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
And we must face the fact that the United States is neither omnipotent or omniscient—that we are only 6 percent of the world’s population—that we cannot impose our will upon the other 94 percent of mankind—that we cannot right every wrong or reverse each adversity—and that therefore there cannot be an American solution to every world problem.
—John F. Kennedy
And if we are to open employment opportunities in this country for members of all races and creeds, then the Federal Government must set an example. The President himself must set the key example. I am not going to promise a Cabinet post or any other post to any race or ethnic group. That is racism in reverse at its worst. So I do not promise to consider race or religion in my appointments if I am successful. I promise only that I will not consider them.
—John F. Kennedy
As they say on my own Cape Cod, a rising tide lifts all the boats. And a partnership, by definition, serves both partners, without domination or unfair advantage. Together we have been partners in adversitylet us also be partners in prosperity.
—John F. Kennedy
With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth Gods work must truly be our own.
—John F. Kennedy
Don’t teach my boy poetry, an English mother recently wrote the Provost of Harrow. Don’t teach my boy poetry; he is going to stand for Parliament. Well, perhaps she was rightbut if more politicians knew poetry, and more poets knew politics, I am convinced the world would be a little better place to live on this Commencement Day of 1956.
—John F. Kennedy
Of course, both major parties today seek to serve the national interest. They would do so in order to obtain the broadest base of support, if for no nobler reason. But when party and officeholder differ as to how the national interest is to be served, we must place first the responsibility we owe not to our party or even to our constituents but to our individual consciences.
—John F. Kennedy
The purpose of foreign policy is not to provide an outlet for our own sentiments of hope or indignation; it is to shape real events in a real world.
—John F. Kennedy
First, I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth. I believe we should go to the moon. But there is no sense in agreeing or desiring that the United States take an affirmative position in outer space, unless we are prepared to do the work and bear the burdens to make it successful.
—John F. Kennedy
Everything changes but change itself. Everything flows and nothing remains the same…You cannot step twice into the same river, for other waters and yet others go flowing ever on.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Change, Creativity
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
I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Humanity
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
Before my term has ended, we shall have to test anew whether a nation organized and governed such as ours can endure. The outcome is by no means certain.
—John F. Kennedy
We believe that if men have the talent to invent new machines that put men out of work, they have the talent to put those men back to work.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Unemployment, Talent, Work
I don’t think that unless a greater effort is made by the Government to win popular support that the war can be won out there. In the final analysis, it is their war. They are the ones who have to win it or lose it. We can help them, we can give them equipment, we can send our men out there as advisers, but they have to win it, the people of Viet-Nam, against the Communists.
—John F. Kennedy
Many years ago the great British explorer George Mallory, who was to die on Mount Everest, was asked why did he want to climb it. He said Because it is there. Well, space is there, and were going to climb it, and the moon and the planets are there, and new hopes for knowledge and peace are there.
—John F. Kennedy
And so it is that I carry with me from this State to that high and lonely office to which I now succeed more than fond memories and fast friendships. The enduring qualities of Massachusettsthe common threads woven by the Pilgrim and the Puritan, the fisherman and the farmer, the Yankee and the immigrantwill not be and could not be forgotten in the Nations Executive Mansion. They are an indelible part of my life, my convictions, my view of the past, my hopes for the future.
—John F. Kennedy
To further the appreciation of culture among all the people, to increase respect for the creative individual, to widen participation by all the processes and fulfillments of artthis is one of the fascinating challenges of these days.
—John F. Kennedy
Lobbyists are in many cases expert technicians and capable of explaining complex and difficult subjects in a clear, understandable fashion. They engage in personal discussions with Members of Congress in which they can explain in detail the reasons for positions they advocate. Because our congressional representation is based on geographical boundaries, the lobbyists who speak for the various economic, commercial, and other functional interests of this country serve a very useful purpose and have assumed an important role in the legislative process.
—John F. Kennedy
Great crises produce great men and great deeds of courage.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Greatness
I am deeply touched not as deeply touched as you have been coming to this dinner, but nevertheless it is a sentimental occasion.
—John F. Kennedy
A rising tide lifts all boats.
—John F. Kennedy
Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.
—John F. Kennedy
We should not let our fears hold us back from pursuing our hopes.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Hope, Fear, Anxiety, Aspirations, One liners
In its knowledges light, we must think and act not only for the moment but for our time. I am reminded of the great French Marshal Lyautey, who once asked his gardener to plant a tree. The gardener objected that the tree was slow-growing and would not reach maturity for a hundred years. The Marshal replied, In that case, there is no time to lose, plant it this afternoon.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Win, Action, Future
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: Dreams, Vision, Imagination
The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it — and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Vision
One person can make a difference and every person should try.
—John F. Kennedy
A revolution is coming—a revolution which will be peaceful if we are wise enough; compassionate if we care enough; successful if we are fortunate enough. But a revolution which is coming whether we will it or not. We can affect its character; we cannot alter its inevitability.
—John F. Kennedy
All my life Ive known better than to depend on the experts. How could I have been so stupid, to let them go ahead?
—John F. Kennedy
A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers.
—John F. Kennedy
For if Freedom and Communism were to compete for mans allegiance in a world at peace, I would look to the future with ever increasing confidence.
—John F. Kennedy
All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first thousand days, nor in the life of this administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Beginning
Our task is not to fix the blame for the past, but to fix the course for the future.
—John F. Kennedy
The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie—deliberate, contrived, and dishonest—but the myth—persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Truth, Thought
There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Men, Inaction, Risk, Procrastination, Courage, Action, Birth, Getting Going, Risk-taking
The greater our knowledge increases, the greater our ignorance unfolds.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Knowledge, Virtues
There is always inequity in life. Some men are killed in a war and some men are wounded, and some men never leave the country, and some men are stationed in the Antarctic and some are stationed in San Francisco. Its very hard in military or in personal life to assure complete equality. Life is unfair.
—John F. Kennedy
As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Gratitude
Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation.
—John F. Kennedy
Topics: Education, Dreams, Society
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