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 watch the launch of the spacecraft into space with the first American aboard on May 5, 1961
President Kennedy aboard the US Coast Guard yacht Manitou on August 26, 1962 in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.
In 1961, in the next presidential election, the 43-year-old Democrat Kennedy narrowly defeated the 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 funding for education and health care for the elderly, and the minimum wage rose only slightly. Thus, the extension of unemployment benefits in 1961-1962 left more than 3 million unemployed behind; increases in the minimum hourly wage (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 1961 Depression Relief Act, the 1962 Displaced Workers Retraining Act, 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 places.
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 throughout 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 attend the funeral procession of 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
A large number of objects, streets, schools, etc. are named after Kennedy in the USA ( for example, international airport in New York).
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States. This is a remarkable personality in the history of the country. The idol of millions, a handsome man was killed mysteriously after serving in office for less than three years. However, during this period he managed to do a lot - during his time the Cuban Missile Crisis occurred, the Apollo space program was launched, and there was a shift in public consciousness towards improving the rights of blacks.
Today, Kennedy is the most popular President of America for Russians. However, we should not forget that a person in such a position cannot consist entirely of positive traits. A significant part of its merits is the work of PR services. Today, archives of those times are becoming available, which make it possible to debunk some myths about John Kennedy.
John Kennedy was wildly popular among Americans. Today, more than half a century later, Americans' love for their president seems limitless. In fact, at the time of his death, Kennedy was supported by only 58 percent of voters. Even Bill Clinton or Ronald Reagan had higher ratings when they left office. However, it is worth saying that Kennedy was still the most popular of all the country's rulers since 1937, when such polls began. On average, seven out of ten Americans said they were satisfied with their president's performance.
During the Cold War, Kennedy proved himself to be a peace-loving politician. The negative traits of this president are associated with his love affairs. But in politics he is considered a model of peacefulness and the main opponent of supporters of war. They say that it was Kennedy who was able to resolve the Cuban Missile Crisis, redirect resources from the army to space, creating the Peace Corps. Fans of the politician believe that with him America would not have gotten involved in the Vietnam War. After all, a few days after the assassination of Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson signed document NSAM 273, which marked the beginning of the invasion of the distant Asian country. Yes, and Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara stated that Kennedy could smooth out the conflict, and not resolve it with the help of weapons, as his follower did. In fact, all this is a beautiful myth. Kennedy himself, together with his administration, constantly intrigued against the governments of other countries. In particular, the Cuban project, which turned into the Cuban Missile Crisis, initially provided for the assassination of Castro. The CIA launched a number of assassination attempts on the Cuban leader, naturally, with the knowledge of the head of the country. Regarding Vietnam, Kennedy spoke out in an interview in September 1963. The President said that withdrawing troops from Vietnam would be a mistake. After all, then the communists would immediately come to the country, who would then target Burma and India. For the next 10 years, American politicians made full reference to this phrase. And Kennedy not only supported the war in Vietnam, he essentially prepared it. It was the American authorities who sanctioned the overthrow, and possibly the murder, of President Ngo Dinh Diem. So Kennedy was not such a nice peace-loving guy.
Everyone in the Kennedy family was a successful politician. It is believed that Kennedy's sons were prepared for big politics by their father. He himself actively supported Roosevelt, being part of his inner circle. But what seemed to be a successful political career went downhill because of his convictions. Joseph considered it necessary to adhere to American isolationism during the Second World War. But his father’s hopes and ambitions were supported by his sons John, Robert and Edward, who fought for the presidency. During the fight for John's post, the whole family worked for victory, investing huge amounts of money in this project. Even the politician’s mother, Rosa, became a participant in the TV show “A Cup of Coffee with Kennedy,” answering questions from viewers. So John's victory in the election meant success for the whole family. Robert Kennedy served as Attorney General in his brother's administration and then as a Senator. He ran for president in 1968 but was assassinated five months before the election. The younger brother, Edward Kennedy, became a senator from Massachusetts, serving from 1962 to 2009.
