John F. Kennedy

Hamner 1

Kelsea Hamner

Mrs. Herron

English 11 Honors

19 April 2005John 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 Bronksville, 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