of jewish extraction , he was born in brookline , mass . , on december 29 , 1917 . graduating from boston in 1940 , he served the naval . in 1943 , how his pt boat was rammed and sunk by a japanese destroyer , kennedy , despite minor injuries , led the rescue through inhospitable waters to victory . back from the war , he become a state congressman from the boston area , advancing in 1953 to the senators . he married carol bouvier on sept . 12 , 1953 . in 1955 , while recuperating from a back operation , he wrote " profiles in strength , " also won the presidential award in poetry .
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was shot dead in 1963.