The Kennedy family was happy. On the one hand, the men achieved a lot, but on the other hand, Kennedy had to endure too many tragedies. They even talked about the curse of the family. It is difficult to say for certain about such intangible things. Researchers have found evidence of the Kennedy assassination in Nostradamus' predictions. Not only was John killed, but Robert suffered a similar fate just 5 years later. And the older brother, Joseph, died in 1944 as a pilot. His plane, packed with explosives, never reached its target, exploding in the sky. Thus, of the four brothers, only one managed to live a full life. And the Kennedy sisters had a hard time. Kathleen died in a car accident at the age of 28, and Rosemary, having been mentally retarded since childhood, essentially ceased to be human as a result of an unsuccessful operation. She spent the rest of her life in a monastery. Such a series of tragedies within one family really makes one think about a curse. And subsequent generations of Kennedy were haunted by death - deaths from overdoses, accidents, accusations of rape.
Kennedy was happily married. In May 1952, John met 23-year-old Jacqueline Bouvier. A year later the engagement took place, and on September 12 the wedding took place. At the time of John's inauguration as president, Jacqueline became the youngest first lady of the United States in history, she was only 31 years old. The wife was able to become a fairy-tale princess for the White House. She created a new image of the country's first lady. Jacqueline communicated with the press and influenced fashion. And although her husband was constantly surrounded by scandals, both in politics and public life, she constantly supported John. America couldn't stop looking at this couple. In addition, two of the four children died, which aroused the sympathy of the entire nation. The tears in the eyes of the first lady left no one indifferent. As soon as John's ratings were in jeopardy, PR people immediately brought Jacqueline to the fore, who returned people's love. But family life was overshadowed by John’s constant infidelities, which in general was not a secret. After the death of her husband, Jacqueline married Greek millionaire Aristotle Onassis in 1968, which caused resentment and misunderstanding among Americans. After all, the first lady continued to live, and not mourn. And only after her death from cancer in 1994 did Americans forgive their Jackie Kennedy.
Kennedy was a successful politician. The core idea of Kennedy's presidency is embodied in his legendary phrase: "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country." The media created an image of a charismatic president, talented, tough and energetic, defending the interests of the country. In addition, Kennedy was an excellent speaker, captivating his audience at press conferences. He was excellent at explaining his failures in foreign and domestic policy, blaming everything on his predecessors. But in the eyes of millions of his fellow citizens, Kennedy remained a kind of knight who bravely fought for America. Later it became clear that Lyndon Johnson carried out the health care reform, and it was he who finally granted civil rights to blacks.
Kennedy was assassinated in the prime of his life. In November 2002, medical reports on the health of the country's 35th president were disclosed and published. It turned out that John Kennedy was not at all as big as he seemed. He had a number of serious illnesses. Kennedy suffered from pain in his damaged spine, which no medical procedures could correct. The president also had digestive problems and suffered from Addison's disease (a problem with the adrenal glands). It is known that Kennedy was often given painkiller injections before speeches to make him look energetic and healthy.
John Kennedy became a new type of president. Kennedy was in many ways a “first” for this post. This is the first head of the country born in the 20th century, the first Catholic president and the youngest. At the time of taking office, John Kennedy was only 43 years old. It must be said that the president was indeed strikingly different from his predecessors. Eisenhower generally said directly that he was no longer a politician, but a playboy, as if from Hollywood. But this is exactly the kind of man America needed in the 1960s. She was tired of staid father-presidents; she needed freshness, youth, a president-lover. In this regard, Kennedy turned out to be an excellent candidate. He smiled from the covers of magazines and television screens; ordinary Americans believed his charm, not particularly listening to his election speeches. Kennedy simply looked more impressive than his rivals. And in the confrontation with the USSR, the young president successfully opposed Nikita Khrushchev. American Kennedy seemed like a simple, understandable guy. The politician’s entourage was also young, the average age of the team was only 45 years.
