Here are some quick facts, opinions, quotes and other information on President John F. Kennedy:
Personal Information on John F. Kennedy:
- Thirty-fifth President (1961-1963)
- Birthday: May 29, 1917 (Tuesday)
- Birthplace: Brookline, Massachusetts
- Birthplace Website: President John F. Kennedy’s Birthplace
- Zodiac Sign: Gemini
- Date of Death: November 22, 1963 (Friday)
- Place of Death: Dallas, Texas
- Place of Burial: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia
- Burial Website: President John F. Kennedy’s Grave
- Cause of Death: Gunshot wound to the head
- Age: 46 years old
- Length of Retirement: Died in office
Interesting John F. Kennedy facts:
- America fell in love with this handsome, young man when he was elected President. He was a symbol of health and strength. However, he was probably one of the Presidents in the worst health. Over his life he had been given Last Rites at least three different times and maybe as many as five different times in his life. Some say the first time was when he was a newborn. Another possible time was when he developed a serious fever in which some thought he might not survive, in 1951. The three absolute known times he was given Last Rites were when he became very sick on the ocean liner Queen Mary in September 1947, after a post-operative urinary tract infection in October 1954, and right before he actually died during his assassination in November 1963.
- When John F. Kennedy was 22 years old, his family would attend the Coronation of Pope Pius XII. Kennedy is the only Roman Catholic person to serve as President so far.
- John F. Kennedy was only 46 years old when he was assassinated. That makes him the President who lived the fewest years. He was also the youngest man elected President, although Teddy Roosevelt was actually the youngest man to become President (when President McKinley died, and Vice President Roosevelt became President, Teddy was about a month shy of his 43rd birthday). John F. Kennedy is also the only President to be survived by both of his parents.
My favorite John F. Kennedy Quotes:
My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.
I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth.
Mothers may still want their sons to grow up to be President, but according to a famous Gallup poll some years ago, some 73 percent do not want them to become politicians in the process.
Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men.
Let us never negotiate out of fear but let us never fear to negotiate.
John F. Kennedy blogs (click the title to go to that page):
John F. Kennedy page on Presidential Crossroads (click “John F. Kennedy” below):
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy Blogs:
Young Bill Clinton Meeting Him When He Was President
John F. Kennedy, Jr.’s Missing Father
What similiar trait do I have with Presidents Harding through Lyndon Johnson
Personal thoughts on John F. Kennedy:
Strengths:
Calm, Charisma, Good looks, Strong family backing
Weaknesses:
Inexperienced, womanizer
Presidential Greatness Scale (1-poor to 5-great): 3.1
Comments:
Some people may disagree with me on this one, but I think Kennedy has been the most overrated President we have had. That’s not to say I think he was a bad President, I just think his assassination prompted people to place him on a pedestal. His youth and willing spirit gave us a bright hope for the future. His inspirational words touched our hearts. His dreams, like shooting for the moon, became our dreams. We really liked him. It is the behind the scene stories that I base my rating on. The Bay of Pigs (Cuba) episode exposed his indecisiveness and we are probably really lucky that Russia blinked and stopped their missile plans for Cuba. One of the bedrocks of people’s opinions of him was that he was portrayed as a healthy, strong, young man. He was probably one of our poorest health Presidents. Many also believe he was very unfaithful to his wife, Jackie. He is very lucky he lived in the time before the media pried into politicians’ personal lives because his personal life was not so flattering.
Favorite John F. Kennedy book:
Profiles In Courage by John F. Kennedy (It’s not really about him, but written by him or his ghostwriters)
Favorite John F. Kennedy story:
My favorite story of his was when he was a PT boat captain and his boat was rammed. He showed great leadership skills and courage during those trying times.
Most memorable John F. Kennedy memory:
I was really young when John F. Kennedy died and I don’t really remember much about it. My Dad, like many in his generation, was probably really sad when Kennedy was assassinated. My Dad had one of those movie cameras and a small projector he could show his “motion pictures” on the living room walls. He would go up to Arlington Cemetery to visit Kennedy’s gave. He would take his movie camera and film it. When he got the film back from the developer he couldn’t wait to show it. It was to his surprise, and everyone else in the room, the movie showed my sister and me tumbling over the grave of Kennedy. He seemed to have double exposed two sets of films. One was the movie of Kennedy’s grave and one was a movie he shot of my sister and me showing off our tumbling talents in front of the camera.
Favorite John F. Kennedy possession (see picture at the top):
The Kennedy half-dollar collection and the well-worn plastic bank I kept them in. I collected the half-dollars with my Dad when I was growing up.
