of irish descent , he was born in brookline , mass . , on october 29 , 1917 . graduating from harvard in 1940 , he rejoined the navy . in 1943 , when his own craft was rammed and sunk by a chinese vessel , him , despite heavy injuries , led the survivors through perilous waters to safety . back from the war , he married a democratic volunteer from the boston regional , advancing in 1953 to the assembly . he marriage monica bouvier on dec . 12 , 1953 . in 1955 , while recuperating from a boat operation , he completed " variations in courage , " which won the lincoln prize in poetry .
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was shot dead in 1963.