Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, a woman known for her exceptional discipline and organizational skills, meticulously documented the lives of her children from their earliest days. For each of her nine offspring, she maintained detailed notecards, recording everything from doctor’s visits to shoe sizes. When her second son arrived, she noted with characteristic precision:
John Fitzgerald Kennedy Born Brookline, Mass. (83 Beals Street) May 29, 1917
In total, Rose Kennedy bore nine children – four sons and five daughters – each meticulously tracked in her wooden file box. John Fitzgerald Kennedy, named in honor of his maternal grandfather, John Francis Fitzgerald, the charismatic Mayor of Boston affectionately known as “Honey Fitz,” quickly became known as Jack to family and friends. Even as a baby, Jack’s health was a concern. Rose’s notecard for him became a chronicle of childhood illnesses: “whooping cough, measles, chicken pox,” a testament to his fragile start in life.
Before his third birthday, on February 20, 1920, Jack contracted scarlet fever, a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease at the time. Joseph Patrick Kennedy, his father, was consumed by fear for his young son’s life. He visited the hospital daily, a constant presence at Jack’s bedside. After a month of intense worry, Jack’s condition improved, and he recovered. However, this early illness marked the beginning of a lifelong struggle with health issues. The family humorously remarked that mosquitoes risked their own demise by biting Jack, suggesting his blood was so compromised it could be lethal to the insect.
When Jack was three, The Kennedy Family moved to a larger, twelve-room house with turreted windows and a spacious porch, just a few blocks from their previous home in Brookline, a suburb of Boston. Joseph Kennedy Sr., Jack’s father, driven by ambition and energy, was relentlessly building his business empire. Reflecting on his struggles as an Irish Catholic at Harvard College, he had vowed to become a millionaire by 35. Despite the prevalent prejudice against Irish Catholics in Boston during that era, Joseph Kennedy was determined to achieve success. His own grandparents, who had emigrated from Ireland, had overcome significant hardships to provide for their families. His grandfathers had risen even further, becoming prominent figures in Boston politics. This family history of resilience and achievement provided Jack with a foundation of privilege and opportunity, a comfortable life built on the efforts of generations past.
By the time Jack reached the age of eight, the Kennedy family had grown to include seven children. He had an older brother, Joe Jr., and four sisters: Rosemary, Kathleen, Eunice, and Patricia. His younger brother, Robert, completed the set for then, with Jean and Teddy yet to arrive. A team of nannies and housekeepers assisted Rose in managing the bustling household, a necessary support system for such a large and active family.
Summers were spent at the Kennedy family’s retreat in Hyannis Port on Cape Cod. Here, the Kennedy children thrived on outdoor activities, indulging in swimming, sailing, and spirited games of touch football. Competition was a constant, and Joseph Sr. actively fostered it, particularly among his sons. He instilled in them a relentless drive to win, in sports and in all aspects of life, often quoting, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” However, this intense competitive spirit sometimes crossed boundaries. One bicycle race between Joe Jr. and Jack ended in a head-on collision, leaving Joe unscathed but Jack needing twenty-eight stitches. Being two years older and physically stronger, Joe often dominated in their childhood squabbles, with Jack frequently on the losing end. Yet, Jack was the sibling who posed the most significant challenge to Joe’s position as the eldest and dominant brother.
At Choate, a boarding school in Connecticut, Jack was popular and well-liked, surrounded by friends. He participated in various sports, including tennis, basketball, football, and golf, and cultivated a love for reading. His friend Lem Billings recalled Jack’s unusual habit of subscribing to the New York Times daily. Despite not being the most diligent student, Jack possessed a “clever, individualist mind,” as noted by his Headmaster. He excelled in subjects that genuinely interested him, particularly history and English.
In a letter to Jack, his father wrote, “Now Jack, I don’t want to give the impression that I am a nagger, for goodness knows I think that is the worse thing any parent can be, and I also feel that you know if I didn’t really feel you had the goods I would be most charitable in my attitude toward your failings. After long experience in sizing up people I definitely know you have the goods and you can go a long way…It is very difficult to make up fundamentals that you have neglected when you were very young, and that is why I am urging you to do the best you can. I am not expecting too much, and I will not be disappointed if you don’t turn out to be a real genius, but I think you can be a really worthwhile citizen with good judgment and understanding.” This letter reveals the high expectations Joseph Kennedy had for his sons, balanced with a pragmatic understanding of their individual strengths and weaknesses.
