A Life Leading to Presidency
John Fitzgerald Kennedy is born
May 29, 2012
John Fitzgerald Kennedy is born at 83 Beals Street in Brookline, Massachusetts. He is the second child of Joseph P. Kennedy and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy.
Begins high school at Choate Boarding School
September 1931
John attends Choate, a boarding school for adolescent boys, in Wallingford,
Connecticut. He is very popular and is involved in many activities such as
tennis, basketball, football, and golf. He also enjoys causing mischief.
Connecticut. He is very popular and is involved in many activities such as
tennis, basketball, football, and golf. He also enjoys causing mischief.
Graduates from Choate Boarding School
June 1935
JFK graduates from Choate having been voted "Most Likely to Succeed" in the school yearbook.
Enrolls at Harvard University
September 1936
He tries out for the football, golf, and swim teams and receives a spot on the
varsity swim team. He focuses more on his work than he did in high school, and makes the Dean's List his junior year.
varsity swim team. He focuses more on his work than he did in high school, and makes the Dean's List his junior year.
Graduates from Harvard University
May 1940
John writes his thesis "Appeasement in Munich" which is then published and
becomes a bestseller. He graduates with a Bachelors of Science in international affairs.
becomes a bestseller. He graduates with a Bachelors of Science in international affairs.
Joins the U.S. Navy
September 1941
Jack is made Lieutenant and is assigned commander of the patrol torpedo boat PT-109. He is located in the South Pacific.
Patrol boat PT-109 sinks
August 2, 1943
A Japanese destroyer rams into the PT-109 splitting the boat in half and killing two crew members. John saves a crew member and leads the rest of his crew to shore, where they are then saved. Upon returning home, he is awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his leadership and courage.
Death of brother Joe, Jr.
August 12, 1944
During a misson trip in Europe, Joe's plane blows up and he is killed. John is now looked to as the family's political standard-bearer. His father convinces him to run for Congress.
Elected to United States House of Representatives
October 1946
Kennedy runs for seat in the Democratic 11th Congressional district in
Massachusetts and wins. He serves as congressman for six years.
Massachusetts and wins. He serves as congressman for six years.
Elected to United States Senate
October 1952
JFK defeats Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. for the U.S. Senate seat.
Fails to win Vice President nomination
July 1956
Kennedy is nominated for Vice President along with presidential nominee Adlai Stevenson at the 1956 Democratic National Convention. He finishes second on the ballot to Estes Kefauver.
Begins election campaign for President
January 2, 1960
JFK prepares for the Democratic primary election where he eliminates Hubert Humphrey and Wayne Morse. He asks Lyndon B. Johnson to be his Vice Presidential candidate
First televised presidential debate
September 26, 1960
Kennedy appears with Republican candidate Richard Nixon in the first televised presidential debate in U.S. history. Because of Kennedy's good looks and charm, he pulls ahead of Nixon in the polls.
Elected President of the United States
November 8, 1960
John F. Kennedy is the youngest man to be elected President of the United States of American and the first Catholic. He is sworn into presidency on January 20, 1961 where he says "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."