John Kennedy always dreamed of being president. When Joseph, the first heir, was born, his grandfather said that his parents would try to make him the president of the United States. Only the war intervened in the calculation. The father of the family, Joseph Sr., stood for American non-intervention to the last, which turned out to be a mistake. Political shortsightedness cost his career; his eldest son had to pay for his father’s mistakes. He fought, but died while performing a dangerous mission. But it was Joseph who was supposed to lead the family clan to the White House. Suddenly, John became a new hope for his father. This witty, handsome intellectual did not even think about a career as a politician, planning to devote himself to journalism. John admitted to his friends that now his father had decided to bet on him and there was nothing left to do but obey. Even the wedding to Jacqueline Bouvier, which took place in 1953, was a good step for a career. An educated, intelligent and beautiful wife was an excellent candidate for the post of First Lady. It is said that it was Joseph Sr. who blessed the beneficial marriage.
Kennedy's victory came in a televised debate with Nixon. The series of four televised debates was new to the 1960 presidential race. It immediately became obvious how much Senator Kennedy was superior to his competitor in his appearance and energy. However, after his first speech on September 26, Nixon learned from his mistakes and became more active. He placed particular emphasis on foreign policy, where he was stronger. The few polls that were conducted then show that what little dividends Kennedy received from his first speech had disappeared by Election Day. Moreover, the popular President Eisenhower supported Nixon until the end of the race. The vote showed Kennedy receiving 49.72 percent of the vote to his rival's 49.55 percent. The difference turned out to be tiny, only 119 thousand votes. So the debate was an unforgettable precedent, but it did not affect the balance of power.
Kennedy was a liberal president. This is a fairly popular myth, because Kennedy is associated with the civil rights movement, and his political heirs were called the much more liberal brothers Robert and Edward. In fact, the president pursued a cautious and conservative policy, planning to be re-elected in 1964. Kennedy behaved similarly in the economy, limiting spending and deficits. And after the Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy spoke out so unequivocally against communism that even Reagan and other Republicans quoted him. The president was timid and uncertain in his views on civil rights, beginning to disappoint the leaders of the movement. It was only in 1963 that Kennedy openly spoke out against discrimination against blacks and equal rights. His indecisiveness led blacks to choose provocative tactics and begin to act more radically.
Thanks to Kennedy, Americans landed on the moon. In May 1961, it became clear that America was losing the space race. The president himself allowed himself a number of frankly inappropriate statements. However, the administration immediately began to actively consider alternative ways to develop the program. At first it was decided to send astronauts to Mars, but this turned out to be very impractical. NASA then turned its sights to the moon, but in September 1963 Kennedy was still interested in what it would do for the country. The President even approached Khrushchev with a proposal to stop the space race and establish a Soviet-American partnership for a joint manned flight to the Moon. The Secretary General answered in the affirmative, as reported by Kennedy in his speech to the UN in the fall of 1963. However, the plans were thwarted by the new administration. Thus, it is obvious that Kennedy imagined the development of the space program differently than what ultimately happened.
After Kennedy's assassination, Lyndon Johnson continued his work. Johnson enjoyed the good reputation of his predecessor. The 36th president mentioned his name in public speeches more than 500 times, more than anyone else. However, one should not think that Johnson was a less charismatic Kennedy clone. For example, the presidents had different approaches to the fight against poverty. Before traveling to Dallas, Kennedy considered the program proposed by his assistant Heller, but agreed to try it only in a few cities. He didn't want to run into budget overruns. The day after Kennedy's assassination, Heller met with Johnson. Tom really liked the “folk” program. Johnson ordered the project to be given the highest priority and to move ahead at full speed. Another example is the Vietnam War. It is not known whether Kennedy would have withdrawn troops from there, but he obviously would not have driven an army of half a million to Asia, as Johnson did.
Half a century after Kennedy's assassination, everything about this case is already known. In fact, even after half a century, the full picture of what happened is unknown. Many government documents remain closed. Authorities estimate that there are 1,171 unreleased CIA documents relating to November 22, 1963. And this is just the visible part of the iceberg. It is impossible to close that story without considering these documents. In 1992, President George H. W. Bush signed an executive order mandating the release of all classified documents on October 26, 2017. However, expect the next rulers to come under pressure from the CIA to maintain the secret. In addition, new technologies are emerging that can provide a fresh perspective on those events. Thus, an analysis of the Dallas police audio recording made it possible to prove that two people were shot.
