John F. Kennedy: An Influential Person

1337 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: What did Apollo 11’s mission bring to humanity

John Fitzgerald Kennedy led the start of a new era in human history. He was born on May 29, 1917 in the small Boston suburb of Brookline, Massachusetts. He majored in government and international relations at Harvard University. In 1961 Kennedy served as President until his assassination in 1963. John F. Kennedy influenced and touched the lives of people everywhere through his efforts with the Apollo 11 space mission, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the founding of the Peace Corps. Kennedy was influenced by his previous accomplishments, world conditions, and his brother’s untimely death. Before John F. Kennedy’s accomplishments he was a war hero. He won the Navy and Marine Corps medal as a skipper PT boat during World War II. He led his crew to safety after a Japanese destroyer cut his boat in half. He also became a Senator and a US Representative. The end of World War II in 1945 resulted in the beginning of the nuclear era, increased pressure to decolonize the Third World, and the advent of the Cold War. His brother, Joe, was expected to become the family politician and after his death, in 1944, John decided to take his brother’s place. As Kennedy said, “’Just as I went into politics because Joe died, if anything happens to me tomorrow, my brother Bobby would run for my seat in the Senate. And if Bobby died, Teddy would take over for him’” (Kennedy 262). This is how Kennedy started his legacy as one of the most influential persons in history. The space race, Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Peace Corps all help contribute to President Kennedy’s success as an influential person in history. Apollo 11, part of the space race, was set in place by President Kennedy in 1961 to perform a moon landing and to return safely to Ear... ... middle of paper ... ...hives. US Government, n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2013. . Sherman, Brad. “Stopping Iran’s Nuclear Program.” Vital Speeches Of The Day 74.2 (2008): 66-68. History Reference Center. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. "The Peace Corps Honors President John F. Kennedy's Legacy on the 50th Anniversary of His Death." Peace Corps. US Government, 22 Nov. 2013. Web. 22 Nov. 2013. . Sambaluk, PhD, Micholas Michael. "John F. Kennedy and the Race to the Moon." Air & Space Power Journal 27.5 (2013): 156-58. Print. The Theodore Roosevelt Paper Projects. George Washington University, n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2013. . The White House. United States Goverment, n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2013. .

Show More
Related

  • Jfk Space Race Speech Analysis

    1014 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the 1960s the Cold War was at its peak, with both the USSR and America trying to spread their ideologies onto the rest of the world. The world was still uneasy due to the Korean War. In the public’s eyes, nuclear Armageddon was only a press of a button away. The Space Race was a welcome peaceful distraction for the world. The USSR and the United States were constantly trying to best each other in celestial exploration. In 1962, American President, John F Kennedy announced to America that by the end of the decade America would land a man on the moon. Kennedy carefully chose the audience and language of his speech to convince the public to support the Apollo Moon Program.

    Read More

  • Essay On John F Kennedy Camelot

    731 Words  | 2 Pages

    “There will be great presidents but there will never be another Camelot” -Jackie Kennedy, the 35th First Lady to John F. Kennedy. Jackie Kennedy and many other people refer to John F. Kennedy's short term presidency to Camelot due to his rise and fall. Therefore, the Kennedy mystique, his domestic policy, and foreign policy are a modern example of Camelot.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of We Choose To Go To The Moon

    948 Words  | 2 Pages

    In September 1961, president John. F. Kennedy delivers one of his best inspirational speeches titled “We choose to go to the Moon”. This notorious speech was addressed at Rice University in Houston Texas to a very fortunate crowd of students. The significance of his timing is both vital and genius for at the time being the cold war between the United States of America and Russia had been in mid-hype, Russia leading in the space race. This brought doubt to the Americas power and authority thus giving his speech more influential drive. Kennedys fear of the Soviet Union landing on the moon first is because he did not want to see the accomplishment “governed by a hostile flag of conquest, but by a banner of

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast The New Frontier And The Great Society

    471 Words  | 1 Pages

    JFK made it sound that anything was possible, even going to the moon. Although Russia was the first country to send a satellite into space, Kennedy intended to advance the space program to make a statement and show that the US’ industrial superiority and challenge the U.S. into becoming an even stronger nation by setting allowances for the specific programs for instance before 1970 First Man on the moon.. The Kennedy Administration was known for it's foreign policy much more so than it's domestic policies. It had a sympathy for the Civil Rights movement and did back up integration every way possible but was unable to achieve any substantive reform.

    Read More

  • JFK and the Vietnam War

    1800 Words  | 4 Pages

    John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born in Brookline, Mass., on May 29, 1917. Kennedy graduated from Harvard University in 1940 and joined the Navy the next year.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On The Sputnik Crisis

    1310 Words  | 3 Pages

    Kennedy had realized that the only way to overtake the Soviets after falling so far behind, would be by putting the first man on the moon. The US morale had taken a serious blow following Sputnik and the first cosmonaut in space, Yuri Gagarin. On September 12th, 1962, Kennedy delivered his famous speech, saying “We choose to go to the moon.” Kennedy knew that it was essential to gather support behind a manned mission to the moon from the American public. Although many argued that it would be easier, and more efficient to send an unmanned mission to the moon, it was more about the morale boost and the message a man on the moon would send to the

    Read More

  • The John F. Kennedy Assassination and the Moonlanding

    1177 Words  | 3 Pages

    The assassination of John F. Kennedy is one of the most devastating events in our nation’s history. John F. Kennedy, also known as JFK, became America’s 35th president when he was elected in 1960. Soon after being elected, Kennedy made it a goal to land a man on the moon. As promised, in 1969, Apollo 11 did just that. Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins were the astronauts that were sent into orbit and eventually landed on the moon (Dunbar). These two events helped shape our nation’s history, and were very important in characterizing that time period. There are several different theories on the death of John F. Kennedy and the landing of the moon.

