# History of John F Kennedy: Over 60 Years Ago > Reading Time: 3 minutesJohn F. Kennedy, the most popular post-WWII President was the youngest American President voted to the office, having succeeded Dwight D Eisenhower, the oldest President at the time. Kennedy was attractive, winsome, and exuded youth and vitality despite his health problems. Kennedy was supremely confident. The celebrities he courted in the public eye were American royalty. > URL: https://billpetro.com/history-of-john-f-kennedy/ > Last modified: 2025-11-22T20:41:34+00:00 Reading Time: 3 minutesJohn F Kennedy. Image: [Wikipedia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Jfk2_%283x4%29.jpg/225px-Jfk2_%283x4%29.jpg) ## HISTORY OF JOHN F KENNEDY *For one brief shining moment…* On *November 22*, 1963, a shot rang out in Dallas, Texas, and ended the life of **John F. Kennedy**, the most popular post-**World War II** President. *Why was JFK so popular?*   He was the youngest American President elected to the office, having succeeded **Dwight D Eisenhower**, the oldest President up to that time. He was attractive, charming, and exuded youth and vitality despite his health problems. Kennedy was supremely confident. He courted **Jackie Bouvier** in the public eye, and they were glittering celebrities, American royalty.   Table of Contents Toggle - [Kennedy Campaign](#Kennedy_Campaign) - [Kennedy Firsts](#Kennedy_Firsts) - [Kennedy Creations](#Kennedy_Creations) - [Kennedy Challenges](#Kennedy_Challenges) - [Kennedy Legacy](#Kennedy_Legacy) - [Related](#Related) ### Kennedy Campaign For the presidential campaign, Kennedy did not use the Democratic Party machine but appealed directly to young people through TV. The first-ever live TV election debate was held between JFK and **Richard Nixon**. Nixon had a face for radio. Kennedy appeared young and vibrant on television; he knew how to talk to the camera, while Nixon visibly sweated on air. Those who listened to the radio debate thought Nixon won, but the opposite was true in the televised debate. [](https://i0.wp.com/www.billpetro.com/wp-content/uploads/Kennedy_Nixon_Debate.jpg?ssl=1)Kennedy-Nixon TV debate, 1960. Image: [Wikimedia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Kennedy_Nixon_Debate_%281960%29.jpg/640px-Kennedy_Nixon_Debate_%281960%29.jpg) At the time, I asked my mother who she would vote for in the 1960 election. She said, “Kennedy, he’s so good-looking.” But he only won by a majority of 0.25% of the popular vote. His inaugural address declared: *“The torch had been passed to a new generation.”*   ### Kennedy Firsts He represented several firsts for an American president. He was Catholic at a time when 1/4 of the electorate said they would not vote for a Catholic. In 1960, [Martin Luther King Jr.](https://billpetro.com/history-martin-luther-king-jr/) said he “could not in good conscience” vote for a Catholic. Three years earlier, the Soviets had launched Sputnik, the first space satellite into orbit, and the space race began in 1957. America was made aware of Civil Defense (CD) in booklets, pamphlets, and flyers. People were building bomb shelters; schoolchildren were drilled to seek protection from nuclear bombs by hiding under their desks.   ### Kennedy Creations He is remembered not so much for what he accomplished but for what he started. Though he served only 1,000 days in the Oval Office, he established the Peace Corps, created security ties with Israel, pushed for the nuclear test ban treaty, and spoke out on civil rights and affirmative action in hiring. At his peak, he had an 83% approval rating. He created a mission for the American people. In 1961, the first man in space was Soviet **Yuri Gagarin**. Predating the 5-year mission of [Star Trek’s](https://billpetro.com/history-of-star-trek) USS Enterprise, Kennedy announced in 1961: *“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.”* Though he would not live to see it, the US beat that goal in 1969 when **[Apollo 11](https://billpetro.com/history-of-1st-moon-landing-apollo-11/)** landed at Tranquility Base on the Moon.   ### Kennedy Challenges Yet, his Presidency was not without its challenges. His meeting with Soviet Premier **Nikita Khrushchev** in Vienna was a personal and professional failure, which subsequently saw the construction of the Berlin Wall and the rise of the Iron Curtain. Kennedy expanded our role in Vietnam. The failed *Bay of Pigs Invasion* in Cuba was a disaster. While the Kennedy presidency continues to capture the imagination of new generations of Americans, older ones look back with nostalgia. I was a boy when he was assassinated, and I remember, as if it were yesterday, writing down on a piece of school paper, which I still have: *“Today President John F. Kennedy was killed.”*   ### Kennedy Legacy Kennedy began his Presidency by saying, *“Ask not what your country can do for you,”* and ended it in Dallas, where he was to give a speech to propose “cutting personal and corporate income taxes.” [](https://i0.wp.com/www.billpetro.com/wp-content/uploads/WhiteHouseBoudinRoom.jpg?ssl=1)White House Blue Room: Boudin’s Masterpiece. Image: [HuffPost](https://images.huffingtonpost.com/2009-04-29-BoudinBlueRoom.jpg) His Presidency has often been compared to that of King Arthur’s **Camelot**. His wife, Jackie Kennedy, refurbished the White House, turning it into a *Versailles* in Washington, D.C., and subsequently filmed a tour of the Presidential mansion, which was seen in 106 countries. The handsome, charming prince of a prominent Boston family married the beautiful, French-educated princess of elegance and grace. JFK often played the title song from the then-popular stage musical before going to bed. The musical ends with King Arthur singing: Don’t let it be forgot That once there was a spot * For one brief shining moment* That was known as Camelot     Bill Petro, your friendly neighborhood historian [billpetro.com](https://billpetro.com) [*Subscribe*](http://g003.enterprise.ipost.com/billpetrofriend/prefs) to have future articles delivered to your email. 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