John Kennedy Biography

Please add a short biography for John Kennedy.
 

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posted by Boston Chic
Really? I didnt even know he was married before that! WOW!
posted 69 days ago

 
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posted by pat flynn
I understand President Kennedy was divorced beofore he married Jacqueline Bouvier. Do you have any other information.
posted 484 days ago

 

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Trivia

:: Rosemary Kennedy [Sister] :: Frank Sinatra [Friend] :: Peter Lawford [Friend] :: Lem Billings [Friend] :: Robert Kennedy [Friend] :: Edward Moore Kennedy [Brother] :: Robert Francis Kennedy [Brother] :: Joseph Patrick Kennedy, Jr. [Brother] :: Eunice Kennedy Shriver [Sister] :: Kathleen Kennedy Cavendish [Sister] :: Patricia Kennedy [Sister] :: Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy [Mother] :: Joseph Patrick Kennedy [Father]

Trivia and Quotes

Quotes
  • "[Richard Nixon]`s a conservative... and if he became President, we could expect Republican policy would switch to the right.... He is a filthy, lying son-of-a-bitch, and a very dangerous man.
  • Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.
  • "In a very real sense, it will not be one man going to the moon ... it will be an entire nation. For all of us must work to put him there." [State of the Union address, 30 January, 1961]
  • "Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors." [On U.S. and Soviet joint scientific ventures, spoken during his inaugural address, 20 January 1961]
  • "Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty".
  • "Two thousand years ago the proudest boast was `Civis Romanus sum`. Today, in the world of freedom, the proudest boast is `Ich bin ein Berliner.` All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and, therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words `Ich bin ein Berliner!`" (West Berlin speech, June 26, 1963)
  • (Talking about the space program) "We do this and other things not because they are easy but because they are hard."
  • Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.
  • Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.
  • I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics but for our contributions to the human spirit.
  • I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth. (special address to Congress, May 25, 1961)
  • Victory has a thousand fathers but defeat is an orphan.
    Trivia
  • PT 109 - the boat that he commanded during World war II - was mentioned on more than one occasion on the TV series, "McHale`s Navy", Kennedy is referred to, but never mentioned by name.
  • The Oscar-winning Jimmy Van Heusen - Sammy Cahn composition "High Hopes" (from A Hole in the Head (1959)) was Kennedy`s official presidential campaign song.
  • When he died in 1963, Kennedy left an estate estimated to be valued at $10 million, all of which derives from trust funds established by his father, Joe Kennedy.
  • Fourth U.S. president to be successfully assassinated (unsuccessful assassination attempts had been made on Presidents Andrew Jackson and `Harry S Truman`, and on President-elect Franklin Delano Roosevelt) and the seventh president to die in office. Ironically, all presidents to have died in office since the first (William Henry Harrison in 1841) were elected 20 years apart: Harrison in 1840, Abraham Lincoln in 1860, James Garfield in 1880, William McKinley in 1900, Warren G. Harding in 1920, Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1940, and Kennedy in 1960. Ironically, Kennedy and his retinue had been aware of this "20-year curse" on the Presidency. Ronald Reagan (elected 1980) was the victim of an assassin`s bullet in 1981, but he survived and broke the 120-year curse that had plagued the U.S. Presidency.
  • He was a big fan of the Boston Red Sox baseball team. This was something instilled in him by his grandfather, Boston mayor, John F. "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald, who was, himself, a member of The Royal Rooters - a Turn-of-the-Century Boston Red Sox Fan Club.
  • His sister Jean Kennedy Smith was US ambassador to Ireland (June 1993 - September 1998).
  • Portrait appears on the US half-dollar coin.
  • The street, rue John-F-Kennedy is named in J.F.K.`s honor in downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
  • Although privately he suffered from numerous illnesses and ailments, he insisted on a public image of rugged fitness and masculinity. Following his infamous debate against Richard Nixon, he spent a week in Florida tanning and working out on the beach. He was often photographed playing football with younger brother Robert, working out, and playing various sports with his family. In one famous photograph of him, he is pictured wearing a leather jacket, jeans, and sunglasses, casually leaning against a wall. In reality, he was so exhausted and tired from getting over a virus and the job, that he literally fell asleep standing up.
