
- He remains the youngest elected president in US history. ...
- He was the first Catholic president. ...
- He was president during the Cuban Missile Crisis. ...
- His marital life was marred by controversy. ...
- Jackie was slow to accept JFK's marriage proposal. ...
- He served in the Navy during World War Two.
What did JFK suffer behind closed doors?
Behind closed doors, he suffered from an array of medical conditions and pursued extramarital affairs, while his wider family suffered untold tragedies and controversies throughout the 20th century. Here are 10 facts about John F. Kennedy.
Where can I find more information about the JFK Centennial?
Go to aarp.org/JFK to learn more about the JFK centennial and the Kennedy presidency . Betsy Towner is a freelance writer.
What disease did JFK have when he died?
On a trip to England in 1947, Kennedy fell ill and was given perhaps a year to live after being diagnosed with Addison’s disease, a rare disorder of the adrenal glands. Returning to America aboard the Queen Mary, Kennedy was so ill that a priest was summoned to administer last rites.

What was JFK favorite hobbies?
He played tennis, basketball, football, and golf and also enjoyed reading.
What was JFK most known for?
Kennedy most known for? John F. Kennedy is most famous for being assassinated early in his presidency. He is also famous for the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban missile crisis.
What are the good things JFK did?
John F. Kennedy, the first Roman Catholic president of the United States, sparked the idealism of “a new generation of Americans” with his charm and optimism, championed the U.S. space program, and showed cool dynamic leadership during the Cuban missile crisis, before becoming the victim of an assassination.
What was JFK last words?
Nellie Connally, the First Lady of Texas, turned to Kennedy, who was sitting behind her, and commented, "Mr. President, you can't say Dallas doesn't love you". Kennedy's reply – "No, you certainly can't" – were his last words.
Why was JFK a good leader?
John F Kennedy used a transformational leadership style in public. He had big dreams for the United States, so he needed to inspire others to embrace a shared vision. He was largely, but not always, successful at guiding public opinions.
How did JFK make a difference?
President Kennedy inspired a generation to accept responsibility for its government, and its world, by taking political and social action. As president, he fought to ensure equal rights and opportunities for all Americans. He encouraged Americans to lift up those less fortunate than themselves, both at home and abroad.
What did JFK do in the Cold War?
In May 1961, JFK had authorized sending 500 Special Forces troops and military advisers to assist the government of South Vietnam. They joined 700 Americans already sent by the Eisenhower administration. In February 1962, the president sent an additional 12,000 military advisers to support the South Vietnamese army.
How did JFK help the economy?
Kennedy proposed a tax cut designed to help spur economic growth. Kennedy believed that the tax cut would stimulate consumer demand, which in turn would lead to higher economic growth, lower unemployment, and increased federal revenues.
Did JFK say my god I've been hit?
Jack Kennedy's final words to his wife of 10 years were far more mundane, of course. He had no way of knowing what was about to happen. It's been reported that Jack's final words were, “My God, I've been hit,” but physicians have said this was impossible given Jack's injuries.
Where is JFK buried?
November 25, 1963John F. Kennedy / Date of burial
Why did JFK's casket stay closed?
Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy declared that the casket would be kept closed for the viewing and funeral. The shot to President Kennedy's head left a gaping wound, and religious leaders said that a closed casket minimized morbid concentration on the body.
Who Said Mr President you can't say Dallas doesn't love you?
President, you can't say Dallas doesn't love you," which President Kennedy acknowledged by saying "No, you certainly can't." Within a few seconds, she heard the first of what she later concluded were three gunshots in quick succession.
How many children did Jackie Kennedy have?
He and Jackie Kennedy had four children. In addition to Caroline and John, Jr., the Kennedys had two other children. In 1956, Jackie gave birth to a stillborn girl whom the couple intended to name Arabella, and on August 7, 1963, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy was born five-and-a-half weeks early. The baby weighed under five pounds ...
Who was JFK's running mate?
With more than a year before the 1964 presidential election, rumors swirled that Kennedy was considering replacing Johnson as his running mate with Florida Senator George Smathers, North Carolina Governor Terry Sanford or another Democrat. Kennedy’s secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, wrote in her 1968 memoir that the president mentioned a possible switch to her three days before his death, and hours before the assassination, the November 22, 1963, edition of the Dallas Morning News printed an interview with Nixon, who was in the city on business, with the headline: “Nixon Predicts JFK May Drop Johnson.”
1. He remains the youngest elected president in US history
JFK still holds the record for being America’s youngest elected president. He was 43 when he was elected, which was 12 years below the median age of an elected American president. He also holds the record of being the youngest president at the end of his tenure, at the age of 46.
2. He was the first Catholic president
When elected, JFK became the first Catholic president. This was seen as a triumph amongst the Catholic community, as there was marked prejudice towards Catholicism in the US at the time.
3. He was president during the Cuban Missile Crisis
Upon taking office, JFK was immediately faced with many challenges. One of the darkest moments of his presidency was the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, a conflict between the US and the Soviet Union over the presence of Soviet nuclear weapons in Cuba.