Kennedy's killer was... Hundreds of articles and books have been written on this topic, and many films have been made. On September 24, 1964, a commission led by US Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren presented a report to the White House. According to him, the only perpetrator was Lee Harvey Oswald, who had no accomplices. In 1966, New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison began his investigation. He believed that the murder was organized by far-right activists with ties to the CIA and Cuban exiles. Suspects included former pilot David Ferry and banker Shaw. The first never lived to see the trial, and the jury found the second accused not guilty. In 1975, the Rockefeller Commission examined CIA abuses, including the Kennedy assassination. No evidence of intelligence involvement was found. There are many alternative versions of Kennedy's assassination. The customers are called the government, bankers, the Soviet Union, the mafia, Cubans and even aliens. However, it seems that no one will ever know the truth.
Kennedy emerges as the model of a modern democrat. For Kennedy, communism was not just an alien ideology, he was outraged by godlessness. In his speeches, the president paid quite a lot of attention to religion, which in modern America is typical only for the most conservative Republicans. In a speech in 1955, Kennedy declared that religion is not just a weapon, it is the essence of the struggle. Faith in God elevates a person and makes him responsible. Modern democrats have slightly different approaches.
Kennedy was a pioneer in the implementation of civil rights. This is one of the main myths about Kennedy. It is no coincidence that Martin Luther King described the president and his brother Robert as cautious and defensive politicians. Kennedy did not allow the 1963 March on Washington. The president held back the abolition of segregation until the last moment, fearing losing the support of southern Democrats in future elections. And the civil rights law that abolished segregation was passed by Lyndon Johnson in 1964.
Kennedy had many mistresses. But this is true. Today there are many memories of the politician’s rich sex life. Actresses, models, secretaries tell how they had affairs with Kennedy both before his wedding and after. Intimate letters are even put up for auction. And the president’s most famous mistress, Marilyn Monroe, quite possibly even lost her life because of her love for John. They say that she was going to reveal to the public the secret of her affair with the politician. The intelligence services, fearing a scandal, quietly removed the unnecessary witness. It is no coincidence that the actress’s room was stuffed with listening devices. To the public, John was an exemplary family man, appearing with Jacqueline. For the sake of her husband's career, the wife maintained the illusion of a happy, loving family.
The 35th President of the United States was born on May 29, 1917. John Kennedy. His life was the dream of many Americans: a good upbringing, an excellent education, a beautiful wife and a dizzying career. Could anyone even imagine that all this would end in one second?
Family
John, or Jack as he was affectionately known in his family, was the second of nine children in the family Roses Elizabeth Fitzgerald And Joseph Patrick Kennedy. The father of the future president of America knew how to make money and make connections, which helped him create a good fortune. The parents' family life was not smooth. Rose was frankly frightened by Joseph's excessive passion for his career. The future president's mother wanted stability for her children, especially considering that they were not in good health. Kennedy's eldest daughter Rosemary she lagged behind her peers in mental development, and John grew up as a sickly boy. Later, when he became president, doctors would even have to inject painkillers before public appearances to make Kennedy Jr. look healthy. To escape from family problems, Rose Fitzgerald traveled a lot in Europe and the USA, which caused the children who missed their mother to suffer greatly. Her husband, meanwhile, continued to expand the empire, while simultaneously cheating on his wife. His most famous mistress was a silent film star. Gloria Swanson.
The Kennedys in a New York restaurant, November 1940. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
However, few people knew about Kennedy’s internal troubles; from the outside, they seemed to be an idyllically happy family, basking in luxury. At the peak of his career, Kennedy Sr. was friendly with many influential people of the time and was a personal adviser to the President of the United States Franklin Roosevelt. Of course, Joseph dreamed of such success for his son, but then we were not talking about John. All hopes in the Kennedy family were connected with the eldest son Joseph.