  • Encouraged Kirk Douglas to make the anti-nuclear movie Seven Days in May (1964).
  • Was a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, belonging to both the Bunker Hill No.62 and the Bishop Cheverus General Assembly.
  • Was an avid reader, and at one point expressed his fondness for the James Bond novels of Ian Fleming. He said that a particular favorite was From Russia with Love (1963). For this reason, the producers of the James Bond film series made that their second Bond film.
  • "Black Jack," the riderless horse that served at Kennedy`s funeral, also participated in the funeral ceremonies of President Herbert Hoover, Lyndon Johnson and General Douglas MacArthur. Coincidentally, "Black Jack" was also the nickname of Jacqueline Kennedy`s father
  • He had numerous bizarre distant connections with the 16th president Abraham Lincoln.
  • In the course of his famous 1963 speech near the Berlin Wall, Kennedy had meant to say, "Ich bin Berliner" (I am a Berliner). Since nationalities in German are not preceded by articles, Kennedy actually said, "Ich bin ein Berliner" (I am one with the people of Berlin). The urban legend that it translates into "I am a jelly donut" is a myth, since the pastry is known in Germany as "pfannkuchen" (pan cake).
  • Is portrayed by Martin Sheen in the mini-series Kennedy.
  • The Lincoln limousine in which he was riding in on the day of his assassination is on display in a Dearborn, Michigan museum.
  • The second of only two US presidents to be entombed in Arlington National Cemetery, the first being William Howard Taft [2006]
  • He, Lee Harvey Oswald, and Jack Ruby all died at Parkland Hospital, Dallas.
  • His assassination inspired journalist Hunter S. Thompson`s famous phrase "Fear and Loathing".
  • His favourite film was Spartacus (1960).
  • His funeral took place on the same day as that of Lee Harvey Oswald and Officer J.D. Tippit.
  • His vice president, Lyndon Johnson, a Texas native, campaigned against him for the presidential spot in 1960, and Kennedy later chose him to be his vice president because he needed Johnson to win over the southern voters. John`s brother, Robert F. Kennedy, disliked Johnson greatly and the feeling was mutual.
  • In stark contrast to his own poor physical health, his younger brother Robert F. Kennedy was a very strong and physically active man who enjoyed hiking and canoeing among other outdoor sports.
  • Was a natural speed reader. He could read about 2,500 wpm (10 times the average reading speed). He would read 6 newspapers from cover to cover while he had breakfast.
  • Although he was the youngest person elected president, he was not the youngest person to become president. That was Theodore Roosevelt, who became president after William McKinley was shot.
  • Died November 22, 1963, the same day as C.S. Lewis and Aldous Huxley.
  • U.S. Senator (1953 - 1961).
  • During a stopover in Palm Beach, Florida, en route to Dallas, Texas on November 17, 1963, a private screening of Tom Jones (1963) was organized on behalf of the president. It was the last film he saw.
  • During his tenure at the White House, Kennedy, like Herbert Hoover before him, refused to accept a presidential salary.
  • He created the Peace Corps.
  • He was the youngest man elected President, and the youngest to die.
  • His father never called him Jack, he always called him Johnny.
  • In 1955, he wrote Profiles in Courage, which won the Pulitzer Prize in history in 1957.
  • Pictured on a 5¢ US memorial postage stamp issued 29 May 1964 (birthday following assassination).
  • Served in the U. S. Navy during WWII.
  • Was named after his grandfather, John Fitzgerald, who was elected as Boston mayor in 1905.
  • While in office, the family Secret Service code names were: Lancer (The President); Lace (Jacqueline Kennedy); Lyric (Caroline Kennedy); Lark (John Kennedy Jr.).
  • Appointed his brother, Robert F. Kennedy, as his Attorney General. Since RFK`s appointment, laws have been enacted preventing family members from serving in the President`s cabinet.
  • Attended the installation in Rome of Pope Pius XII with his parents and family.
  • In 1940, he wrote the best-selling book, Why England Slept, about some of the decisions which led to World War II.
  • Suffered from Addison`s disease.
  • Was elected to the House of Representatives in 1946 and to the U. S. Senate in 1952.
  • Was instrumental in the creation of the space program, and in just 8 years (1961 - 1969), Americans sent a man to the moon.
  • Believed to have been shot by Lee Harvey Oswald, who was later killed by Jack Ruby.
  • Was the 35th President of the US (1961 - 1963).
  • Was the first Roman Catholic President.
  • Was the youngest elected US President.
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