John Fitzgerald Kennedy

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John Fitzgerald Kennedy


Kennedy, John Fitzgerald (1917-1963), was the youngest man ever elected president, and he was the youngest ever to die in office. He was shot to death on Nov. 22, 1963, after two years and 10 months as chief executive. The world mourned Kennedy's death, and presidents, premiers, and members of royalty walked behind the casket at his funeral. Kennedy was succeeded as president by Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson.



Early life

Family background. John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the second son of Joseph Patrick Kennedy (1888-1969) and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy (1890-1995). The president's ancestors were Irish farmers of Wexford County in southeastern Ireland. His great-grandfather, Patrick Kennedy, left Ireland during the great potato famine of the 1840's and settled in Boston. The president's grandfather, Patrick J. Kennedy, became a state senator and the political "boss" of a ward in Boston.

The president's mother also came from a political family. Her father was John F. ("Honey Fitz") Fitzgerald, a colorful politician. Fitzgerald served in the state senate and the United States House of Representatives. He also served as mayor of Boston for two terms.

Joseph P. Kennedy, the president's father, was a self-made millionaire. During the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, he served as the first chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and as U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Boyhood. Kennedy was born on May 29, 1917, in Brookline, Massachusetts, a Boston suburb. The other eight Kennedy children were Joseph, Jr. (1915-1944), who was killed in World War II; Rosemary (1918-...); Kathleen (1920-1948); Eunice (1921-...); Patricia (1924-...); Robert F. (1925-1968), who became attorney general under his brother and then served as U.S. Senator from New York from 1965 until his assassination; Jean (1928-...); and Edward M. "Ted" (1932-...), who has served as a U.S. Senator f...