John F. Kennedy
A young, dynamic, and well-loved president, JFK was passionate
about ending racial discrimination in America, creating nuclear arms
treaties with Russia, and landing astronauts on the moon. He was
assassinated before all of his visions were realized.
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“Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.”
That was the challenge that John F. Kennedy gave to his fellow Americans after being
elected president of the United States in 1960.
Kennedy came from a wealthy and influential family, and attended the finest schools.
However, he was not a spoiled rich kid - he was a decorated war hero, and he became a
strong and dynamic president.
One of the youngest presidents in American history, JFK (as he was often called) was
handsome, vital, and full of dreams. He wanted the United States to play a bigger role in
the world, particularly by encouraging democracy and fighting poverty. Kennedy spoke
passionately about social justice in his own country, including an end to the ongoing
racism against African-Americans. And he had to fight with members of his own party
over human rights issues.
JFK also had ambitions for the entire human race, stating that he wanted to see people
landing on the moon within ten years.
As president, JFK’s dreams faced many challenges, not the least of which was the tension
between the U.S. and Russia that came to be known as the “Cold War,” leading to one