John F. Kennedy
Born 1917 · Age 108
35th President of the United States (1961–1963). World War II naval officer, U.S. Representative and Senator from Massachusetts, author of Why England Slept and Profiles in Courage, led the U.S. during the Cuban Missile Crisis and advanced the space program and Peace Corps.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Brookline, Massachusetts
John Fitzgerald Kennedy born to Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald in Brookline, MA.
First exposure to politics with grandfather
At age five toured Boston wards with maternal grandfather John F. Fitzgerald during his gubernatorial campaign—early political apprenticeship.
Family relocates to Riverdale, New York
Kennedy family moved from Boston to Riverdale, NYC (Joe Sr.'s business interests and polio outbreak cited).
Enters Canterbury School (8th grade)
Sent to the Canterbury School in New Milford, Connecticut, for 8th grade.
Appendectomy and recuperation
Underwent an appendectomy; withdrew from Canterbury to recuperate at home.
Begins at Choate Preparatory School
Enrolled at Choate, where he became known for social life, athletic participation, and pranks (e.g., "Muckers Club").
Graduates Choate
Graduated from Choate in June 1935; voted 'most likely to succeed.'
Brief enrollment at Princeton; withdraws
Enrolled late at Princeton but withdrew after two months due to gastrointestinal illness.
Enters Harvard College
Enrolled at Harvard College; wrote for The Harvard Crimson and joined social clubs (Hasty Pudding, Spee Club).
Works at American embassy in London
Sailed to London with his brother to work at the American embassy while his father served as U.S. ambassador to Britain.
Witnesses outbreak of World War II in Europe
Was in Europe (Berlin, Czechoslovakia, London) as Germany invaded Poland; returned to the U.S. on first transatlantic flight shortly thereafter.
Audits classes at Stanford GSB
Enrolled at Stanford Graduate School of Business and audited classes for a semester before leaving to help his father with memoirs.
Graduates Harvard, AB cum laude
Earned a Bachelor of Arts in government (international affairs), Harvard University.
Publishes Why England Slept
Expanded his Harvard senior thesis into the bestseller Why England Slept, calling for Anglo-American alliance and exposing British unpreparedness.
Joins U.S. Naval Reserve (commissioned ensign)
With help from Alan Kirk joined the U.S. Naval Reserve; commissioned as an ensign on Oct 26, 1941 and assigned to ONI.
First PT command: PT-101
Commanded PT-101 from Dec 7, 1942 until Feb 23, 1943.
Awarded Navy and Marine Corps Medal & Purple Heart
For courage and leadership after PT-109 sinking, Kennedy received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal and qualified for a Purple Heart.
Takes command of PT-109
Assigned to Motor Torpedo Squadron TWO and took command of PT-109 operating in the Solomons.
PT-109 rammed and sank; leads rescue
PT-109 was rammed and cut in half by Japanese destroyer Amagiri. Kennedy towed a wounded crewmate and led survivors to safety; rescued after ~7 days.
Commands PT-59 in combat rescue
On Nov 2, PT-59 with two other PTs rescued 40–50 Marines on Choiseul Island; later relieved from command Nov 18 to hospital.
Brother Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. killed in WWII
Joseph Jr., previously designated by the family as political standard bearer, died on an air mission (body not recovered).
Retires from Naval Reserve (physical disability)
Retired from the Navy Reserve with the full rank of lieutenant due to injuries and health issues.
Works as special correspondent for Hearst Newspapers
Assigned by his father to be a Hearst special correspondent; covered the UN Conference, Potsdam Conference and British elections.
Wins Democratic primary for Massachusetts 11th district
Secured Democratic primary with 42% and subsequently won general election for U.S. House seat vacated by James Michael Curley.
Active leadership roles in Boy Scouts (Boston Council)
Served as district vice chairman, executive board member, vice-president, and National Council Representative (1946–1955).
Takes office as U.S. Representative (MA-11)
Began first term in the U.S. House of Representatives representing a working-class Boston district.
Speaks in favor of $227M aid to Italy
Delivered a speech to appeal to Italian-American voters supporting a $227 million aid package to Italy against communist influence.
Elected U.S. Senator from Massachusetts
Defeated incumbent Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. in a closely contested campaign and elevated his national profile.
Takes office as U.S. Senator (MA)
Sworn in as junior senator from Massachusetts (term began Jan 3, 1953).
Marries Jacqueline Bouvier
Married Jacqueline Bouvier in Newport, Rhode Island; marriage became a prominent public partnership.
