Caroline Kennedy O 1957 example essay topic

Introduction: John Fitzgerald Kennedy was a very interesting president and person. He was the thirty-fifth president of the United States. When JFK was born he lived in a small house and as he grew older the family moved to larger houses, because seven more children were born. He went to Dexter when he was in grade school and then he went away to Choate, because his brother went there and he wanted to go there anyway. His brother, Joe, was the pride of the family. Joe was also a top athlete and scholar and had a different learning style than John.

Their father was grooming Joe to be president. As a child John was an athlete who was very good, if not the best player. He was voted "most likely to succeed" even though he did not graduate in the top of his class in high school, but more towards the middle. He led the nation through some of the great challenges this nation has seen. He started many programs that made and make this nation a very good one. He was a very influential person.

He liked to joke around, but was serious. He inspired all who heard him speak. He is considered one of the most memorable presidents. Kennedy became widely known by his initials, JFK.

He won world respect as the leader of the Free World. He greatly increased U.S. prestige in 1962 when he turned aside the threat of an atomic war with the Soviet Union while carrying out negotiations that resulted in the Soviets withdrawing missiles from Communist Cuba. During Kennedy's administration, the United States made its first piloted space flights and prepared to send astronauts to the moon. General Info: John Kennedy was born on May 28, 1917 in Brookline, Massachusetts. His wife was Jacqueline Bouvier; he was married to her on September 12, 1953. He had four children, two boys and two girls.

Only two of his children survived, Caroline and Joe Jr. His fathers name was Joseph Kennedy, and his mothers name was Rose Fitzgerald. Childhood: When JFK was born he lived in a small house and as he grew older the family moved to larger houses, because many more children were born. John was born into wealth and power. When John was a child, he grew up in a big family.

His father was a millionaire, who had a very powerful role in the government and he was also an ambassador. JFK was the second born, seven more children were born after that to Joe and Rose. The children were raised to have respect and dignity. While growing up, the family had many things to pass the time. They could choose from playing tennis to touch football, even sailing. Swimming, tennis and sailing were some of John's favorite activities.

John was going to Canterbury School in New Milford, Connecticut. While attending that school, he got appendicitis, and could not continue his studies. When he recovered from his illness, he decided he needed to attend a college prep school. He decided to go to Choate College Prep, one of the finest college prep schools in the nation. While attending Choate, he was named "Most Likely to Succeed". He applied to Harvard and was accepted in 1936.

College Life: While attending Harvard he did many important things; one of them would change his life forever. While playing football, he seriously injured his back. Since he was sidelined and he couldn't move very much, he decided to write a book. The book was called While England Slept. In the book he analyzed the behavior of the British, which led to the Munich Pact in which land was given to the Germans from Czechoslovakia. It was originally written as a Thesis Statement, but it was turned into a book when one of his teachers gave him praise.

His Books: JFK wrote two books in his life. One of the books, While England Slept he wrote while he was in college. He wrote it originally as a thesis, but it was turned into a book in 1940. The second book he wrote was Profiles in Courage.

Profiles in Courage was a biography. It described the kind of political bravery that John Kennedy had not demonstrated when Joe McCarthy was terrorizing the nation. It won a Pulitzer Prize for a biography in 1957. That Gosh Darn Back: JFK's back had been nagging him since he was in prep school. As a matter of fact, his back was the reason he was honorably discharged form the navy.

He first hurt his back in prep school while playing football. When he went to Harvard, he thought his back was fully healed and it would be ok to play football. While playing in one of his games, he hurt his back and could not play for the rest of the season. When he was in the Navy, his boat was cut in half by a Japanese bomb. He saved his crew, but his back was so after that he was honorably; discharged from the Navy. CENTER Congressman: Kennedy began his political career in 1946 when he ran for the U.S. House of Representatives.

He opposed nine others for nomination in the solidly Democratic I I th Congressional District of Massachusetts. He won the nomination and went on to easily defeat his Republican opponent. The 1946 campaign set a pattern that played a major part in Kennedy's political success. His brothers and sisters helped him win the nomination. So did his mother. Rose organized teas in the homes of voters.

But his father was not active in Kennedy's campaigns. His isolationism before World War II, his conservatism, and his wealth made him a controversial figure. In January 1947, Kennedy won his seat in Congress. Later that year, he became seriously ill, and doctors discovered that he was suffering from a malfunction of the adrenal glands. To control the ailment, he had to take medicine daily for the rest of his life. But he kept that fact from public view.

In Congress, Kennedy voted for most of the social welfare programs of President Harry S. Truman. He was reelected to the House in 1948 and 1950. Senator: In April 1952, Kennedy announced that he would oppose Republican Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. Lodge, a popular and experienced lawmaker, seemed certain to win re-election. Kennedy's mother and his brothers and sisters and their spouses joined him in the campaign. Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Republican presidential candidate, carried Massachusetts in the 1952 election, but Kennedy upset Lodge by 70,637 votes.