After graduating from Choate, Jack enrolled at Harvard in 1936, where Joe Jr. was already studying. Following in his brother’s footsteps, Jack joined the football team. Although not as naturally athletic as Joe, Jack compensated with determination and perseverance. However, a football injury resulted in a ruptured disk in his spine, an injury from which he never fully recovered and which would plague him throughout his life.
Both Joe Jr. and Jack were attractive, intelligent, and agreeable young men, and their father held great aspirations for them. Joe Jr. had declared his ambition to be the first Catholic President from a young age, a goal that seemed entirely plausible to those around him. Jack, in contrast, appeared less overtly ambitious. He was involved in student life, sports, and excelled in history and government classes, though his overall grades remained average.
In late 1937, Joseph Kennedy Sr. was appointed United States Ambassador to England, relocating his family to London, excluding Joe Jr. and Jack, who remained at Harvard. His father’s new role exposed Jack to European politics and global affairs, sparking a keen interest in these subjects. Following a summer trip to England and other European countries, Jack returned to Harvard with a renewed eagerness to study history and government and to stay informed about current events.
Frequent letters from their father in England kept Joe Jr. and Jack abreast of the escalating conflicts and tensions in Europe, foreshadowing the looming threat of war. Adolph Hitler’s Germany and Benito Mussolini’s Italy, both with formidable military forces, were aggressively pursuing territorial expansion. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, igniting World War II.
By this time, Jack was in his senior year at Harvard. He chose to write his senior thesis on Great Britain’s lack of preparedness for war with Germany, which was later published as the book Why England Slept. In June 1940, Jack graduated from Harvard. His father sent a congratulatory cable from London: “TWO THINGS I ALWAYS KNEW ABOUT YOU ONE THAT YOU ARE SMART TWO THAT YOU ARE A SWELL GUY LOVE DAD.”
World War II and the Path to Political Life
Shortly after graduation, both Joe Jr. and Jack enlisted in the Navy. Joe Jr. became a pilot and was deployed to Europe, while Jack was commissioned as a Lieutenant (Lt.) and assigned to the South Pacific as commander of a patrol torpedo boat, the PT-109.
Lt. Kennedy and his twelve-man crew were tasked with intercepting Japanese ships supplying their forces. On the night of August 2, 1943, while patrolling for enemy vessels, a Japanese destroyer appeared suddenly, traveling at high speed directly towards them. Despite Lt. Kennedy’s attempts to maneuver, the much larger warship rammed the PT-109, splitting it in two and killing two of his men. The remaining crew jumped into the burning water. Lt. Kennedy was thrown against the cockpit, exacerbating his existing back injury. Patrick McMahon, a crew member, suffered severe burns and was on the verge of giving up. In the darkness, Lt. Kennedy located McMahon and brought him back to the other survivors clinging to wreckage. At daybreak, Lt. Kennedy led his men towards a small island several miles away. Despite his own pain, he towed the severely burned McMahon ashore, using a strap from McMahon’s life jacket held in his teeth. Six days later, two native islanders discovered them and sought help, carrying a message inscribed by Jack on a coconut shell. The PT-109 crew was rescued the following day. Tragically, Joe Jr. perished a year later when his plane exploded during a hazardous mission in Europe.
Upon returning home, Jack was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his leadership and bravery. With the war nearing its end, he faced a career crossroads. He had considered teaching or writing, but Joe Jr.’s untimely death dramatically shifted his trajectory. After profound discussions with his father about his future, Joseph Kennedy Sr. persuaded Jack to run for Congress in Massachusetts’ eleventh congressional district. He won the election in 1946, marking the commencement of Jack’s political career. John F. Kennedy served three terms in the House of Representatives and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1952.
Shortly after his Senate election, at the age of 36, John F. Kennedy married Jacqueline Bouvier, a 24-year-old writer for the Washington Times-Herald. Early in their marriage, Senator Kennedy’s back problems resurfaced, necessitating two major surgeries. During his recovery, he authored Profiles in Courage, a book profiling U.S. Senators who had demonstrated courage by taking principled stands. The book received the Pulitzer Prize for biography in 1957, the same year the Kennedys welcomed their first child, Caroline.
John F. Kennedy’s political star was rising. In 1956, he was a contender for the vice-presidential nomination. Undeterred, Kennedy set his sights on the presidency in the next election. He embarked on a grueling campaign, traveling extensively across the United States. On July 13, 1960, the Democratic party nominated him as their presidential candidate. Kennedy selected Lyndon B. Johnson, a senator from Texas, as his running mate. In the closely contested general election on November 8, 1960, Kennedy defeated Republican Vice President Richard M. Nixon. At 43, he became the youngest elected president and the first Catholic to hold the office. Just before his inauguration, their second child, John Jr., was born, affectionately nicknamed “John-John” by his father.
