Jack always thought that when a promise was made, it must be kept, and that ís what he intended to do with his first political experience. In return he worked hard and became re-elected to his congressional seat in 1948 and again in 1950. He'd work hard during the week, and then fly to Massachusettes and give voters there speeches. His popularity not only grew with each election, but he learned the in's and out's of Washington.
Even though Jack had lots of power he yearned for more. He wanted out of his safe seat and either wanted to move on to governor of Massachusettes or governor. He decide to run for Senator, because there were fewer members in the Senate and he would be able to be part of more decisions. So, as the year of 1952 approached, he decided to run for Senate in the 1952 race with one main opponent, Republican Henry Cabot Lodge.
In order to beat his opponent, Jack thought of tea parties. He would have his mother share thoughts on her son and have tea with all of the mothers joining the party. Jack would sit and meet the ladies and their families as well. When election day arrived, Jack won by a 70,000 vote margin. He became a senator for Massachusettes when he was 35 years old.
Jack didn't have much of a personal life, so he didn't go on dates very much. When he was able to catch a movie, he preferred his long-time friend Jacqueline Lee Bouvier to join him. Slowly, he fell in love with her easy charm and warm personality.
In 1952, he decided to ask for her hand in marriage. She accepted and they were wed in September 1953, in St. Maryís Roman Cathloic Church in Newport Rhode Island. They were wed by an old friend. As soon as the wedding bells rang, the joyous couple flew to Mexico for their Honeymoon.
Life couldn't be better for them. As soon as they flew back from Mexico, a lovely Victorian home awaited them in New Virginia. His back, however was becoming more painful by the day, and soon kept him from his job as senator. The fake disc that was placed in his back years ago had failed to do it's job completely. Our senator was feeling the effects very quickly.
Jack's only two choices for his aching back was to either get a risky operation of double fusing the discs in his spine or live on crutches. Jack hated the idea of him paralyzed, so he decided to go through the riskiest operation around.
On October of 1954, the surgery took place. He lay immobile for weeks, and his adrenal glands, an immune mechanism, had been shocked from all that swimming in the South Pacific. He was now susceptible to many different infections. As Christmas of 1954 arrived, he was flown to Palm Beach to see if family would improve his condition, but it did nothing. jack was at death's door and something had to be done to improve his condition. He went in for another operation, this time to remove the disc that was placed before.
This time the operation was successful and he was able to regain his power in the Senate after months of recuperation. He decided to write a book called "Profiles in Courage". This book quickly climbed the best seller charts. He earned the Pulitzer prize, and was later re-edited for a children's edition and once more became a best seller. To make his life much brighter, on November 28th, 1958 Jacqueline gave birth to Caroline Kennedy. It was a warm surprise after the two miscarriages they had suffered.
Tired once again with his spot in the Senate, he decided to run for Vice-President of the United States with Adlai Stevenson as his partner. Sadly, the Jack didn't succeed in making a nomination, and he faced his first political defeat.
Thinking that he had nothing to lose, Jack decided to go for a nomination for the president of the United Satates. Before he could campaign, he had to get nominated by the democrats. He wasn't the only one running, and he had a very tough candidate against him as well, Lyndon Johnson.
Things became hard for Jack who needed that nomination. Two things were fighting against him, his age and his religion. No man that young had ever entered office, and no man Cathloic had ever entered office. Al Smith, a New Yorker ran as a Catholic and he lost. It was also rare for someone to jump from the Senate to such a high place, like the presidency.
Not everything was against Jack. He had a great family background, great political past, incredible wealth, author and a reader, lean and handsome, and was educated in the finest schools.
And to improve the age problem, the Republican's wanted to nominate, Richard M. Nixon who was 47, and Jack was only 43, so it wasn't that bad. In order to win the nomination, Jack gathered a young and aggressive staff, and had his family helping him campaign. He began to go around and give speeches anywhere he was asked.
