did not write is a suicide note but scientists have some answers.
July 2, 1961
Kennedy's Clarion Call for Freedom
Former US President John F. Kennedy was renowned for his oratory – typified by his electrifying "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech delivered on this day.
June 26, 1963
Married Life
- 1953-09-12 American Senator John F. Kennedy (36) weds Jacqueline Bouvier (24) in Newport, Rhode Island
Historical Events in the Life of John F. Kennedy
- 1943-08-02 Lt John F. Kennedy's PT-boat 109 sinks at Solomon islands
- 1946-11-05 John F. Kennedy (Democrat, Massachusetts) elected to US House of Representatives
- 1954-02-14 Senator John F. Kennedy appears on "Meet the Press"
- 1957-05-06 Pulitzer prize awarded to John F. Kennedy (Profiles in Courage)
- 1960-01-02 Senator John F. Kennedy, announces his candidacy for the US Presidency
- 1960-02-29 JFK makes "missile gap" the presidential campaign issue
- 1960-05-10 John F. Kennedy wins primary in West Virginia
- 1960-07-13 US Democratic convention nominates JFK as presidential candidate
- 1960-09-12 John F. Kennedy avers he does not speak for the Roman Catholic Church, and neither does the Church speak for him.
- 1960-10-14 Peace Corps 1st suggested by John F. Kennedy in a sppech at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor
- 1960-10-21 JFK & Nixon clashed in 4th & final presidential debate (NYC)
- 1960-11-08 John F. Kennedy is elected President of the United States, defeating Republican candidate Richard Nixon who was the incumbent Vice President
- 1961-01-20 Robert Frost recites "Gift Outright" at JFK's inauguration
- 1961-01-25 1st live, nationally televised presidential news conference (JFK)
- 1961-01-26 1st woman personal physician to a US President - Janet G. Travell (to John F. Kennedy)
- 1961-01-30 JFK asks for an Alliance for Progress & Peace Corps
- 1961-02-28 JFK names Henry Kissinger special advisor
- 1961-03-01 US President JFK establishes the Peace Corps
- 1961-03-13 JFK sets up the Alliance for Progress
- 1961-04-24 JFK accepts "sole responsibility" following Bay of Pigs
- 1961-05-25 JFK announces US goal of putting a man on Moon before the end of decade
- 1961-06-03 JFK & Khrushchev meet in Vienna
- 1961-06-04 US President John F. Kennedy and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev meet at the Vienna Summit in Austria
- 1961-07-25 In a speech John F. Kennedy emphasizes that any attack on Berlin is an attack on NATO
- 1961-09-05 JFK begins underground nuclear testing
- 1961-09-05 US President JFK signs law against hijacking (death penalty)
- 1961-10-06 JFK advises Americans to build fallout shelters
- 1961-11-16 US President JFK decides to increase military aid to South Vietnam without committing US combat troops
- 1961-11-18 JFK sends 18,000 military advisors to South Vietnam
- 1961-12-11 JFK provides US military helicopters & crews to South Vietnam
- 1962-02-03 US President John F. Kennedy bans all trade with Cuba except for food & drugs
- 1962-02-07 US President JFK begins blockade of Cuba by banning all Cuban imports and exports.
- 1962-03-02 JFK announces US will resume above ground nuclear testing
- 1962-06-11 US President John F. Kennedy accepts an honorary degree from Yale
- 1962-09-29 JFK authorized use of federal troops to integrate U of Mississippi
- 1962-09-30 JFK routes 3,000 federal troops to Mississippi
- 1962-10-16 Cuban missile crisis begins as JFK is shown photos confirming the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba
- 1962-10-18 JFK meets Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrei Gromyko
- 1962-10-22 Cuban missile crisis: US President John F. Kennedy addresses TV about Russian missile bases in Cuba and imposes a naval blockade on Cuba, beginning the missile crisis
- 1962-10-26 JFK warns Russia that the USA will not allow Soviet missiles to remain in Cuba
- 1962-10-28 Cuban missile crisis: US President JFK receives letter from Soviet Leaderr Khrushchev suggesting agreement
- 1962-11-17 US President JFK dedicates Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C.
- 1963-02-19 USSR informs JFK it is withdrawing several thousand troops from Cuba
- 1963-05-08 JFK offers Israel assistance against aggression
- 1963-06-10 US Equal Pay Act signed into law by President John F. Kennedy
- 1963-06-11 US President JFK says segregation is morally wrong and that it is "time to act"
- 1963-06-23 US President John F. Kennedy tours Western Europe
- 1963-06-26 US President John F. Kennedy gives his famous "Ich bin ein Berliner" (intended to mean "I am a Berliner", but may actually mean "I am a doughnut") speech in West Berlin
- 1963-06-27 US President John F. Kennedy spent 1st full day in Ireland
- 1963-07-01 US President JFK arrives in Rome
- 1963-09-20 JFK proposes a joint US-Soviet voyage to the moon
- 1963-10-07 JFK signs ratification for nuclear test ban treaty
- 1963-10-31 J. Edgar Hoover's last meeting with President John F. Kennedy
- 1963-11-21 US President John F. Kennedy flies to Texas (assassinated the next day)
- 1963-11-22 American President John F. Kennedy assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas, Texas
- 1963-11-23 JFK's body lay in repose in East Room of White House
- 1963-11-23 LBJ proclaims Nov 25 a day of national mourning (for JFK)
- 1963-11-25 JFK laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery
- 1963-12-22 Official 30-day mourning period for President John F. Kennedy ends
- 1964-03-25 Britain sets memorial for the late President John F. Kennedy
- 1964-09-27 Findings of the Warren Commission into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy released, finds Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone
- 1967-03-14 JFK's body moved from temporary grave to a permanent memorial
- 1977-06-12 Groundbreaking ceremony for John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
- 1979-10-20 John F. Kennedy Library dedicated in Boston
Quotes by John F. Kennedy
- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought."
External Biographies
- Life of John F. Kennedy - John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum
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