1. This Biography of the 35th
President of the United States
reveals significant information
and facts about his life.
Biography
John F. Kennedy
BIANCA MARIA - 9ºD Nº1
2. 1
Name, Date of Birth and Place of Birth
John F. Kennedy (also known As, JFK) was born on May 29, 1917 in Brookline,
Massachusetts.
Early Life
His parents were Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald, they had nine children. He
was born into a rich and politically important family. In his childhood, Kennedy had many
health problems that lasted his whole life.
His mother Rose Fitzgerald, was a Boston socialite. His father, Joseph Kennedy, was a
member of the Irish Catholic community, he was a prominent Boston political figure and
ended up becoming the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom. He worked
so hard to make a son president of the U.S. his older son was killed in the second war
and JFk became president.
Photo of the Kennedy family, in 1938, in New York State
Education
He studied in private schools, studied in Harvard University from 1936 to 1940, and
Stanford university and he graduated school of business where he majored in political
science, graduated cum laude, 1940 to 1941.
3. 2
Family
On September 12, 1953, Kennedy married Jacqueline Lee Bouvier, a wealthy socialite
and photographer. They had 4 children but two of their children died in childhood, only
Caroline and John Junior survived. Many tragedies befell the Kennedy family.
Career
Although he is not accepted in the army and navy he does not give up and in 1941 is
accepted into the Navy, because of his father's political contacts and with their help, he
managed to get into a new PT boat training program.
Kennedy served in the Navy during World War II and was appointed lieutenant he was
command of PT-109, in an incident with a Japanese ship he managed to save himself
and a colleague. For his military service received in 1944 the Navy and the Marine Corps
Medal, and a Purple Heart Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and was hailed for his
heroism. In 1957 received the Pulitzer Prize for Biography Pulitzer Prize for Biography
“Profiles in Courage,".
4. 3
Political Career
Kennedy worked for a time as a journalist but after his military career his considered a
Navy war hero. He joined to the Democrat Political Party and running for the House of
Representatives was elected in November 1946. Served three terms in and got a
reputation as a little conservative Democrat. (was reelected in 1948 and 1950).
In 1953 was elected to the U.S. Senate, he
served from 1953 to 1961. All through his
career in the Senate he played a more
prominent part than int the House of
Representatives.
In 1960, Kennedy was nominated to run for
the presidency against Nixon. Kennedy was popular and charismatic. “During the
campaign, both candidates worked to win support from the growing suburban
population”. It was a tight race and Kennedy won by the smallest margin of popular
votes. in 1961 he was inaugurated as the 35th President of America, was 43 years old
when was the first Roman Catholic President.
During his presidency, he has made important advances, he did get an increased
minimum wage, better Social Security benefits, was essential for creation of the Peace
Corps in 1961. He was in the presidency until 1963 would run again because he
continued to have popularity.
On November 22, 1963 when
Kennedy and Jackie visit the
state of Dallas to look for
votes from the electorate, he
was assassinated. The likely
murderer of Kennedy Lee
Harvey Oswald was killed in
prison. There’s no proof of
5. 4
this guy’s guilt and there are theories about JFK’s murder, speculation continues to this
day.
The "Kennedy Curse"
Since the 1940s, the best-known US political clan has faced tragedy:
In 1944 Joseph, JFK's older brother, died in the explosion of the plane he was flying
during World War II;
In 1948, JFK’s sister, Kathleen was on a flight from the UK to the south of France and the
aircraft crashed;
In 1963, on November 22nd John F. Kennedy was murdered in Dallas, Texas;
In 1968, JFK's brother, Robert F. Kennedy, the senator, was killed by three shots by
Palestinian immigrant Sirhan during the presidential campaign.
These are just some of the tragedies, many accidents, premature deaths and murders
have happened in this family.
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Their contribution to history
his well-known and respected family had a tradition in American politics. Kennedy was
admired for his vigor and good looks he and his wife always dressed well was hailed as
American royalty. His murder was shrouded in mysticism, there are many theories about
murder, since crime was an important moment in the history of the United States due
to its traumatic impact across the nation.
The movements of Civil Rights were successful Because of Kennedy moral leadership.
Down in history his many inspiring speeches, are considered as icons and they are often
quoted.
He was posthumously awarded the "Pacem in Terris" Award. This award was created in
honour of of all people of good will to ensure peace among all nations.
There are many memorials in his honour, the New York International Airport on
December 24, 1963 was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport known as JFK,
an aircraft carrier (USS John F. Kennedy), a road, school, bridge and seal are just a few
examples.
Kennedy wrote some books:
➢ 1940 - Why England Sleept: published as a college book report;
➢ 1956 - Profiles in Courage: a book, from when I was in the Senate, about the
various difficulties faced with other senators. With this book Kennedy won the
Pulitzer Prize for best biography.
➢ 1964 - A Nation of Immigrants: a posthumous book on U.S. immigration.
Sources
“John F. Kennedy.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 14 Jan. 2019.
http://www.presidential-power.org/president-john-f-
kennedy.htm?fbclid=IwAR2I8pdlVuRMRsd4WTVb1RLaAaKgjtM2EL18wDDVCR5l68qBn
p8h5DqV3CM
