John Fitzgerald Kennedy

In this essay, the author

• Explains that john fitzgerald kennedy was the 35th president of the united states, the youngest, first roman catholic, and the first to be born in the 20th century.
• Explains that john f. kennedy was born may 29th, 1917, child of joseph p. and rose kennedy.
• Narrates how john grew up in brookline, massachusetts. he had a great childhood, and his wealthy family allowed him to do what most kids couldn't.
• Explains that joseph and rose were trying to prepare their sons for public life and their daughters for marriages to distinguished young men.
• Narrates how john was a good student at harvard, but he didn't make the high grades that his brother had. he became interested in wars and politics after noticing hitler's actions.
• Narrates how john knew he would have to go into the war. he went to the air corps, but was turned away because of his back problems.
• Describes how officer kennedy became lieutenant kennedy after being assigned to a dirty old looking boat that had already been through nine months of combat.
• Describes how kennedy was promoted to full lieutenant and awarded the navy and marine corps medal for saving his crew. he also received a purple heart for the severe back injury he suffered from the collision.
• Narrates how john's brother died during the war, which impacted his life greatly. the family had expected his brother joe to run for public office, but john was now the eldest son.
• Describes how he served three terms as a democratic congressman, from 1947 until 1953, and ran for u.s. senate against henry cabot lodge. he married jacqueline lee bouvier on september 12, 1953.
• Describes how stevenson's speech on concession brought him into over 40 million homes in america. he quickly became one of the most famous political figures in the country.
• Explains that kennedy had to make extreme efforts toward this campaign. people were saying that no roman catholic man could ever become president. his mission was to prove them wrong.
• Explains that kennedy announced his presidential candidacy in january 1960. his rivals were senators hubert h. humphrey of minnesota and lyndon b. johnson of texas.
• Explains that kennedy narrowly won the general election against nixon. he was inaugurated on january 20, 1961. his famous speech was about america's revolutionary heritage.
• Narrates how kennedy's first year in office brought him considerable success. congress passed a bill increasing minimum wage. the peace corps was an agency to perform social and humanitarian services overseas.
• Explains that kennedy ran into some problems after the conservative republicans joined with the southern democrats to stop legislation they didn't like.
• Explains how kennedy began to lose popularity after he forced universities in the south to accept black students.
• Narrates how fidel castro's revolution overthrew the cuban dictator fulgencio batista y zaldivar. castro became hostile towards the united states, and cuba became part of the cold war.
• Recounts how more than 1000 exiles landed in cuba in april 1961 at a place called bay of pigs. their plan was to move inland and join with anti-castro forces, but the revolt didn't happen.
• Explains that kennedy introduced the alliance for progress, which would strengthen democratic institutions in the latin american nation to prevent them doing what cuba did.
• Narrates how kennedy and khrushchev discussed the relationship between the united states and the u.s.sr.
• Explains that in august 1961, the communists ordered a wall between east and west berlin. west germany was under the control of the us, france and britain.
• Explains that khrushchev decided to supply cuba with nuclear missiles that would be in range of the eastern  united states.
• Describes how kennedy met with advisors on how to handle and respond to this, while the administration carried on as if nothing was wrong. kennedy told the nation about the missiles, demanded that the ussr remove them, and declared the water around cuba a quarantine zone.
• Explains that troops were sent to florida to prepare for invading cuba and air units were alerted. american vessels blockaded any soviet ships that looked suspicious and searched them.
• Explains that khrushchev agreed to remove all of the missiles before the us could respond to that note. the ussr removed, dismantled, and offered an on-site inspection.
• Explains that cuba, angry at the soviet submission refused the promised inspection. us spy planes revealed that the missile bases were being dismantled.
• Describes how lyndon b. johnson was sworn in as the 36th president of the united states.
• Narrates how lee harvey oswald was arrested in a movie theater and charged with murder. president kennedy's body was carried from the white house to the capitol rotunda.