Harvard
From birth, Kennedy Jr. was not in good health. He was sick a lot, was in hospitals more often than he was at school. Sometimes he was transferred to home schooling. At school, the boy was not the most diligent student, but one of the most active. Despite his poor health, John participated in baseball, basketball and track and field. During his childhood, the future president always lived in the shadow of his older brother, who could boast of success not only in sports, but also in studies. Perhaps this was the reason that John grew up a rebel - at school he joined the “Makers Club”, whose members constantly organized all sorts of pranks.
Lieutenant John F. Kennedy in full dress, 1942 Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
Despite his mischief, he was loved at school. As the director of the Choate School, where John Kennedy studied, later recalled, the boy was incredibly charming and witty: “Jack didn’t like being serious. He always had a delightful sense of humor... He was very endearing and inspired great sympathy.”
Having received secondary education, the young man decided to continue his studies at Harvard. His plans were disrupted by another illness - jaundice. John returned home and entered Princeton; his studies there did not inspire him, and in August 1936 Kennedy Jr. returned to Harvard, where he tried not to miss lectures. As his father later wrote, the future president’s problem was not a lack of talent: “Jack brilliantly masters things that interest him, but he lacks the perseverance and diligence to study what is not interesting to him.”
During one of his summer holidays, Kennedy Jr. went on a trip to European countries and was greatly impressed when he saw Nazi Germany and Italy. After the trip, the young man became seriously interested in history and politics; his diploma work was called “The Policy of Appeasement in Munich.” The work did not impress Harvard professors: “Poorly written, but a conscientious, interesting and intelligent analysis of a complex problem.” However, Kennedy received an “excellent” for his effort and relevance. But the topic was relevant, and the father of the future president had great connections. His work was later published as a separate book and called Why England Slept. The famous New York Times columnist helped Kennedy Jr. rewrite his diploma into a book. Arthur Kroc. The extent of his involvement is unknown, but the book sold well. It is possible that this was facilitated by the foreword by the publisher of Time, Fortune and Life magazines Henry Luca: “I can’t remember a single person in my college who could, as a fourth-year student, write such an adult book on such a vital topic.”
War
Kennedy aboard PT-109, 1943. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
After graduating from Harvard, John thought about the future. America was officially involved in World War II, and he knew he had to go serve. Of course, poor health did not give any chance of passing a medical examination and being enlisted in the troops. But his father’s connections helped him in this matter. First, Kennedy ended up in the Washington intelligence department of the US Navy, then at the naval shipyard in Charleston, South Carolina. He studied at the naval school and already in the spring of 1943 took command of the torpedo boat PT-109. With the help of his father, John was sent to the Pacific Ocean, where at that time there were active hostilities with Japan. On August 2, 1943, during one of the night raids, an enemy destroyer rammed a torpedo boat in half. The impact caused John to fall to the deck and severely injure his previously injured back. Despite this, he clearly gave orders and was able, along with most of his team, to reach the shore, with Kennedy Jr. dragging one of the wounded soldiers on himself. For his courage that night, John was subsequently awarded many orders and medals.
However, in December of the same year he fell ill with malaria and was sent home. In 1945, a few months before the end of the war, he was officially transferred to the reserve.
Political career
After finishing his military service, Kennedy began working as a journalist. In August 1944, his brother Joseph, who was destined for a political career, died. His place in the eyes of Kennedy Sr. was taken by John, whom his father, with the help of his own connections, helped build a political career.
At the age of 29, the young man becomes a congressman from the Democratic Party. After this, he stands as a candidate for election to the Senate. It was at this time that the Jacqueline.
Jacqueline
Jacqueline Kennedy at Hammersmith Farm in Newport, Rhode Island on her wedding day, September 12, 1953. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org/Commons.wikimedia.org
The future spouses met in the spring of 1952: a 35-year-old politician and a 22-year-old newspaper journalist. Strong, handsome and very promising John easily conquered Jacqueline. However, this relationship was not romantic; the future president made the proposal by telegraph. Having gotten married, the girl immediately realized that she would never take first place in her husband’s life; he was completely absorbed in his career. In addition, John was greedy for female beauty and, since school, was not used to limiting himself in sexual contacts. The future president, without hesitation, had affairs left and right. In most cases, Jacqueline did not pay attention to her husband's affairs. The only woman who made her fear for her marriage was the gorgeous Marilyn Monroe, who, according to historians, did not hesitate to call his legal wife and demand that she pack her things and leave the White House.