He was also re-elected for the Senate with over 870,000 votes. That win made him even more popular, sending him all over America on speaking engagements. His staff gradually grew, and the hours out campaigning also grew. His one goal was to become nominated for president.
He had his younger brother, Bobby Kennedy help out with the campaign by making his name known all over the United States, and Joe Sr. was also involved with the campaign by using his influence to make New Yorkean voters vote for him.
Jack had all the help he needed, especially help from mayors and governors all over America. He entered every primary race. He knocked out Senator Hubert Humphrey form a nomination and the same with Stuart Symington who lost the nomination along with Adlai Stevenson.
Once the Democratic Convention was underway, all the candidates gave out their speeches, and Jack found out that he won the nomination for president. As Jack gave out his speech, Richard Nixon watched and thought that Jack shouldn't be that hard to beat, he didn't seem like a very tough person to handle.
The most complete, unequivocal and reassuring statement that could be excepted of any person in his position - Citizens for Religious Freedom (on Kennedy's speech about the problem with his religion)
This was the most crucial, nerve wracking and incredible campaign that Jack's career ever faced. This was known as the 1960 campaign and it was a very strenuous and tough campaign. The issues were incredibly difficult and you couldnít truly defend one without losing the votes and offending the other. Jack was warned not to mention some things, and only mention the things that were of utmost importance.
One of the biggest dilemmas was where the South of the US, particularly in Louisiana, Mississippi and Georgia did this issue matter. The Southern states had decided not to allow African American students to join their all white schools, but the Northern States found this matter stupid, and despicable. This was the time where Martin Luther King Jr. was trying to change the African Americanís society. He was thrown into jail for disturbing the peace on the streets. This was a whole issue that should have been avoided but it actually became a huge issue for the two candidates.
Many debates were aired on television, for the many viewers to watch. Most of the debates were horrible for Nixon's publicity. He refused to wear makeup, while Kennedy, wore makeup to make him appear younger. When the debate was aired Nixon looked old and sweaty, while Kennedy looked young, fresh and alert.
Kennedy's religious issue also became a giant problem that was discussed all through America during the campaign. In order to put an end to all of the murmurs, Kennedy went on air to tell all of America that he wasn't going to let his religion affect his job as president, and that everything that happens wont be connected to his religion. Kennedy was right, religion shouldn't matter.
Along with religion and the African American problems, domestic positions were a large part of the debates.
By the end of the campaign, Jack pulled himself off as a young politician with a lot to offer. He was mature, aggressive but polished, bold yet calm, intellectual yet practical. He was by many people's means; the perfect candidate. Things became stirred up a little when Martin Luther King was arrested. Jack, immediately got on the phone with his brother, Bobby in Atlanta to have him fix this problem. That call won the vote of all Martin Luther King followers.
As the campaign wheeled down to a close, screaming throngs of people greeted both candidates, and people waited in huge lines just to meet them. Columnists of newspapers backed him up, even a Republican columnist was supporting Kennedy. Kennedy wanted to end the campaign with a blast. He continued driving everywhere, travelling everywhere, and he did all he could to get people's votes.
People broke through police lines just to touch Kennedy, people were so crazy, that his staff started to fear for his safety. The campaign was the biggest thing and until the big day came, all of America was held in suspense. Were Nixon's previous thoughts that Kennedy wasn't to tough still hold true in his mind? Did Kennedy's attempts to gain voters actually work?
November 8th 1960 at 10:00 am was the day and time where all would be proven and the suspense would come to a halt. Kennedy won. It wasn't a land slide. Nixon gained 219 votes and Kennedy 303 votes. To add to Kennedy's rejoicing, he welcomed a new member of his family, John F. Kennedy Jr. on Nov. 28th 1960.
John F. Kennedy was inaugurated on January 20th 1961. His Inagural Adress is considered one of the best in American history.
