Prince Frederick, MD – His legend has far exceeded his lifespan. The United States of America’s 35th president, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, lived 46 years and almost six months. Although his presidency was short he remains a fascinating historical figure. The fascination is fueled by his youth—he was the youngest person ever elected president, the turbulent times—foreign and domestic—when he was in office, his communication skills, wit and charm, his family, his faith, his flaws, and of course, both his death and the gnawing speculation of what might have happened had he lived.

John Kennedy was born 100 years ago today in Brookline, Massachusetts. While the presidency may not have been his lifelong ambition, his Father, Joseph Kennedy was determined to have at least one of his sons win the White House. When Joseph Kennedy Jr. perished during World War II, the task was handed to the second-oldest son—Jack—to make it happen. In 1960, in one of the most memorable campaigns and elections of the 20th century, it did happen.

The accomplishments
A variety blog called Learnado-Newtonic.com compiled a list of 10 accomplishments of John F. Kennedy. They were:
1. Receiving the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroism during World War II.
2. Youngest ever elected President of the U.S.
3. As president, led U.S. out of an economic recession with various reforms, including tax reforms. Additionally, unemployment was decreased and the inflation rate remained steady.
4. Established the Peace Corps.
5. Averted nuclear war through negotiations with the Soviet Union.
6. Contributed to the formation of the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
7. Initiated the Alliance for Progress for the development of Latin America.
8. Various domestic reforms including the Water Pollution Control Act, the expansion of unemployment benefits and programs to aid agriculture.
9. Advances in the Civil Rights movement.
10. The Equal Pay Act of 1963.

Other historical distinctions possessed by JFK include being the nation’s first Catholic president, his emphasis on public service and the goal to put man on the moon.

Books about JFK
In a 2013 article written by Peter Grier, the Christian Science Monitor, marking the 50th anniversary of JFK’s assassination, compiled a list of memorable books about Kennedy. Making the list was:
1. JFK in the Senate by John T. Shaw
2. JFK’s Last 100 Days by Thurston Clarke
3. Camelot’s Court by Robert Dallek
4. The Kennedy Half-Century by Larry J. Sabato
5. They Killed Our President: 63 Reasons to Believe There Was a Conspiracy to Assassinate JFK by pro wrestler turned politician Jesse Ventura

The Christian Science Monitor listed three books about JFK “we could not do without.” Those three are: JFK Reckless Youth by Nigel Hamilton, An Unfinished Life, John F. Kennedy 1917-1963 by Robert Dallek (this book brought JFK’s various health problems to public view; and The Death of a President, November 1963 by William Manchester.

Starring as JFK
A large number of actors, enough to fill the Oval Office, have portrayed JFK. The list includes William Devane (The Missiles of October), Martin Sheen (Kennedy), Stephen Collins (A Woman Named Jackie), Patrick Dempsey (JFK Reckless Youth), Bruce Greenwood (Thirteen Days), Greg Kinnear (The Kennedys), James Marsden, (The Butler); and Rob Lowe (Killing Kennedy). Actor Cliff Robertson also should be singled out. He not only played JFK but was selected by JFK for the role. Robertson played Lt. John F. Kennedy in the early-1960s PT 109. Regarding The Missiles of October, Martin Sheen, who played Bobby Kennedy, later played JFK in NBC’s heavily hyped 1963 miniseries “Kennedy.” William Devane later played Jackie Kennedy’s Father in A Woman Named Jackie.

The seamy side
While he is iconic and larger than life, JFK was no saint. A writer for New Republic once declared JFK was a “compulsive, even pathological adulterer.” A woman named Mimi Alford gained notoriety for writing a book entitled Once Upon a Secret. As a 19-year-old intern she contends JFK seduced her right in the presidential mansion. Alford claimed she had numerous trysts with JFK during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The 35th president was also rumored to have had an affair with Mafia mistress Judith Exner. In addition to the sex rumors, JFK allegedly wiretapped Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King Jr. There are also the reports of drug use—painkillers and stimulants—due to the president’s various health problems. There is at least one plausible report of JFK using marijuana recreationally in the White House.

THE Best JFK story
The late Pierre Salinger, JFK’s press secretary, told this story to a cigar magazine over 25 years ago. This is the blog Irish Central’s account.
Salinger recalled Kennedy summoning him into his office to see if he could provide “some help” in securing “a lot of cigars” by the following morning. “The next morning, I walked into my White House office at about 8 a.m., and the direct line from the President’s office was already ringing. He asked me to come in immediately,” said Salinger. Kennedy was pleased to learn that Salinger was successful and had gotten him 1,200 Cuban cigars. Salinger remembers, “He took out a long paper which he immediately signed. It was the decree banning all Cuban products from the United States. Cuban cigars were now illegal in our country.”

To learn more about the life and legacy of John F. Kennedy, a trip to Boston to visit the Kennedy Library and Museum is recommended. Learn more at the facility’s web site www.jfklibrary.org

The photos used for this story were from the JFK Facebook page

Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com