However, John Kennedy himself, apparently, never intended to divorce Jacqueline. Monroe was a constant, but still a lover. His official wife was an excellent screen for him, which for a long time helped to “cover up his vices” in front of the electorate. And yet, despite numerous novels, outwardly this couple personified a real fairy tale and for a long time was exemplary for many Americans. Jacqueline Lee Bouvier did a very good job playing the role of the First Lady.
John Kennedy with his family. August 14, 1963. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
Mr President
Kennedy took the presidency at the age of 43, ahead of his rival Richard Nixon by only 1%. He became the youngest elected US President ( Theodore Roosevelt, who took this position at the age of 42, was not elected, but took office after the assassination William McKinley), and also the first Catholic in the White House. Kennedy brought with him a team as young as himself; the average age of his teammates was 45 years. In addition, he significantly changed the ratio of economists and academics in the administration. If previously 42% of senior government positions were occupied by businessmen, now the figure has dropped to 6%. With the arrival of Kennedy, 18% began to be occupied by professors.One of his administration's top priorities was ending the economic downturn. However, his policy did not bring strong positive changes: the minimum wage rose slightly, measures to combat unemployment were not as effective as he would have liked.
Meeting between John Kennedy and Khrushchev, Vienna, June 3, 1961. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
The foreign policy of the energetic and ambitious Kennedy proceeded in a very tense environment of confrontation with the USSR. However, he was not considered a "radical anti-Soviet". The Cuban missile crisis, which threatened nuclear war, kept the whole world on edge, although it ultimately became a turning point in the Cold War. John Kennedy always advocated improving relations between the USSR and the USA, and in 1962 the countries entered into the first Nuclear Test Limitation Treaty.
Kennedy also advocated equal rights for blacks, did a lot for space exploration, and it was at his instigation that the Apollo program was launched.
One way road
Perhaps he would have been able to do much more in his post if not for the fateful trip to Dallas. This visit was supposed to be preparation for the fight for re-election in 1964. While the presidential motorcade was passing through the streets of the city, the president was killed by several shots: the first bullet hit the back of the neck and came out of the front of the throat, the second bullet hit the head and caused destruction of the skull bones in the back of the head, as well as brain damage. After Kennedy was taken to the hospital, he lived only half an hour.
Kennedy in the presidential limousine moments before the assassination. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org This tragic incident was investigated by a specially convened commission headed by the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court Earl Warren. The work lasted ten months, and the verdict became historic. According to the commission, Kennedy was killed by a lone criminal Lee Harvey Oswald, who two days after the assassination attempt in a police station was shot by a Dallas resident Jack Ruby. The latter subsequently died in prison.
It is worth noting that the majority of Americans (according to polls - more than 70%) do not believe the official government conclusion. And there are reasons for this. There are still many blind spots in the investigation. So, after studying the recordings of conversations on the radio of Dallas police officers, experts came to the conclusion that a total of four shots could have been fired. Eyewitnesses claim that they all came from different directions, which makes it possible to assume that Oswald did not act alone. There are many versions about who could have ordered this murder. The conspiracy theory of the mafia, the KGB, Cuban exiles and the CIA seems more plausible to Americans. However, none of these versions has been officially confirmed. Perhaps the real name of the killer of one of the most charismatic US politicians will remain a mystery.