Entering the white house wasní't a problem for his family. His wife and children added their own special flare to the most special building in America. Jacqueline was a very fashionable and beautiful woman who loved to have a good time in a sophisticated way. Her children were well behaved and never truly realized how important their father's position was.
Kennedy's first duty was to form a new cabinet and a new Attorney General. His brother, Bobby was running for Attorney General, and Kennedy gave his brother the position. Kennedy appointed special assistants and advised his staff. Kennedy had four large goals in mind: tyranny, poverty, disease and war. He made the Secretary of Agriculture, Orville Freeman to double the rations of surplus food to be sent to needy families in America.
He put into motion the Latin American economic, social, and technical development. He called it the Alliance for Progress and would take place over a ten year period at a cost of 20 billion dollars in foreign aid. They would have to establish their own machinery, mobilize and their domestic recourses and to develop well conceived sound projects.
The most famous project that was initiated by the president has to be the Peace Corps. It's an organization where college students and all people over eighteen can be sent to low economy countries and act like teachers, doctors, farmers and people who just help improve that country. It was an immediate success and with the help of the congress granting him 30,000,000 dollars he can pick people to actually be sent to those countries. Each volunteer stays for two years and salary is their manual pay, food, supplies and living conditions.
Strenuous tests had to be passed and test scores had to be exceptional in order for a volunteer to leave for such an educational experience. It was a organization that proved what Kennedy's famous quote ment - "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country".
Life in the White House was splendid for the Kennedy family. The American people were proud of their new President, and ready to move to the new frontier. Tragedy struck less than three months after the president took office. On April 17, 1961, the Cuban Missile Crisis shook up Kennedy's confidence dangerously.
The Latin countries, Spain, Cuba, Guatemala and some southern American states were involved in a very complex and complicated triangle of misleadership. Cuba was upset that Fidel Castro a young lawyer who had promised democracy ended up being a communist. With other countries' help he created Cuba as a military base to keep all sorts of military equipment. His plan was to create a spread of Communist revolutionary activity. Kennedy became aware of a threat so close to home that he took Eisenhower's plan of raiding Cuba seriously. There were many Cuban natives that were against Castro, ready to invade Cuba.
They were training in the southern countries of United States. The point of the strategy was to keep military forces from joining this communist dilemma. The twist of the plan was that America would bear the responsibility of promoting the invasion.
The Cubans manned their posts up in the sky with American B-26 plans that were ready to shoot missiles at Cuba. They bombed half of Castro's air force. Americans and people around the world had heard of the bombing and they became disgusted by the way America had assisted. The heavy criticism worried the president, but the plan couldnít be stopped now.
Cuban boats were lined up ready to invade Cuba, ready to attack Castro. Seeing the boats arrive, jet fighters were dispatched, and two boats were sunk. Kennedy heard of the report, and was immediately depressed by the news. The invaders who were still alive were kicked into Castro's prisons, and others were left hungry and without ammunition.
Cuba was a humiliating defeat for the president. Good men died needlessly, and Kennedy had pointed the way for them. It was a mistake that Kennedy had pondered over until he died.
The Cuban Missile Crisis was one of the best experiences Kennedy could have experienced, and it improved him as a leader. Communismís still a continuing threat, so the president flew over European skies in his private jet, the Air Force One to meet the Russian Soviet Premier Khrushchev. At a huge banquet the president and the Soviet had discussions about Soviet American differences over Berlin. Their conversation had lasted a total of eleven hours. Even though the conversations didn't really improve the situation, Kennedy know knew where the Soviet Union stands in the issues, so that next time when it comes time to make valuable decisions, Kennedy will know how to answer and compromise with Russia.
The Kennedy family settled down, and had an extremely cozy life during their years in the White House. The family constantly travelled to good will tours, rounds of meetings, official functions and a heavy schedule of routine work in the large marble home. Lyndon Johnson, the vice president of the United States helped Kennedy make decisions and helped him through all of the traveling that happens when you're leading the most powerful country in the world.
