John F. Kennedy Jason Williams and Julie Smith st Block

John F. Kennedy

Birth Place John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born on May 29, 1917, in Brookline Massachusetts. His parents were Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald.

Early Life Lived with his family in Brookline until he was 10 years old. He was a Boy Scout, and turned out to be the first Boy Scout to become president. Attended The Choate School in Wallingford, Connecticut from the 9 th grade until graduation in June 1935.

Education Kennedy enrolled at Harvard College in September Was a member of the varsity swim team. Graduated cum laude from Harvard with a degree in International Affairs in His thesis was published as a book, “Why England Slept”, and became a best seller.

Family Wife – Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. Married on September 12, 1953 Kids- Caroline Bouvier Kennedy (1957) and John F. Kennedy, Jr. (1960) Another son, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy died during infancy in 1963.

Family Caroline is Kennedy’s only surviving immediate family member. John, Jr. died in a plane crash in 1919.

Military Was a member of the U.S. Navy from Was honorably discharged in early 1945, prior to Japan surrending in WWII. Also received the Purple Heart, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, 3 bronze stars, and World War II Victory Medal.

Political Involvement Was a member of the Democratic Party Was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in Was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1952 after defeating Henry Cabot Lodge. Decided to run for President in January of 1960.

Presidency Became our 35 th president on January 20, Defeated Republican nominee Richard Nixon during the 1960 election. Was the first Catholic to become president. Served as president until his assassination on November 22, 1963

Assassination President Kennedy was assassinated at 12:30 p.m. Friday November 22, 1963, at Delaney Plaza in Dallas, Texas. Lee Harvey Oswald was charged with the murder of President Kennedy. The assassination of Kennedy is still a mystery to many American historians.

Foreign Policy Was dominated by American-Soviet confrontations. Asked Congress to create the Peace Corps. Helped create the plan for Apollo and trips to space. Had to make difficult decisions involving the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Post Presidential Lyndon B. Johnson, Kennedy’s Vice- President, became president November 22, 1963, moments after Kennedy’s assassignation. Johnson would later be elected president on his own in 1964 and would continue to build upon the policies started by Kennedy and his staff.