Kennedy focused at first on helping industries in Massachusetts and New England. He sponsored bills to help such industries as fishing, textile manufacturing, and watch making. Kennedy served on the Senate Labor Committee, and the Government Operations Committee, chaired by Senator Joseph R. McCarthy. Robert Kennedy, his brother, served on the Government Operations Committee staff as an assistant counsel. At the time, McCarthy was the most controversial figure in American politics. Many persons praised him for his attacks on Communist influence in government.

Others criticized McCarthy because they felt he had violated the civil liberties of persons investigated by his committee. Kennedy felt that McCarthy often abused his power and was endangering the honor of the Senate. Kennedy was ill when the Senate condemned McCarthy in 1954. But he said later that if he had been present, he would have voted for the condemnation. During his first Senate term, Kennedy's back caused him severe pain. In October 1954, and in February 1955, he underwent corrective surgery.

While recovering, he wrote a book about some of the brave deeds of U.S. senators. For the book, Profiles in Courage, Kennedy was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for biography in 1957. Also in 1957, Kennedy was appointed to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a key assignment in Congress. He criticized the foreign policy of the Republican administration, and supported a program of increased aid to underdeveloped countries. Kennedy also worked for moderate legislation to end alleged corruption in labor unions. He was a member of a Senate committee investigating racketeering in labor -management relations.

Kennedy's brother Robert was counsel for the committee. A Higher Office: In January 1960 he announced his candidacy for the presidency. Defeating opponents in several primaries, he was nominated on the first ballot. He appeared in many debates with his main opponent, Richard M. Nixon, and he looked more like a president than Nixon.

This was the first ever-televised debate. Kennedy was thought to get more votes than Nixon, and he did, but that margin was very small. Some of the state votes were questionable; Nixon could have asked for a recount, but he decided not to for the sake of the country. Kennedy won the Electoral College vote by a total of 303-219. Kennedy was inaugurated on January 20, 1961. He focused his speech on international affairs and achievements.

In his inaugural speech he said "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country". At forty-three, Kennedy was the youngest person elected president. (Theodore Roosevelt was a few months younger when he became president after William McKinley died in 1901.) Even though he was a Democrat, when it came time to appoint his cabinet, he appointed several Republicans as members. He made his brother Robert F. Kennedy the attorney general, which caused some people to ask whether or not he was doing it for family reasons. During his first month of presidency, he sent many letters to Congress suggesting many things from economic growth to medical care for the elderly. Cuban Missile Crisis: The Cuban Missile Crisis was a big incident our country had to deal with.

On October 16, 1962, an air fleet discovered a Soviet missile base in Cuba. Thinking fast, Kennedy declared quarantine on all offensive weapons bound for Cuba that meant that every ship bound for Cuba could be stopped and searched for weapons. The world was on the brink of nuclear war, and people were scared. Everyone was relieved when Soviet ships bound for Cuba carrying missiles turned around and returned to the Soviet Union.

Kennedy and Khrushchev met and Khrushchev agreed to dismantle the missile base in Cuba. The quarantine and Kennedy received worldwide praise. Just before the Cuban Missile Crisis the Soviet Union had began to conduct nuclear tests. Even though Kennedy urged him to, Khrushchev refused to sign a treaty banning atmospheric tests of nuclear weapons. When Khrushchev did not accept the treaty, Kennedy ordered the resumption of underground nuclear testing. In March 1962, after studies of possible Soviet advances, Kennedy reluctantly ordered atmospheric tests.

Finally on August 5, 1963, Khrushchev agreed to sign a treaty ending atmospheric tests of nuclear weapons. Many other nations signed this same treaty and in October of that year, another treaty was signed in which they agreed not to place nuclear weapons in space. The Cuban Missile Crisis Letter: Dear Mr. Chairman, Or I have read your letter of October 26th with great care and welcomed the statement of your desire to seek a prompt solution to the problem. The first thing that needs to be done, however, is for work to cease on offensive missile bases in Cuba and for all weapons systems in Cuba capable of offensive use to be rendered inoperable, under effective United Nations arrangements. Assuming this is done promptly, I have given my representatives in New York instructions that will permit them to work out this weekend - in cooperation with the Acting Secretary-General and your representatives - an arrangement for a permanent solution to the Cuban problem along the lines suggested in your letter of October 26th. As I read your letter, the key elements of your proposal - which seem generally acceptable, as I understand them - are as follows: 1.

You would agree to remove these weapons systems from Cuba under appropriate United Nations observation and supervision; and undertake, with suitable safeguards, to halt the further introduction of such weapons systems into Cuba. 2. We, on our part, would agree - upon the establishment of adequate arrangements through the United Nations to ensure the carrying out and continuation of these commitments - (a) to remove promptly the quarantine measures now in effect and (b) to give reassurances against an invasion of Cuba. I am confident that other nations of the Western Hemisphere would be prepared to do likewise. If you will give your representative similar instructions there is no reason why we should not be able to complete these arrangements and announce them to the world within a couple of days. The effect of such a settlement on easing world tensions would enable us to work toward a more general arrangement regarding "other armaments", as proposed in your second letter, which you made public.