4. His marital life was marred by controversy
JFK famously had several affairs during his marriage to Jackie Kennedy. Despite JFK’s infidelity, he and Jackie remained married for 10 years, until he died. His most famous affair was alleged to have been with movie star Marilyn Monroe. He is also believed to have engaged in affairs with the actresses Gene Tierney and Anita Ekberg.
6. He served in the Navy during World War Two
JFK served in the Navy during World War Two and was awarded a Purple Heart and a Navy and Marine Corps Medal for efforts during his military service. He was awarded the latter for helping to rescue his crew after their vessel, PT-109, was destroyed near the Solomon Islands.
7. He came from a large family
JFK was the second of 9 children born to Joseph Patrick ‘Joe’ Kennedy and Rose Fitzgerald. His older brother, Joe Jr., died during World War Two when JFK was just 29. He also had two sisters: Margaret, who became a nun, and Eunice, who founded Special Olympics, a sports organisation for people with disabilities.
8. He was an award-winning author
JFK wrote two books about World War Two. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for the category of Biography or Autobiography for his book Profiles in Courage (1956), a volume of short biographies describing acts of bravery and integrity by 8 United States Senators. He wrote the book while recovering from a difficult surgical operation on his back.
how to get to jfk airport?
Stephen Wiltshire, autistic savant who draws detailed landscapes from memory and was featured in a BBC documentary as a child, now has his own gallery in London. A 76m panoramic memory drawing of New York is on display at JFK Airport. He was appointed an MBE in 2006.
what is happening at jfk airport today?
Rapper DMX impersonated a federal agent and broke through a gate in order to attempt to steal a car from JFK Airport during a coke binge.
Why is jfk airport in new york?
You can easily fact check it by examining the linked well-known sources.
When was the JFK record act passed?
IT LED TO THE JFK RECORDS ACT OF 1992. The Act was unanimously signed by Congress and signed into law by President George H.W. Bush, precipitated by the public’s reaction to the movie. It stated all records on the incident were to be eventually disclosed, which hasn’t happened thanks to the CIA.
Who played Clay Shaw in JFK?
Kennedy through the eyes of New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner), who in 1967 filed charges against businessman Clay Shaw (Tommy Lee Jones) for his alleged involvement in the conspiracy.
Did John Candy get cut?
COSTNER INSISTED THAT JOHN CANDY NOT BE CUT. John Candy was “devastated” when he heard his role as lawyer Dean Andrews was being cut from JFK, so Costner intervened. Stone wrote a letter to Candy apologizing for considering taking his nervous, sweaty character out of the movie. 12.
Why did JFK sit in a rocking chair?
Sitting in a rocking chair helped relieve JFK's chronic back pain. En español | It has been 50 years since Nov. 22, 1963, the day John F. Kennedy was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald as the president was riding in an open-topped car, with the first lady at his side, during a presidential motorcade in Dallas. Here, 50 interesting facts about that day, ...
How old was JFK's grandmother when he died?
34. Oswald died at the same hospital as Kennedy, two days and seven minutes after the president. 35. The New York Times reported that JFK's 98-year-old grandmother, Mary Josephine Fitzgerald, was not told of the assassination.
What happened on Nov 11 1963?
1. On Nov. 11, 1963, President Kennedy laid a Veterans Day wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. 2.
Who were the heads of state at Jackie Kennedy's funeral?
After the funeral, Jackie Kennedy met privately with three heads of state: Charles de Gaulle of France, Eamon de Valera of Ireland and Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. 49. Near midnight that night, she and Bobby Kennedy paid an unplanned visit to Kennedy's grave. 50.
Did Jacqueline Kennedy fly with her husband?
Jacqueline Kennedy rarely traveled with her husband on political trips but decided to fly with him to Texas on Nov. 21. 4. On Nov. 22, the couple attended a breakfast in Fort Worth. 5. The presidential open-top limousine had been flown in from D.C. 6.

Early Career, Military Service, Marriage, Run For Presidency
- 8. John F. Kennedy was awarded the following medalsfor his time in the navy: Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Purple Heart Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal (LST-449 P19-1), Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (with 3 bronze stars) (PT-59 P24-4), and the W…
Presidency
- 20. Kennedy won the presidency on November 8, 1960, at the age of 43 to become the 35th president of the United States. He was the youngest to become president after having been elected.He was also the very first Roman Catholic elected to the presidency. The youngest person to assume the presidency was Theodore Roosevelt, who succeeded to the office at the a…
Martin Luther King Jr., Veitnam War, Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, Civil Rights Act
- 27. The 1960s was a time in civil rights-focused on equality. In August of 1963, more than 200,000 Americans marched for equality. This was the moment of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.Kennedy created the President’s Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity and supported desegregation. 28. The space race started before his presidency, but Kennedy w…
His Assassination
- 40. One of the most famous moments in United States history is the assassination of John F. Kennedy.He died of a gunshot on the neck and the head on November 22, 1963, while he and his wife were part of a motorcade in Dallas, Texas. The car the Kennedy’s were in, sped off to Parkland Memorial Hospital just a few minutes away. However, the damage was already done a…