If John F. Kennedy was alive he would be 100 years old today.
He was born on May 29, 1917, in a multi millionaire’s family. The Kennedys were considered America’s “royalty”.
He graduated from Harvard University. He was also a member of the University Swimming Team.
During World War 2, he volunteered to serve in the United States Navy. As a VVIP’s son (his millionaire dad was US Ambassador to England), he could have had many other opportunities but he chose to serve the country by joining the US Navy during World War 2.
He was a commander of a Patrol Torpedo Board in the Pacific Ocean. His boat was destroyed by the Japanese Navy. He and his team were in the middle of the ocean for 2 days and they finally swam many miles to come ashore. He saved all his men and personally carried 2 of the wounded along with him to the shore. Here is a quote:
On June 12, 1944, while he was in the hospital recuperating from back surgery, Kennedy received the Navy and Marine Corps medal for courage, endurance and excellent leadership [that] contributed to the saving of several lives and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”
And then, he was elected as President of the United States in 1961, at the age of 43. He was the youngest to be elected as President at that time. His inaugural speech is still considered one of the best speeches of all time in the world. The sentence I liked most from that speech was:
And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.
My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.
Another of his speech before I finish. His speech about life is unfair.
“There is always inequity in life. Some men are killed in a war and some men are wounded, and some men never leave the country, and some men are stationed in the Antarctic and some are stationed in San Francisco. It’s very hard in military or in personal life to assure complete equality. Life is unfair.”
He was assassinated and died on November 22, 1963, at the age of 46.
Not just USA but the whole world mourned.
PS: During the Chinese aggression against India in 1962, India was losing and China was gaining. At the request of Indian Government, Kennedy sent the America troops to India. Immediately, China stopped the aggression and withdrew.
PPS: There is a movie about his World War 2 Navy heroics. The name of the movie is PT109.
PPPS: I also acknowledge he had many weak points. But today is his 100th Birthday.
We all have weaknesses, but JFK seems like a stand up guy. My father likes him very much.
ReplyDeleteThe WW2 incident that you mentioned makes me think that a lot of seniors I have seen in my workplaces have had the tendency to throw their juniors in front of a figurative bus. It is inspiring to see that JFK was better than that.
Thanks for your comments Karunesh. You father is a wise gentleman.
DeleteWho has no faults? Everyone does. JFK was beyond that and he was and is still an enigma.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Insignia. Yes, you are right.
DeleteI didn't know about the WWII heroics of JFK, thanks for letting us know. Any idea why he was killed?
ReplyDeleteDestination Infinity
Thanks for your comments Rajesh. Why he was killed? We will never know the answer. Oswald killed Kennedy. Immediately, when Oswald was in the police custody, a guy by the name of Jack Ruby shot him dead. His reason was he did not want Mrs. Kennedy to suffer the pain of trial. It is a general belief that someone who ordered the assassination of the President did not want Oswald to open his mouth. So Jack Ruby was ordered to kill Oswald.
DeleteWho may have been behind his killing? There are a lot of theories. They involve either all or a few or just one: The CIA. The Mafia, Vice President Lyndon Johnson, Cuban President Fidel Castro, and the KGB (the Russian Spy Organization).
Beautifully written.JFK might not have been the perfect president but he remains as one of the greatest presidents of USA, a charismatic personality who has left a legacy.
ReplyDeleteOne incident I wish to recount here. Rajaji had gone to meet him as the head of Gandhi peace foundation to plead for ban of nuclear bombs.The highlight of this meeting with John F. Kennedy was that the delegation was given twenty-five minutes, but the president was so charmed by Rajaji that they chatted for over an hour. Later, Kennedy told an aide that ‘seldom have I heard a case presented with such precision, clarity and elegance of language’. He added that the interview had ‘a civilizing quality about it’.
This revealed the humility and finer traits of Kennedy,the holder of most powerful office in the world.
Thanks for your comments Mr. KP. And, thanks for the nice anecdote. I also read somewhere, Mr. B. K. Nehru, who was Indian Ambassador to USA and accompanied Rajaji in his meeting with the President said: The secretaries who came in with slips of paper reminding the President of his appointments were shooed away. Kennedy was ‘fascinated’ by Rajaji.
DeleteHad read a lot about Kennedy but not his service in the Navy and doing such a great job at that. All of us admire him. Even my grand mother cried in Udupi when she heard in the radio news that he died. She used to follow him in the Kannada newspaper. She cried a lot. I was small then and didn't understand why she cried so much.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Sandhya. Along with your grandma, the whole world cried. That is why every pottikadai in India started to keep a picture of JFK. People started name their kids Kennedy. Even lorry companies started to name "Kennedy Transportation".
DeleteNice insight into a man more known for his friendship with Monroe.
ReplyDeleteThe speeches are all familiar but didn't know there was movie on his WW heroics
Insightful post. Wasnt knowing these details about JFK. His speeches are empowering and inspiring.
ReplyDeleteWell everyone has a weak point.. but we need to see what a person has done Good rather than concentrating on the bad all the time .. there is hardly anyone in the world who has ONLY dont good and NO BAD..
ReplyDeleteInterestingly penned.He was a man with humanity and that is why his name still remains in the air being breathed on the entire globe.You have done it touchingly,SG.
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