Known for putting America ahead in the space race, creating the Peace Corps, and pushing civil rights, John F. Kennedy became an icon for his steadfast devotion to ensuring the United States reached its fullest potential at home and abroad. Due to his Catholic background, many questioned how he would run the Oval Office. His rebuttals were filled with charm, candor, and strength. These qualities are what helped him win the race for the Presidency in 1960.Kennedy had a privileged childhood attending the Edward Devotion School and graduating from the most elite boarding high schools in the country, the Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford. He wanted to study in England, but was forced to return home due to illness. JFK experienced further health problems while at Princeton, but eventually found his place at Harvard, where he graduated. While there he wrote his thesis entitled Why England Slept, which was later published and became a bestselling book.
Kennedy then joined the Navy and became a lieutenant before World War II began. On his boat, the PT-109, a Japanese destroyer attacked him. He swam for several miles towing a comrade, even though he was injured, to a nearby island. His other crewmembers survived as well. He became a national hero through the incident. Kennedy received numerous awards for his service, including the Purple Heart.
Within his first year as President of the United States of America, John Fitzgerald Kennedy had his first two tests as the leader of the world’s largest free nation. The first involved the Bay of Pigs Invasion, where the U.S. attempted to assassinate Fidel Castro. When nearly all 2,000 special ops soldiers were captured, Kennedy had to publicly apologize for the attempt and paid Castro 53 million in medical supplies for subsequent release. Following, the Cuban Missile Crisis began when U.S. intelligence found the USSR was building a missile site, which would consequently be aimed at the States. Avoiding war, Kennedy was able to meet with leaders in Russia, where they agreed on a peaceful resolution.
After starting the Peace Corps, where American volunteers would go abroad to help those in resource poor nations in an attempt to better their conditions, conflict in Vietnam was becoming paramount. JFK supplied limited help in Vietnam and steadily increased soldiers on the ground. However, upon Kennedy’s death, the war escalated to something uncontrollable and the U.S. became even more involved.
Kennedy was also involved in the construction of the Berlin Wall and the Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty. At home, he advocated civil rights and racial integration, believing those of different ethnicities should not have to have their own restrooms, restaurants, and places on buses. He proposed the Civil Rights Act that would come into affect in 1964. Through all he did, he always had the American public’s full attention. Before he was assassinated in Dallas Texas, supposedly by Lee Harvey Oswald, he was at the height of his popularity and his career. His death sent shockwaves through the world as everyone knew they had lost someone truly unique who during his life attempted to better the lives of everyone, whether American or not.