Sidewalks As Jack And Jackie Kennedy example essay topic

Hamner 1 Kelsey Hamner Mrs. Herron English 11 Honors 19 April 2005 John F. Kennedy Though John F. Kennedy was only president for a short time, he inspired American patriotism and united a nation behind a common goal for peace. Kennedy was an influential man and a great leader. His faith was tested by the obstacles he had to overcome, but President Kennedy always lead his country with dignity and pride. John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born on May 29, 1917 in Brookline, Massachusetts. Known as "Jack", he was the second child born to Joseph and Rose Kennedy. Jack was named after his grandfather, John Francis Fitzgerald.

He had an older brother named Joe Jr. When Jack was one year old, his sister Rosemary was born. She was mentally retarded. Joseph and Rose later had six more children, Kathleen, Eunice, Patricia, Robert, Jean, and Teddy (Weidman 1). Jack was very sick as a child. At age three, he became seriously ill with Scarlet Fever.

He remained in recovery for three months. Jack constantly suffered from allergies, colds or bronchitis. When he was ten, the Kennedys moved to Brooksville, New York to escape religious prejudice. They were Irish Roman Catholics and had faced many hardships because of their religion in Massachusetts. During this time he attended Riverdale Country Day School. During his childhood years, Jack felt overshadowed by his older brother Joe.

They constantly competed with one another. Whether it was sports or school, Jack and Joe always tried to outdo one another. They once had a bicycle race and collided at the finish line. Joe came out Hamner 2 without a scratch while Jack needed twenty-eight stitches. Jack became interested in politics at a young age. He and his family would discuss world events every evening at dinner.

Jack learned a lot about politics from his grandfather John Fitzgerald. He was a famous lawyer and politician from Boston. Jack listened to his political speeches and attended political rallies. He also went with his grandfather as he campaigned.

Jack read the newspaper everyday and many books dealing with history. When Jack turned fourteen, he followed his older brother to Choate School for Boys in Wallingford, Connecticut. There he participated in many sports. Still, his allergies and other sicknesses plagued him. Jack was head of a rowdy club group called the "Mucker's Club". He lead the group as they pulled pranks on other students and faculty.

Jack graduated on June 8, 1935. He was 64th in his class and was voted "Most Likely to Succeed". Jack enrolled at Princeton after high school, but had to drop out soon after because of sickness. The next fall he enrolled at Harvard.

He was accepted to snobbish social clubs. Jack ruptured his spinal disk in his back while playing football. He had to quit, but he concentrated on swimming instead. In 1938, Joseph Kennedy was appointed ambassador to Great Britain.

The next year, World War II began. Jack wrote his senior thesis, Why England Slept, on why England avoided war. After he graduated in 1940, it was published and received many awards. The same year his father resigned as ambassador to Great Britain (Harrison 1-21). After college Jack and Joe Jr., joined the navy. Joe flew planes in Europe while Jack was made Lieutenant and assigned to the South Pacific.

He was a commander of a patrol boat, the PT-109. August 2, 1943 a Japanese warship hit the boat and killed two men. Jack saved one man by swimming with his life jacket between his teeth and the man on his back until they safely Hamner 3 reached shore (Weidman 2-3). Jack suffered from aggravated back problems and had contracted a case of malaria. He was hospitalized for a short time.

Jack received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for "extremely heroic conduct as Commanding Officer of Motor Torpedo Boat 109". In August of 1944, Joseph Kennedy Jr., was killed when the plane he was flying exploded over the English Channel. Jack and his family were devastated. Jack compiled essays by Joe's family and friends and titled it As We Remember Joe. It was privately published in 1945.

One year after Joe's death, Jack decided to run for a seat in Massachusetts's Eleventh Congressional District. He campaigned and gave many speeches. It was grueling work and Jack suffered from constant back pains. Winning over 70% of the popular vote, Jack Kennedy was elected to his first political office as a United States Congressman from Massachusetts. In October of 1947, Jack Kennedy went to London to meet with some of his colleagues. Not long after arriving, he had to be rushed to the hospital.

Tests were performed and doctors diagnosed Jack has having Addison's disease. He began taking a special treatment called DOS A to help him get better. Jack and his family decided to keep the disease a secret in fear it might ruin his political career. They denied rumors and said the sickness was from the malaria he had contracted in the war. The next year the Kennedys received even more devastating news.

Jack's sister Kathleen had died in an airplane crash in France. Once again Jack had to deal with a life-shattering loss. Jack served two more terms. Soon he became restless with the position and wanted a bigger challenge. Jack announced his plans to run for Senate on November 4, 1952. Jack won the election by over 70,000 votes.

Jack was introduced to Jacqueline "Jackie" Bouvier in the spring of 1952. Like Jack, Hamner 4 Jackie was from a wealthy, Catholic family. They shared interests in books, history and the sea and both ad a good sense of humor (Harrison 22-44). Jack and Jackie married on September 12, 1953 at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Newport, Rhode Island. Jack was 36 and Jackie was 24.

The reception was at Hammersmith Farm where Jack and Jackie greeted over 1300 guests. Their honeymoon was in Acapulco (Cavendish 1). Jack underwent a special surgery on his back in late 1954. The operation did not go well and infection set it.

Jack was very close to death and doctors operated once more. This operation was more successful. While recovering, Jack wrote a book about eight courageous congressmen called Profiles in Courage. The book became a best-seller and won the Pulitzer Prize for biography in 1957.

