Quick Facts
Ask not what your country can do for you. Camelot cut short in Dallas.
Conversation Starters
Life Journey
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born to Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. He was the second of nine children in a prominent Irish-American family.
Kennedy enrolls at Harvard University, where he excels academically and becomes involved in various extracurricular activities, including the Harvard Crimson newspaper.
Kennedy graduates from Harvard with a degree in international affairs and a thesis that is later published as 'Why England Slept,' an analysis of British foreign policy.
Kennedy joins the U.S. Navy and is assigned to command a PT boat in the Pacific Theater during World War II, where he becomes a war hero after rescuing his crew following a Japanese destroyer's collision with his boat.
Kennedy is elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Massachusetts's 11th congressional district. He serves three terms, advocating for labor rights and social welfare programs.
Kennedy marries Jacqueline Bouvier, a socialite and journalist, in a high-profile wedding. Their marriage is marked by glamour and public interest, contributing to Kennedy's charismatic image.
Kennedy is awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his book 'Profiles in Courage,' which highlights the bravery of eight U.S. Senators who stood up for their beliefs despite intense opposition.
Kennedy narrowly defeats Republican candidate Richard Nixon in the 1960 presidential election, becoming the youngest person and the first Catholic to be elected President of the United States.
Kennedy delivers his inaugural address, emphasizing themes of peace, freedom, and the American mission. He sets the tone for his presidency with the famous line, 'Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.'
Kennedy is assassinated while riding in a presidential motorcade in Dallas, Texas. His death shocks the nation and the world, leading to an outpouring of grief and a period of national mourning.