    Read More

  • The Legacy of John F. Kennedy

    1907 Words  | 4 Pages

    What is a legacy? Is it strictly a visible, touchable object? A legacy is not just an object that people can see; it can be a dream or an idea. Although his life came to a tragic end, John F. Kennedy was one of the many presidents that served his term of presidency with compassion and dedication, and also, he left behind an unforgettable legacy to live on for the generations to come. His legacy was both an idea and dream that still affects many Americans today, as he led people to believe that he would make peace between countries. “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty” (Kennedy). When he won the election for president in 1961, he would set goals for the United States that would amount to extraordinary events. Also, he would overcome one the most dangerous obstacles that any president has ever encountered.

    Read More

  • Space Race in the 1960's

    1167 Words  | 3 Pages

    Early on in the race, the USSR was very successful. In 1957, the Soviets launched Sputnik, which triggered the start of the space race (John F. Kennedy). The United States began to scramble, trying to catch up with the Soviets. However, soon after, the Soviet Union completed another huge success. They sent the first man to orbit Earth (John F. Kennedy). In 1961 the USSR’s Yuri Gagarin became the first human to ever orbit the Earth (John F. Kennedy). The United States was still unsuccessful and beginning to look weak. After that, America got serious. On May 25, 1961, President Kennedy asked Congress for around eight billion dollars to build up the space program over the next five years (John F. Kennedy). The president declared, “This nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before the decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth” (John F. Kennedy).

    Read More

  • The Presidential Election of 1960

    1984 Words  | 4 Pages

    John F. Kennedy, of Irish decent, was born in Brookline, Massachusetts on May 29,1917. He entered the Navy, after graduation from Harvard in 1940. In 1946, home from World War II, Kennedy became a Democratic Congressman and in 1953, he joined the Senate. A "privileged aristocrat," his father's wealth and influence contributed largely to Kennedy's political career. 1 John's father, Joseph Kennedy was a self-made millionaire. "In Joseph's political career, he accompanied President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal, as the chairman of the new Securities and Exchange Commission. Joseph was also chairman of the Maritime Commission and from 1937- 1940, he was ambassador to Great Britain." 2 John's mother, Rose (Fitzgerald) Kennedy, was daughter to John F. Fitzgerald, Mayor of Boston. John's paternal grandfather, Patrick J. Kennedy, had served in the Massachusetts Senate.

    Read More

  • John F Kennedy New Frontier Essay

    947 Words  | 2 Pages

    As the President elect of the United States in 1960, John F. Kennedy aspired, to accomplish much during his presidency. Kennedy confidently called his initiatives “The New Frontier” taking on numerous major challenges. Some of the challenges were boosting the United States economy by ending a recession and promoting growth in the economy, aiding third world countries by establishing the Peace Corps sending men and women overseas to assist developing countries in meeting their own necessities. Additional challenges were too built-up the United States National Defense and furthered the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) programs. Kennedy had designed an ambitious legislative agenda for the preceding years of his term. Tragically, John F. Kennedy, himself did not live to see the majority of his New Frontier enacted. However, with the enactment in 1964-1966, of Kennedy’s agenda during his final year, he acquired the respect, as a liberal force for change, following his death (U.S. Department of State, n.d.).

    Read More

  • John F Kennedy Inaugural Address Ethos Pathos Logos

    765 Words  | 2 Pages

    Kennedy always saw the belief the people had in him. Everyone looked up at the family to see what they were doing and tried to do whatever they were doing. He acknowledged all the things he had to do and made it pretty clear that he received good respect from his voters. He gave power to the people. When people looked up at him, they saw how much he cared.

    Read More

  • Kennedy Man On The Moon Speech Analysis

    824 Words  | 2 Pages

    President Kennedy has shown the commitment, justified the struggles, and now developed the need in every listener’s mind why America needs to be the first country to land a person on the moon. Looking back, he obviously succeeded. His speech was the major turning point in making the move happen, and rhetorical questions, allusions, and repetition all played an important role in making the speech so persuasive and inspiring.

    Read More

  • What Is The Purpose Of John F Kennedy's Speech In Jfk Speech

    983 Words  | 2 Pages

    John F. Kennedy made a historic speech at Rice stadium just shortly before America put our first man on the moon. He saw how much this would bring our country together and how patriotic America became and he wanted that to continue. He saw how quickly the technology of the world was progressing and he knew America needed to be first in the race for space. He made a passionate speech expressing these feelings and he conveyed his message very well. Kennedy knew how important and beneficial these leaps of technology would be to the world, to the nation, and to people everywhere; he let nothing hold him back from expressing this to the people.

    Read More

  • John F Kennedy Research Paper Outline

    451 Words  | 1 Pages

    John F Kennedy was born in Brookline, Massachusetts on May 29, 1917. He was the second son of nine children, and his parents were Joseph and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. His father, Joseph Kennedy, was a wealthy man. John grew up wealthy, multimillionaire. The Kennedy’s moved to New York in 1927, and John and his siblings went to the Riverdale Country day school. John graduated in 1935 from the choate school in Wallingford, Connecticut. John wanted to go into either academics or journalism, so he went to Princeton University in the fall of 1935. He became deathly ill half way through his first semester at the university, so he spent the rest of the year recovering. After John became well again, he decided to attend Harvard University. He graduated from Harvard in 1940. John F Kennedy decided to run for a seat in the House of Representatives in1946. In 1952, he was in the United States senate. Kennedy decided that in

    Read More

More about John F. Kennedy: An Influential Person

Open Document