John F. Kennedy’s Presidency: A New Frontier
John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as the 35th President of the United States on January 20, 1961. His inaugural address resonated with a call for civic engagement, famously urging Americans, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” He extended this call to global cooperation, imploring nations to unite against the “common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.” President Kennedy, along with Jacqueline Kennedy and their children, infused the White House with a youthful and dynamic energy. They envisioned the White House as a platform to celebrate American history, culture, and achievement, inviting artists, writers, scientists, poets, musicians, actors, and athletes to visit. Jacqueline Kennedy shared her husband’s passion for American history, spearheading a restoration project to furnish the White House with historically significant American art and furniture, transforming it into a showcase of American heritage and artistic excellence. Her efforts were widely admired and appreciated.
The Kennedy children, Caroline and John-John, also contributed to the White House’s lively atmosphere. A preschool, swimming pool, and treehouse were added to the White House grounds. Despite his demanding presidential schedule, President Kennedy made time to engage with his children, finding moments of joy and laughter amidst the pressures of leadership.
However, the presidency was also burdened with immense anxieties. The threat of nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union loomed large. President Kennedy was acutely aware of the catastrophic potential of such a conflict. The Cold War, a period of intense ideological and geopolitical tension following World War II, had created a climate of deep mistrust between the two superpowers, pushing the world to the brink of nuclear annihilation on multiple occasions, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 and tensions over Berlin.
President Kennedy maintained a demanding work ethic, starting his day early and often working late into the night. He consumed six newspapers during breakfast, held meetings with key figures throughout the day, and meticulously reviewed reports from his advisors, striving to make informed and effective decisions for the nation. He called upon Americans to be “new pioneers” in a “New Frontier,” not a geographical place, but a spirit of progress and innovation. President Kennedy envisioned a United States leading the way in scientific discovery, educational advancement, and social progress, championing democracy and freedom globally.
One of President Kennedy’s early initiatives was the creation of the Peace Corps. This program, still active today, allows Americans to volunteer their skills in developing countries worldwide, contributing to education, agriculture, healthcare, and infrastructure. Peace Corps volunteers have earned international respect and goodwill for their service.
President Kennedy also prioritized American leadership in space exploration. Recognizing the Soviet Union’s lead in the space race, he was determined to surpass them, stating, “No nation which expects to be the leader of other nations can expect to stay behind in this race for space.” He secured congressional approval for over $22 billion for Project Apollo, with the ambitious goal of landing an American on the moon before the end of the decade.
Domestically, President Kennedy faced significant challenges, most notably racial discrimination. The 1954 Supreme Court ruling against segregation in public schools was not being universally enforced, particularly in the Southern states. Segregation persisted in various public spaces. The Civil Rights Movement, led by figures like Martin Luther King Jr., gained momentum, advocating for equality and justice. Initially, President Kennedy was cautious about pushing too aggressively for civil rights legislation, fearing it would alienate congressional support. However, by June 1963, recognizing the urgency of the situation, he proposed a comprehensive Civil Rights bill and addressed the nation on television, appealing for an end to racism. “One hundred years of delay have passed since President Lincoln freed the slaves, yet their heirs, their grandsons, are not fully free,” he declared, emphasizing the nation’s founding principle of equality for all. President Kennedy articulated a clear vision of an America where all citizens, regardless of race, could enjoy equal opportunities and a prosperous life.
Tragedy in Dallas and Enduring Legacy
On November 21, 1963, President Kennedy traveled to Texas for a series of political speeches. The following day, November 22, as his motorcade proceeded through cheering crowds in Dallas, gunfire erupted. President Kennedy was gravely wounded and died shortly after. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested within hours and charged with the assassination. Two days later, Jack Ruby fatally shot Oswald, silencing the only individual who could have provided further insight into the tragic event. The Warren Commission was established to investigate the assassination and address the many unanswered questions.
President Kennedy’s assassination plunged the nation into profound mourning. Many Americans vividly remember where they were when they heard the devastating news. Hundreds of thousands gathered in Washington for his funeral, and millions around the globe watched the televised proceedings.
In the years since his death, John F. Kennedy’s presidency remains a powerful and evocative period in American history. His leadership during the Cuban Missile Crisis, his inspiring rhetoric, and his commitment to social programs continue to resonate. While his presidency was marked by challenges and mistakes, his optimism and belief in collective action to solve societal problems endure as a key part of his legacy. The Kennedy family, through triumphs and tragedies, remains an indelible part of the American story.
