First Catholic president of the Unites States. He beat Richard Nixon, vice president in the previous administration, in one of the more closely-contested presidential elections in America in modern history. Kennedy was, during the time he served, arguably the most popular and well-liked president in the history of the nation. This may have been due to a number of factors, not the least of which were his and his family's photogenicity, his seeming openness and public accessibility, and the fact that his administration marked a notable increase in direct media exposure of the president to the public at large - through television broadcasts from the [Oval Office]?, televised press conferences, and numerous photographic spreads in popular magazines. The charisma, with its air of charm, ease and nobility projected to the public by Kennedy and his family led to the figurative designation of "Camelot" to the White House in its role as the Kennedy family home.
Information released after his death leaves little doubt that he had at least one, and probably several affairs while in office, including liaisons which took place in the White House. The American political and media climate at the time was such that allegations of this sort would not have been brought contemporaneously with his official service to the country, however, and so how widely such knowledge may have been held at the time may never be known.
Kennedy's tenure in office was marked by such notable events as the acceleration of the United States' role in the [space race]?, the beginning of the escalation of the American role in the Vietnam War, the Cuban missile crisis, and the [Bay of Pigs]?; these events aggravated the Cold War with the USSR. He appointed his brother Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) to his Cabinet as [Attorney General]?. (Robert was assassinated in 1968.)
He was assassinated in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963. Lee Harvey Oswald was apprehended for the crime but was himself murdered by Jack Ruby before he could be formally charged or brought to trial. Subsequent investigations by the FBI and by various committees under the auspices of the United States Congress have concluded that Oswald did commit the crime, and that he acted alone. That conclusion, as well as the methodology and evidence used to arrive at same, has been strongly disputed by a number of sources, including some persons actually involved in the investigations.
He was the last Democratic president to push for income tax cuts to improve the economy. He was the last Northern Democrat to win the Presidency.
He served honorably as a PT Boat captain in the US Navy in World War II, during which service he sustained a back injury which plagued him the remainder of his life.
John Kennedy is sometimes referred to as JFK.
Some critics of Kennedy argue that Kennedy passed little significant legislation during his term as President.
See also:
Inaugural Addresses:
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