Publishes Profiles in Courage
Authored (with assistance from staff) Profiles in Courage—portraits of U.S. senators who took unpopular stands.
Sought vice presidential nomination (1956 DNC)
Ran for and narrowly lost the Democratic vice-presidential nomination to Estes Kefauver—raised national profile.
Wins Pulitzer Prize for Profiles in Courage
Profiles in Courage won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography.
Re-elected to U.S. Senate
Won re-election to the Senate and secured a place on influential committees (including Foreign Relations).
Accepts Democratic nomination for President
Accepted the Democratic Party presidential nomination at the Los Angeles convention.
Elected 35th U.S. President
Narrowly defeated Vice President Richard Nixon in the presidential election (Electoral College 56.4% in his favor; popular vote 49.7%).
Inaugurated as President
Sworn in as 35th President of the United States; delivered famous inaugural address ('Ask not...').
Creates temporary Peace Corps by executive order
Issued Executive Order 10924 creating the temporary Peace Corps and asked Congress to make it permanent.
Establishes Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity (EO 10925)
Signed Executive Order 10925 directing government contractors to take affirmative action to prevent discrimination.
Bay of Pigs Invasion (authorizes covert action)
Authorized CIA-backed invasion of Cuba by anti-Castro exiles (Apr 17–19); operation failed and embarrassed the administration.
Calls for moon landing (address to Congress)
Urged Congress to commit to landing a man on the Moon before the end of the decade (May 25, 1961).
Meets Nikita Khrushchev in Vienna
Held summit talks with Soviet Premier Khrushchev (June 3–4) that failed to resolve Berlin tensions.
Berlin Wall construction begins
East Germany began construction of the Berlin Wall; Kennedy increased US reassurance actions for West Berlin.
Peace Corps bill signed
Signed legislation creating the Peace Corps and praised Americans assisting other nations.
Imposes trade embargo on Cuba
By proclamation placed an embargo on all trade with Cuba (part of pressure after Bay of Pigs).
Informed of Soviet missiles in Cuba
U-2 photographs revealed Soviet medium/intermediate ballistic missile installations in Cuba—start of Cuban Missile Crisis.
Televised address: announces naval quarantine of Cuba
In a national TV speech he revealed 'unmistakable evidence' of offensive missile sites in Cuba and announced a naval quarantine.
Cuban Missile Crisis resolved (Soviet missiles removed)
Soviet Premier accepted U.S. compromise; Soviets removed missiles from Cuba and U.S. secretly agreed to remove missiles from Turkey.
Lifts naval quarantine on Cuba
Announced the end of the quarantine after Soviet compliance.
American University address (push for nuclear test ban)
Delivered a major speech advocating détente and a nuclear test-ban treaty; led to improved US–USSR communications (hotline) and treaty negotiations.
Delivers 'Ich bin ein Berliner' speech in West Berlin
Visited West Berlin and declared solidarity with West Berliners—one of his most famous Cold War speeches.
Birth and death of son Patrick
Son Patrick born prematurely in August 1963 and died two days later (the couple's infant death deeply affected them).
Responds to March on Washington
Issued a statement regarding the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and later pushed for civil rights legislation.
Signs Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty
Signed the Test-Ban Treaty banning atmospheric nuclear tests (with UK and USSR) — a major arms-control achievement.
Creates Interdepartmental Committee on the Status of Women
By Executive Order established an interdepartmental committee addressing the status of women in the U.S. government.
Assassinated in Dallas, Texas
Shot while riding in a motorcade in Dallas; pronounced dead later that day. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson sworn in as president.
Lee Harvey Oswald killed by Jack Ruby
Lee Harvey Oswald, accused assassin, was shot and killed by Jack Ruby two days after Kennedy's assassination, eliminating his testimony.
Funeral and burial at Arlington National Cemetery
Lying in state at the Capitol, funeral services including St. Matthew's Cathedral, and burial at Arlington with an eternal flame.
Posthumous enactment of Civil Rights Act (result of Kennedy proposals)
After Kennedy's death, Congress enacted many of his proposals; Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed, fulfilling part of his late agenda.
Revenue Act of 1964 enacted (posthumous)
Tax proposals Kennedy advocated became law in the Revenue Act of 1964 after his death.
Release of JFK assassination records (partial)
On Oct 26, 2017 President Trump ordered release of thousands of JFK assassination-related records (some withheld after review).
Key Achievement Ages
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