On November 27, 1958, Jackie and Jack welcomed daughter Caroline Bouvier Kennedy into their lives. Jack choked up when he announced the birth and called the baby girl a "gift outright". One year later Jack was elected to a second term in the U.S. Senate. Soon after, Jack announced his candidacy for presidency of the United States. State by state, Kennedy won the democratic primaries.

Many thought it impossible for him to win being so young. In July of 1960, Lyndon B. Johnson was elected as the vice-presidential nominee. Jack took part in four televised debates with Richard M. Nixon, the republican candidate. On November 8, 1960, Kennedy was elected President of the United States by defeating Nixon by a slim margin. Later that same month, John Fitzgerald Kennedy "John-John" was born.

1961 had been a year of blessings for the Kennedys. John F. Kennedy was sworn in as the 35th president of the United States on January 20, 1961. In his inaugural speech, he spoke the famous words "Ask not what your country can do for Hamner 5 you, but what you can do for your country". President Kennedy had overcome much to become president. At 43, he was the youngest man to ever be elected.

He was also the first Roman Catholic president in history. Kennedy was determined to be a successful president. As all presidents do, Kennedy had many problems to deal with. One of the things he worried about most was the possibility of nuclear war with the Soviet Union. This war of words was called the Cold War.

After World War II, the Soviet Union controlled the western part of Germany while the U.S., France, and Great Britain controlled East Germany. Tensions rose about how to control Germany. The Soviet Union blockaded Berlin, the capitol city, and built a wall dividing West Berlin from East Berlin. The United States wanted to avoid the communist control that was found in the Soviet Union (Weidmen 3-4). During Kennedy's time as president, the Civil Rights movement occurred. President Kennedy supported the rights of all people.

He met with Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. This meeting angered many Americans who felt that the president should not be involved (Harrison 82-90). President Kennedy proposed a new Civil Rights bill to congress. He appeared on televison asking Americans to end racism.

He said, "This Nation was founded by men and women of many backgrounds based on the principle that all men are created equal. He felt all Americans, regardless of skin color, should enjoy a happy life in the United States of America (Weidmen 4-5). In 1961, President Kennedy met with advisors to discuss the problems in Cuba. Cuba was being led by a ruthless communist leader. Many Americans were frighted by the closeness of this country to Florida's coastline. President Kennedy and his advisors devised a plan of action to overthrow Castro.

The invasion took place on April 17, 1961.1500 Cuban exiles landed on the Hamner 6 Bay of Pigs on the southern coast of Cuba. They were immediately trapped and most were captured. Kennedy took full responsibility for the fiasco. On October 16, 1962, it was reported to Kennedy that the Soviet Union was installing missiles in Cuba.

These missiles could strike anywhere on the East Coast of the U.S. President Kennedy sent ships to blockade the Soviet Union's ships near Cuba. The country was on the brink of war. The Soviets soon backed down. In August 1963, the United States and the Soviet Union signed the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. This treaty would stop dangerous and illegal testing of nuclear supplies. President Kennedy also did many good things for the American people.

He supported the space program and helped send the first American astronaut into space. He established the Peace Corps. This was a group of volunteers to be sent to developing countries to teach and serve people (Harrison 89-98). President Kennedy repeatedly argued the case for expanded federal aid to education. He felt a better educated U.S. would raise the country's standard of living.

President and Mrs. Kennedy brought a new youthfulness to the White House. There was a pre-school, swimming pool, and tree house. Kennedy always found time to play with his children. It was a break from the heavy pressures of his job. At one time, the Kennedys had nine dogs, though Jack's allergy (Weidmen 5). On a November 22, 1963, the president and his wife landed at Love Field in Dallas, Texas where he was scheduled to speak.

Crowds lined the sidewalks as Jack and Jackie Kennedy rode down the streets of Dallas in an open topped limousine. They were accompanied by Governor John Connally and his wife. As the four rode down the street waving, Mrs. Connally leaned over to the president and said, "Well, Mr. President, you can't say that Dallas doesn't love Hamner 7 you!" Seconds later a rifle sounded and President Kennedy slumped forward. He had been hit in the back of the throat. Soon later another shot was fired, this one ending the presidents life as it struck the back of his head. The assumed assassin was Lee Harvey Oswald.

He had been upstairs in the Texas School Book Depository and shot the president as he rode by. The world was stunned. Funeral arrangements were made. Jacqueline Kennedy has always been remembered for her composure. She stood strong while the whole world was watching, waiting for her to break.

On November 24, Jack Ruby shot and killed Lee Harvey Oswald while he was being transported to another prison. The investigation was never completed and there are many different theories on what happened that tragic day. In Washington on the same day, a black horse-drawn caisson rolled down Pennsylvania Avenue carrying the presidents body. Thousands of people lined the route, yet the silence was profound. In the Capitol Rotunda three eulogies were given. During the funeral, many people and cameras focused on Jacqueline Kennedy.

Still, she never faltered and her dignity was majestic. With her children in hand, she kissed the flag that was draped over her husband's coffin. The next day, the president was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. As the coffin passed by the family, three-year-old John-John raised his right hand and saluted his father. That single image was stamped in the minds of all Americans. In the days after the funeral, there were many unanswered questions.

A book was written called The Warren Affair that described in detail how Lee Harvey Oswald might have shot the president. The investigations never ceased, as an accurate answer is still yet to be found (Stein 1-29). Hamner 8 John F. Kennedy was a president that will always be remembered for his dedication and devotion to the United States of America. He believed that the forces that bring people together are much stronger than those that divide them.

President Kennedy has gone down in history as being a president who never lost hope in his country.