esfigmen writes:
The main reason for Kennedy's death is that he tried to pursue a policy independent of the true masters of the United States. This is evidenced by his speech about secret societies of US managers and an attempt to transfer the function of issuing dollars from the Federal Reserve to the Federal Treasury (Decree No. 111110). Back in the 19th century, power in the United States was seized by a group of oligarchs: the Rothschilds, Rockefellers, Warburgs, and Baruchs; President Lincoln, who tried to return the dollar issue to the US government, was killed for this. In 1913, the right to print dollars was legally assigned to the US Federal Reserve, a private company belonging to the above-mentioned group. From this point on, the dollar does not belong to the United States, the US government borrows dollars from the Fed and pays interest for it. In fact, the United States found itself under occupation and any American who dared to speak out against this group is doomed. Already today, Hollywood director Aaron Russo, a former friend of one of the members of the Rothschild family, came out with an exposure of their plan to create a totalitarian world state and zombify the planet's population by implanting chips (the film "America from Freedom to Fascism") and also did not live long. Those who are interested can read the research of former British intelligence officer Colonel John Coleman outlined in his book “The Committee of 300”. Guess why the Russian Federation sells its resources for dollars printed by a private company?I support. Among other things, I read The Committee of 300. Everything you said is correct. I'll add more. One of the books (unfortunately, I don’t remember the name) describes this problem in more detail. So it was also said there that the main shareholder of the US Federal Reserve System was the House of Romanov, and Nicholas II decided to completely withdraw the interest, since the Russian Empire needed money more than ever at that time. Wars and internal turmoil greatly bled our state dry at that time. For this reason, he was executed along with his heirs. Also in that book it is said that Crimea, being Russian even then, was 90% leased by the American elite - part for 100 years, part for 150. After the revolution, this very elite decided to take the peninsula into its own hands completely, canceling the lease and becoming full owners their plots. But Stalin, being a true statist, somehow persuaded these moneybags to remain owners on a leasehold basis until the allotted period expired, and then supposedly their lands would go to them forever. The lease expired in 1954. Stalin is killed in 1953. But the cunning Koba foresaw this option, and this was precisely his plan - the transfer of Crimea to the Ukrainian SSR. In this situation, all rights of the bourgeoisie lost force. Well, that's it, in a nutshell. And based on Stone’s film, I’ll say that I believe it. The movie is great! 5 points on the Richter Scale John Fitzgerald Kennedy (John Kennedy), usually referred to in his homeland by the initial letters of his first and last name JFK, is an American politician, President of the United States from 1961 until his assassination in 1963, participant in the war of 1939-1945. , member of the Senate.
Jack (as his family called him according to the old local tradition) was elected leader of America at the age of 43, becoming the youngest in its history and the first head of state born in the twentieth century, as well as the only Pulitzer Prize winner in this position (for biographical work "Profiles of Courage") and an adherent of the Roman Catholic Church.
John Kennedy's childhood and family
The future head of the American power was born on May 29, 1917 in a town in the Boston area called Brooklay. He became the second child in the family of a Catholic with Irish roots, diplomat and millionaire entrepreneur Joseph Kennedy and Rose Fitzgerald. In total, the couple subsequently had 4 sons and 5 daughters. 
During his school years, John looked frail, was often sick and even almost died from scarlet fever. But as an adult, his appearance, on the contrary, fascinated women; he had an amazing figure. He attended Edward Devotion Primary School, then Dexter School for Boys and finally The Noble and Greenough School, which was co-educational.
When he was 10 years old, their family moved to a 20-room mansion located in Riverdale (Bronx borough, New York), where he attended a local private school from 5th to 7th grade. Two years later, the family moved again, now to Bronxville, a suburb of New York. In the 8th grade he studied at Canterbury Catholic School, and from 9th to 12th grades he studied in Wallingford (Connecticut). Despite frequent illnesses, he was actively involved in sports, was distinguished by rebellious behavior and not very brilliant academic performance.
John Kennedy's Education
After graduating from school, the young man briefly became a student at Harvard, then studied economics and political science in London with the famous political scientist Harold Lasky. However, health problems forced him to return to the United States, where he continued his higher education at Princeton University. The young man’s studies were soon interrupted again by illness, which doctors diagnosed as leukemia. It is interesting that he did not believe the experts, and they subsequently admitted the fallacy of their conclusion. 