The president decided to launch the Alliance for Progress program, and the first lady accompanied him to South America, for the good will effort. As soon as the Kennedy couple returned to Washington, Jack heard devastating news that his father had suffered a severe stroke in Palm Beach, Florida. Kennedy had to deal with so much loss in his family. He still however always wanted to be by his dad's side even though his dad was impaired.
As to welcome him back to Washington, a steel crisis developed. The price of steel was going to be raised and with the presidents quick action and thinking, it was all prevented and steel went back to its normal price.
Problems in the White House stirred up again with the problems of African Americans going to white schools. Mississippi's governor, did not allow an African American student to join their university. Outraged, the president told the governor that in the Constitution all men are created equal and that just becasue his skin was colored certainly didn't mean that he was less of a person. Kennedy's words echoed through America, the university was full of mobs of people and crowds were attacking him. Federal troops were sent down there to handle the problem, and it was finnaly put under control. The boy was able to enroll.
One crisis after the other seemed to haunt the president. He discovered the shocking news that there were Russian war materials in Cuba as well. The only solution was to get tough with the Russians. The only way to ensure Americaís safety was to start a blockade. A blockade was where troops would check all incoming boats for missile equipment or be attacked by the troops. The Americans became aware of this life or death situation, from a special broadcast. The whole world waited in suspense to see what was at stake.
The plan worked. America had kept all other missiles from entereing Cuba. Months later in 1963 he received a letter from Russia stating to end all nuclear warfare. The president joyously agreed. He had faced a critical test of nerves and skill. America was at the edge of going into war, but Kennedy protected America to the best of his ability. It was the year 1963, and the White House seemed quiet at last.
The president was a jubilant man. Things were going superbly, a treaty was to be reached with the Russianís and the Peace Corps was one of the years most successful organizations. The civil rights problems were an issue. The Legislative branch of the government decided to just have a bill passed to try and change the laws on African American freedom. Sadly, the president had lost his infant son Patrick Kennedy from heart failure right after he was born as well.
The President decided to make a speech in Dallas, Texas on his new progress with civil rights, nuclear war equipment and discuss his latest achievements. As the president and the first lady drove in an open car they waved to the throngs of people gathered to see the famous couple. Sadly, as they drove under a depository the president was shot with an assassin's bullets. He had been shot in the head and in his back. Emergency crews wheeled him into a hospital for emergency surgery but it was too late. Mr. Kennedy had died in Dallas when he was only 46. He had been president for only two years, six months and two days.
The assassin was Lee Harvey Oswald. He had been spotted fleeing from the scene, and witnesses had described him well enough for an arrest.
It was a sad day for all of America. He was a man that had pulled this country through so much, and yet he didn't live long enough to see the affects of the civil rights movement, the nuclear war equipment and most of all his children growing up and becoming sophisticated people who learned from their dad that Courage and Victory was the motto they should live by.
There are so many words that can describe John F. Kennedy and what he did for this country. It's true he paved the way to a new frontier, but it was a shame that he didn't stay long enough to see his new frontier and his family grow and continue the tradition and belief that you really could do anything.
JFK believed in self confidence, and self assurance, he did make mistakes but only because at the time they seemed like the right thing to do, and those mistakes made him a better leader. In all that he did for America in his 2 plus years was quite an accomplishment, and I just wonder what else there would be if he had finished his term and possibly became re elected.
He tried to improve the world, by outlawing nuclear war equipment and driving the world to war and bringing them back to safety again. He emphasized that he couldn't do everything to help the world, but with enough followers, he could accomplish everything and that was a reason he encouraged the Peace Corps and sent the man on the moon. No other president ever dared send their imaginations further than this planet, but John Kennedy did, and he succeeded in bringing information that was out of this world to every library and home in the nation. He was a great leader, and a great man and it was a shame that someone ended his life before he could see the results of all his hard work.
Flag Winning Report
Ralston Middle School
November 1998
Mr. Yager's 8th Grade US History Class