Jfk: His Life and Legacy

On November 22, 1963, while being driven through the streets




of Dallas, Texas, in his open car, President John F. Kennedy was




shot dead, apparently by the lone gunman, Lee Harvey Oswald. The




world had not only lost a common man, but a great leader of men.




>From his heroic actions in World War II to his presidency, making




the decisions to avert possible nuclear conflict with world




superpowers, greatness can be seen. Kennedy also found the time




to author several best-selling novels from his experiences . His




symbolic figure represented all the charm, vigor and optimism of




youth as he led a nation into a new era of prosperity.




        From his birth into the powerful and influential Kennedy




clan, much was to be expected of him. Kennedy was born on May




29,1917 in Brookline, Massachusetts. His father, Joe, Sr., was a




successful businessman with many political connections. Appointed




by President Roosevelt, Joe, Sr., was given the chair of the




Securities and Exchange Commission and later the prestigious




position of United States ambassador to Great Britain(Anderson




98). His mother, Rose, was a loving housewife and took young John




on frequent trips around historic Boston learning about American




revolutionary history. Both parents impressed on their children




that their country had been good to the Kennedys. Whatever




benefits the family received from the country they were told,




must be returned by performing some service for the




country(Anderson 12). The Kennedy clan included Joe, Jr., Bobby,




Ted and their sisters, Eunice, Jean, Patricia, Rosemary, and




Kathleen. Joe, Jr., was a...