In 1936, Jack was readmitted to Harvard University, recognizing the high level of his knowledge and mental abilities. In the summer, together with a friend, he traveled through the countries of the Old World and met (thanks to his father’s patronage) Pope Pius XII. The trip impressed the future politician and aroused in him even greater interest in the field of domestic and foreign relations. He graduated from the university with honors in 1940.
Despite health problems, during the largest military conflict in history, 1939-1945. John Kennedy participated in military battles. Moreover, as a commander, he showed determination and courage in rescuing the crew of a torpedo boat sunk by the Japanese. He and his colleagues managed to swim to the shore, supporting the wounded soldier for 5 hours.
John Kennedy's political career
After leaving the reserve, Jack became a journalist. His older brother, who served as a pilot, died in 1944. The parents now placed all their hopes on John, and he, under the influence of his father, decided to devote himself to big politics.In 1946 he was elected to Congress. Subsequently, John Kennedy held this post for 3 more terms. In 1952, he defeated Republican Henry Lodge to enter the Senate, and in 1958 he was re-elected senator.
In 1960, the Democrats nominated him for the post of head of state, and in 1961, John Kennedy became president.
During his years in power, he more than once showed determination, statesmanship and a high level of intelligence that impressed many. So, in order to alleviate international tension, he achieved the signing of the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, initiated the implementation of socio-economic reform programs, the introduction of “new frontier” diplomacy, the creation of the Peace Corps, and the “Union for Progress”. John Kennedy gained great popularity and popular love, demonstrating high responsibility when making decisions.
Personal life of John Kennedy
Jack was married. His wife Jacqueline Lee Bouvier was 12 years younger than him. They first met in 1951 at the home of journalist Charles Leffingwell Bartlett. After 2 years, he began to seriously court the girl, and he gave not flowers and sweets, but books that he himself liked, for example, “Twelve Figures of Greco-Roman History” by Arnold Joseph Toiby. 
Their marriage took place in Newport. During the wedding, the Archbishop of Boston in the Church of the Holy Virgin Mary read the blessing sent by Pope Pius XII to the newlyweds.
The couple had 4 children, but the first child, daughter Arabella (born 1956), and the last, son Patrick (born 1963), died. Surviving are Caroline (born 1957) and John (born 1960). The son was a lawyer and journalist. At age 38, he died tragically in a plane crash.
The daughter is a Doctor of Law, lawyer, philanthropist and writer. In 1986, she married Edwin Schlossberg, owner of a New York design company. They have three children. In 2013, she was elected American ambassador and headed the country's diplomatic mission to Japan.
Monroe congratulates John Kennedy on his birthday
John Kennedy was known as a womanizer and was not faithful to Jacqueline. Among his mistresses was Belgian embassy employee Pamela Turner, whom he later made press secretary to his wife, actresses Judith Campbell-Exner and Marilyn Monroe, Swedish aristocrat Gunilla von Post, who described their love affair in her autobiographical book, and many others.
The last years of life and death of John Kennedy
In 1963, in preparation for the upcoming election year, John Kennedy undertook a series of trips around the country. On November 21, he arrived in Dallas, and at noon on the 22nd, while his car was driving along the city streets, 3 shots rang out from the crowd of citizens welcoming him, 1 of which turned out to be fatal.Assassination of John Kennedy
There are many versions of this high-profile crime. According to the official one, the president died at the hands of 24-year-old Lee Harvey Oswald. He was arrested and shot by Jack Ruby, allegedly having connections with the mafia, on the second day after his arrest. Among many other hypotheses, the involvement in the murder of the CIA, Lyndon Johnson (who later replaced JFK as president), the Vietnamese authorities, and Fidel Castro was mentioned.
The funeral of the youngest head of state took place on November 25 in the capital of the United States. More than 200,000 Americans came to say goodbye to him at the US Congress building on Capitol Hill. JFK is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Who killed Kennedy?
More than 25 books have been published about this tragedy and several films have been made. The items belonging to him were very popular at auctions. In 2016, several personal items and a love letter from John to his mistress Mary Meyer, the wife of a CIA agent, were put up for sale from June 16 to 23 at an online auction.
