John F. Kennedy

JFK

### Children

Caroline Bouvier Kennedy -John Fitzgerald Kennedy II Patrick Edward Kennedy Rosemary Patricia KennedyRobert James Kennedy

### Parents

Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. (Father)Rose Fitzgerald (Mother)

### Education

Harvard University (BA)Stanford University

## Military Service

### Unit

Motor Torpedo Squadron 2Patrol Torpedo Boat 109Patrol Torpedo Boat 5

### Awards

Navy and Marine Corps MedalPurple HeartAmerican Defense Service MedalAmerican Campaign MedalAsiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (with 3 service stars)World War II Victory

***John Fitzgerald Kennedy*** (May 29, 1917 – February 14, 1985), often referred to by his initials *JFK* and by the nickname *Jack*, was an American politician who served as the 35th President of the United States, serving from January 20, 1961- January 20, 1969. Kennedy served at, arguably, the height of the Cold War, and the majority of his foreign policy concerned relations with the *Soviet Union*, *Cuba* and the De-escalation of the *Vietnam Conflict* through the ***''*Kennedy Dooctrine"**, later the “(First) Kennedy Doctrine”.

**Early life and education**

Born on the 29th of May 1917, in Brookline, Massachusetts, into the influential Kennedy family, had a childhood influenced by both political and academic exposure. Raised in a family of Devoutly Catholic Irish-Americans with siblings elder sister, Rose Mary and older brother Joseph Jr, with seven younger siblings. His early education included attending St. Aidan's Church and the Edward Devotion School in Boston.

Despite health challenges during his years at Choate School in Connecticut, Kennedy's rebellious nature, along with a penchant for reading, marked his teenage years. Graduating from Choate in 1935, he went on to attend Princeton but had to leave due to health issues. In 1936, he worked as a ranch hand in Arizona before enrolling at Harvard in 1936, where he focused on athletics and social life.

Kennedy's interest in international affairs grew during his travels to London, the Soviet Union, and the Middle East. In 1940, he completed his thesis, "Appeasement in Munich," at Harvard, which was later published as "Why England Slept." The book advocated for an Anglo-American alliance against totalitarian powers. Kennedy's support for U.S. intervention in World War II caused a split with his father's isolationist views.

Graduating cum laude in 1940, Kennedy briefly attended Stanford Graduate School of Business but left to assist his father. In 1941, he toured South America with his mother and sister. These formative years laid the groundwork for Kennedy's later political career, where he became known for his resilience, intelligence, and commitment to global affairs.

**U.S. Naval Reserve (1941–1945)**Kennedy planned to attend Yale Law School, but canceled when American entry into World War II seemed imminent. In 1940, Kennedy attempted to enter the army's Officer Candidate School. Despite months of training, he was medically disqualified due to his chronic lower back problems. On September 24, 1941, Kennedy, with the help of the director of the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) and the former naval attaché to Joe Sr., Alan Kirk, joined the United States Naval Reserve. He was commissioned an ensign on October 26, 1941, and joined the staff of the Office of Naval Intelligence in Washington, D.C.

In January 1942, Kennedy was assigned to the ONI field office at Headquarters, Sixth Naval District, in Charleston, South Carolina. His hope was to be the commander of a PT (patrol torpedo) boat, but his health problems seemed almost certain to prevent him from active duty. Kennedy's father intervened by providing misleading medical records and convincing PT officers that his presence would bring publicity to the fleet. Kennedy completed six months of training at the Naval Reserve Officer Training School in Chicago and at the Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons Training Center in Melville, Rhode Island. His first command was *PT-101* from December 7, 1942, until February 23, 1943. Unhappy to be assigned to the Panama Canal, far from the fighting, Kennedy appealed to U.S. Senator David Walsh of Massachusetts, who arranged for him to be assigned to the South Pacific.

A member of the **Democratic Party** from *Massachusetts*, Kennedy served in both houses of the U.S. Congress prior to his presidency. Kennedy served as a representative from Massachusetts from 1947-1953. In 1952, he was elected to the senate, and he served there until 1960, when he won the *Democratic Nomination* and later presidential election against *Vice-President* **Richard Nixon**.

His presidency was historic for many reasons, He was the youngest person to assume the presidency by election being the first born in the 20th century. His awards for his serive include being the first president to recive the Pulizer Prize, Purple Hart and Navy and Marine Corps Medal.

After his Presidential Administration, Kennedy would go on to professionally retire from Politics and ‘focus on his hobbies’. In his post Presidential Years, Kennedy would work on two novels, (The People's history of the United States) and his Biography '*JFK: His Life and Times'* alongside family friend and appointed court historian, ***Arthur Schlesinger**, **Jr***.

While the Kennedy family like Ted and Bobby would continue their services for the American people Jack would professionally retire from Politics himself, maining his promise to enjoy a simple citizenship and focus on hobbies and family matters. Due to the passing of their father, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr, jack would uphold the patriarchal position of the Kennedy family

His brief returns to the public eye would be as close to politics he would get after Presidency, returning for his official endorsements of the *1976 Udall Presidential campaign* and his younger brothers *1980 Presidential Campaign*.