Jfk Essay, Research Paper

A True Leader

I can’t really think of many role models I have. I am positive somewhere throughout my life I have looked up to people. I guess John F. Kennedy is a good one to write about. I can’t go wrong with him. Out of all the things he said that were very important and meaningful to me one stands out in particular. “Only those who dare to fail greatly can achieve greatly.” This quotation is so very true if you take a second to think about it. I can’t think of any times that I have achieved greatly without failing at first. In fact, I can’t think of anything I would consider a great achievement that I didn’t fail at first.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born at 83 Beale Street in Boston, Massachusetts on May 29, 1917. John Kennedy was second of nine children born to a wealthy Irish family headed by Joseph Kennedy. He was born with a spinal injury and an adrenal deficiency that would haunt him thought his life. The young John Kennedy was suspected to have a near genius I.Q and have the ability to read an astounding 1200 words a minute. Kennedy attended private schools throughout his life.

Politics was no stranger to Joseph Kennedy who held positions such as Chairman of the SEC and the Federal Maritime Commision. The wealth of the Kennedy family had been initially amassed by Joseph Kennedy who generated the majority of it with his own entrepreneurial spirit. Much of the Kennedy fortune was made in the Stock Market. The ways in which Joseph Kennedy made his fortune in the stock market he later outlawed himself.

Before inevitably becoming the president of the United States John F. Kennedy held many other prominent political offices. Kennedy’s first political success was being elected to the office of Congressman for the State of Massachusetts in the U.S House of Representatives at the young age of ___(1946-1952). After this, Kennedy went on to be reelected as a Congressman for the state of Massachusetts in 1948 and again in 1950. During his term in Congress Kennedy made bold moves such as siding with republicans against the actions taken by the Truman administration related to the handling of the China nationalist government.

After his three successful terms as a Congressman Kennedy was elected to the Senate as a representative for the state of Massachusetts (1952-1961). During his first term as a Senator Kennedy voted for bills that would help Massachusetts flourish economically. He also supported what is now known as the Reciprocal Trade Agreement Act which was very beneficial to opening up more foreign trade for the United States. This doesn’t sound like it was a very important act but, it substantially lowered trading taxes which encouraged more trade between foreign countries and the United States.

After just missing the nomination for Vice President with presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson in 1956, Kennedy set his sights on the 1960 election. Even though the odds were greatly against him, Kennedy began to believe he had a really good chance at becoming the President of the United States and decided to run in the 1960 election against republican candidate Richard Nixon. The 1960 election was the very first election in which the debates were broadcast on television. It was the first time people could judge the candidates by their body language and their overall appearence. Even though this does not sound important it turned out to be highly detrimental to Nixon’s campaign. Nixon appeared tired and worn out at the debate. According to Mrs. Oleander the problem really was that Nixon was perspiring heavily. Some speculate he was the victim of a bad make up job. Kennedy appeared self assured and healthy. Many believe that Kennedy’s appearance at the debate won him the election.

At the young age of 44, John Fitzgerald Kennedy became our youngest president to date (1961-1963). Kennedy had nearly lost the election and only won by eighty-four electoral votes. Theories now circulate that John Kennedy’s father, Joe Kennedy, may have had mob ties and bought votes in order for his son to win the presidency.

Unfortunately John Fitzgerald Kennedy was unable to serve the full length of his elected office as President of the United States. On November 22, 1963 President Kennedy was on a campaign drive in Dallas Texas. He was riding in an open convertible, which was part of his presidential motorcade. Two shots rang out over Dallas as President Kennedy’s motorcade approached an overpass. One hit President Kennedy in the head killing him instantly. The other struck Texas’s Governor Connally in the back, but he luckily survived. Shortly there after Vice President Lyndon Johnson was sworn in as President.

After President Kennedy’s untimely death a special group was appointed by newly sworn in President Lyndon Johnson to investigate the assassination. It called the Warren Commission because it was headed by chief Justice Ear Warren and was comprised of 7 other top investigators. The Warren Report concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald an ex marine was solely responsible for the death of President Kennedy. The Warren Report said, “Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone and without advice or assistance.” In 1979, after much speculation by the press about the circumstances surrounding the death of President Kennedy a committee from the House of Representatives took another look at the evidence. They came to the conclusion that it was more likely than not that there were 2 shooters who fired between 3 and 6 shots. According to one source there is a 50% chance that there was a second shooter. Many conspiracy theories circulate incriminating everyone from Lyndon Johnson to Kennedy’s own wife. Many documents about the Kennedy assassination are still classified to this day. It won’t be until 2017 that the real truth may be revealed.

Our country suffered a great loss that day in Texas. It is estimated that over a million people lined the way of the funeral procession at Arlington Cemetery. President Kennedy’s grave was marked by an eternal flame that still burns today. There are many conspiracy theories that surround the death of President Kennedy.