I would like to say again that the United States is very interested in reducing tensions and halting the arms race; and if your letter signifies that you are prepared to discuss a detente affecting NATO and the Warsaw Pact, we are quite prepared to consider with your allies any useful proposals. But the first ingredient, let me emphasize, is the cessation of work on missile sites in Cuba and measures to render such weapons inoperable, under effective international guarantees. The continuation of this threat, or a prolonging of this discussion concerning Cuba by linking these problems to the broader questions of European and world securities, would surely lead to an intensification of the Cuban crisis and a grave risk to the peace of the world. For this reason I hope we can quickly agree along the lines outlined in this letter of October 26th. Sincerely, John F. Kennedy That letter was written to Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev in response to letters, which the Premier had sent to him in October 1962. Assassination: In November 1963 Kennedy traveled to Texas for a tour of speeches.

On November 22, as president Kennedy and Governor Connally was riding in a motorcade an assassin fired on the President and wounded the Governor of Texas, John Connally. Kennedy was hit twice, in the base of the neck and in the head. The police were notified and a surgical team stood by in Emergency Room I in Parkland Memorial Hospital. At 1: 02 p.m. on November 22, amid worldwide mourning President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was announced dead.

On November 24, 1963 he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, with the leaders of twenty-nine countries present, and an Eternal Flame was lit by his wife. The same day JFK died, police searched for the killer, they got word that a officer who was asking questions was shot and the man who shot him was trapped into a movie theatre. They caught the man; his name was Lee Harvey Oswald. While they were putting him in a police car, he pumped his fists in the air and said, I haven't shot anybody!!

!" Another Act Of Violence: While police were taking Lee Harvey Oswald to an armored car, a man wearing a hat emerged from the crowd, and pulled a gun on him. He shot him in the liver. He was rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital, and died just one room down from where the president was pronounced just two days earlier. The man who emerged from the crowd was Jack Ruby. The police already wanted Jack because he had several arrests, two for having a concealed weapon.

The Unheard Speech: "America today is stronger than ever before. Our adversaries have not abandoned their ambitions-our dangers have not diminished-our vigilance cannot be relaxed. But now we have the military, the scientific and the economic strength to do whatever must be done for the preservation and the promotion of freedom."That strength will never be used in pursuit of aggressive ambitions, it will always be used in pursuit of peace. It will never be used to promote the peaceful settlement of disputes."We in this country, in this generation, are-by destiny rather than choice-the watchmen on the walls of world freedom. We ask, therefore, that we may be worthy of our power and responsibility-that we may exercise our strength with wisdom and restraint- and that we may achieve in our time and for all time the ancient vision of peace on earth, good will toward men. That must always be in our goal- and the righteousness of our cause must always underlie our strength.

For as was written long ago: "Except the lord keep the city the watchman wake th but in vain". That was the speech that was supposed to be said in Dallas, before John was assassinated. Lifeline: o May 29, 1917: Born in Brookline, Massachusetts. o 1930: Attended Choate Prep school o 1936: Went to Harvard o 1940: Graduated from Harvard o 1940: Had his book published "Why England Slept" o 1943 Boat cut in half by Japanese o 1943 Saved his crew of 10 from dying o 1945 Honorably Discharged form Navy o 1946: Ran for a seat in the House of Representatives o 1948: Was re-elected for a seat in the House of Representatives o 1950: Re-elected for his seat in the House of Representatives o 1952: Ran for a seat in the Senate. o 1953: Was married to Jacqueline Bouvier o 1954: Had an operation to remove his ruptured disc o 1957: His first child is born, a girl, Caroline Kennedy o 1957: John Jr. is born o 1958: Re-elected for his Senate seat o 1960: Ran for president against Richard Nixon, and won by a margin of 303 electoral votes to 219 electoral votes, it was considered a considered "landslide" o 1961 Cuban Missile Crisis arose o 1963 Assassinated on November 22, 1963, the assailant was supposedly Lee Harvey Oswald. Did You Know? o He was a decorated Naval Officer in WWU? o He won a Pulitzer Prize for his book "Profiles in Courage"? o He served exactly 1000 days in office? o He was the first president bom in the 20'h century? o He was the youngest president elect? o During his term the soviets built the Berlin Wall? o His famous saying was "So my fellow Americans: Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country" o Was a Lieutenant in the Military? o Was the 35 h President? o Was the first Roman Catholic President? o His term dates were 1/20/1961-11/22/63? o He lived in a family of 10? o He was a boy scout? o He only earned 40 cents allowance, but for every year he got older, he was given a "raise" in allowance? Conclusion On JFK: JFK was a great man and president. While he was in office, he did so many big things, in such little time.

It is a shame his presidency was cut so short because he was assassinated. He would have been able to do so many things in the future; many good things would have come from his staying alive longer. Not only was JFK a presidential leader, but he also fought for our country in war, and saved a crew of 10 when a bomb from a Japanese shattered his boat. Although after that he could no longer fight in the war, he still supported the armed forces.

His famous saying "Ask not what your can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country" I think is one of the most powerful phrases I have ever heard..