author
John F. (John Fitzgerald) Kennedy
1917–1963
Remembered for youthful energy, sharp wartime experiences, and a presidency cut tragically short, this American leader still looms large in 20th-century history. His life story moves from privilege and illness to military heroism, bestselling writing, and the White House at a moment of global tension.
1 Audiobook
State of the Union Addresses
by John F. (John Fitzgerald) Kennedy
About the author
Born in Brookline, Massachusetts, on May 29, 1917, he was the second of nine children in the Kennedy family. He graduated from Harvard in 1940, served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and became widely known for his leadership after the PT-109 incident. Before reaching the presidency, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives and then as a U.S. senator from Massachusetts.
In 1961, he became the 35th president of the United States and the youngest man elected to the office. His administration is closely associated with the Cold War, including the Bay of Pigs invasion, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and a major national push toward space exploration. He also supported the Peace Corps and, later in his presidency, more forcefully backed civil rights legislation.
Kennedy wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning book Profiles in Courage and became one of the most recognizable political figures of his era. He was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963, while still in office, ending a presidency that has remained a lasting subject of books, debate, and public memory.