John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917–63,) known as JFK, was a Democratic-party political leader who served as the 35th president of the U.S. from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He is remembered as one of the most appealing and beloved political leaders of the twentieth century.
Born in Brookline, Massachusetts, to a wealthy and politically prominent family, JFK was a national war hero during World War II. He served as a U.S. representative and a U.S. senator from Massachusetts before getting elected as the youngest and the first Catholic U.S. president.
JFK gained a widespread reputation as an advocate of civil rights, but Congress frequently blocked his planned legislation. In foreign affairs, he led America through the Bay of Pigs debacle and the Cuban Missile Crisis, the thirteen-day stand-off that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. He also increased military aid to South Vietnam in the Vietnam War and negotiated the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty with the USSR and the U.K.
Kennedy’s ambitious proposals for his country were cut short by his untimely assassination, which spawned decades of speculations of conspiracy, cover-up, and doctored film footage. His most admired legacies include the Peace Corps, the U.S. space program, and his advocacy for civil rights. He is also remembered for his inspiring speeches that encouraged humankind to challenge tyranny, racism, and the mysteries of outer space.
JFK is the author of Why England Slept (1940,) the Pulitzer Prize-winning Profiles in Courage (1956,) and A Nation of Immigrants (1958.) His brothers Robert Kennedy and Edward “Ted” Kennedy also served as popular U.S. senators.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by John F. Kennedy
The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word ‘crisis.’ One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger – but recognize the opportunity.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Danger, Opportunity
Now the trumpet summons us again—not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are—but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, “rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation”—a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.
—John F. Kennedy
If this nation is to be wise as well as strong, if we are to achieve our destiny, then we need more new ideas for more wise men reading more good books in more public libraries. These libraries should be open to allexcept the censor. We must know all the facts and hear all the alternatives and listen to all the criticisms. Let us welcome controversial books and controversial authors. For the Bill of Rights is the guardian of our security as well as our liberty.
—John F. Kennedy
When you have 7% unemployed, you have 93% working.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Optimism
You can milk a cow the wrong way once and still be a farmer, but vote the wrong way on a water tower and you can be in trouble.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Voting
We hold the view that the people make the best judgment in the long run.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: People
Every American ought to have the right to be treated as he would wish to be treated, as one would wish his children to be treated. this is not the case.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: America
Economic growth without social progress lets the great majority of people remain in poverty, while a privileged few reap the benefits of rising abundance.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Economics, Economy
The basis of effective government if public confidence.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Government
I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered together at the White House, with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Teamwork, Genius, Teams
Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Future, Foresight, Problem-solving
The very word ‘secrecy’ is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths, and to secret proceedings.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Secrets
We stand today on the edge of a new frontier—the frontier of the 1960s, a frontier of unknown opportunities and perils, a frontier of unfulfilled hopes and threats. The new frontier of which I speak is not a set of promises—it is a set of challenges.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Twentieth Century
The science of weapons and war has made us all one world and one human race with one common destiny
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Weapon
The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need men who can dream of things that never were and ask why not?”.”
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Problems, Imagination, Dream, Vision, Dreams
The greater our knowledge increases, the greater our ignorance unfolds.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Knowledge, Virtues
Public speaking is the art of diluting a two-minute idea with a two-hour vocabulary.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Communication
In the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding on the back of the tiger ended up inside.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Effort
We are inclined to think that if we watch a football game or a baseball game, we have taken part in it.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Sports
This country cannot afford to be materially rich and spiritually poor.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Wealth
The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Time, Planning, Goals
Show me a man who plays a good game of golf and I’ll show you a man who is neglecting something.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Golf
True happiness is the full use of your powers along lines of excellence in a life affording scope.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Excellence, Happiness
What church I go to on Sunday, what dogma of the Catholic Church I believe in, is my business; and whatever faith any other American has is his business.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Religion
Our growing softness, our increasing lack of physical fitness, is a menace to our security.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Exercise
If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: The Poor, Society, Poverty
If at times our actions seem to have made life difficult for others, it is only because history has made life difficult for us all.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Difficulties
In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility—I welcome it.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Patriotism, Freedom
All of us do not have equal talents, but all of us should have an equal opportunity to develop our talents
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Talent
If we are strong, our strength will speak for itself. If we are weak, words will be of no help.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Communication
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