It was a dark day in Dallas. Nov. 22, 1963, will live on in infamy as one of the most tragic events in history. The assassination of John F. Kennedy touched hundreds of millions of people around the world, and affected the hearts of many American’s, as well as changed American politics and history.
Nearly 60 years after his death, JFK’s memory and legacy lives strong in people’s minds and hearts, after he galvanized the United States in ways that not many other presidents had done in the past.
The United States in the 60s was a decade of revolution, politics, music and society. Civil rights movements changed daily life for women, black Americans, and young people. Whether it was due to experimentation with new drugs, or the anger over the Vietnam War, the 60s were overwhelming with parties, music, and pop culture, making it one of the most creative periods in modern man’s history.
“With Kennedy’s help there was a sense of hope in the 60s that people had never felt before.” said Ramzi Aladin, 56, a long-time supporter of JFK’s presidency and political policies. “When he was killed, part of the hope died along with him. To this day, there has not been a president nearly as great as JFK.”
JFK was born into the prominent political Kennedy family of Massachusetts. After graduating from Harvard University, and serving in the U.S. Navy, JFK married Jacqueline Kennedy in 1953. As being the youngest president ever to get elected in the United States, JFK and Jacky Kennedy set trends no other couple in White House had done before. They were in the spotlight more similar to celebrities rather than politicians. Both husband and wife set trends on style, etiquette, and they were adored by many across the nation because of the charisma that no other presidential couple held in the past.
JFK was elected in the U.S. Presidential election in 1960, after successfully defeating Vice President Richard Nixon. His personal life was also very publicized through the media, which made him much more relatable to regular Americans than any other president.
His life, presidency, and assassination gave the United States a special place in the world, and helped make it into the dream land of many foreigners.
“There was no president or politician like John F. Kennedy. People of that time adored him so dearly.
“That generation had to first deal with losing Marilyn Monroe, then they lost Kennedy.” Fay Tucker, 49, recalled her mother and aunt telling her stories about the 60s. “For Kennedy to die soon after Monroe died was beyond tragic. That generation lost both their idols.”
Tucker grew up in the affluential Tucker family of Connecticut. “My aunt used to tell me she cried when JFK died. She would say she was never into politics, but it was the poetry of his soul. That’s what hurt.”
At age 46, the 35thPresident of the United States was shot once in the back, and once in the head, by Marxist and former U.S. Marine, Lee Harvey Oswald. Many conspiracy theories continue to surround the death of JFK which remain unsettling for many supporters he had during his life and presidency. Joseph Meena, 78, remembers the fateful day as “the most devasting event that could happen at that time” after living in Maine in the early 60s, during “America’s greatest time”.
At age 19, young Meena voted for the first time in his life for JFK in the fall of 1960 and remained a loving supporter for the rest of his life. “I remember the day Kennedy got elected. Those times will never be forgotten, no matter how old I get. I believe it was the only time Americans and our country were flourishing into something remarkable.”
Meena was on a weekend get-away in New York City at the time of JFK’s assassination. “I saw a newspaper with the sad story and teared up. Nothing was the same after that. Not in America, not in politics, and not in people’s hearts.”
Kennedy brought change and hope of a brighter future to America after many years of war, in-fighting, and battle between the U.S., and other nations. His conversational skills and charisma encouraged more diverse, and young Americans to vote and get involved in politics, which changed U.S. politics for the better.
JFK’s assassination certainly affected many American’s hearts, but history may also have read much differently if that fateful event hadn’t occurred.
Many believed JFK was changing the nation against the wishes of other powerful people in the government. “We need someone we can control. Like Nixon.” As said in NBC series Timelesswhen referring to eliminating JFK because of his different and pure vision he had for the country.
JFK death and legacy helped get the Civil Rights Act approved after LBJ used his mandate from a sympathetic landslide election.
Many Vietnamese citizens, including author Koji Masutani, believe the Vietnam War would not have been as treacherous if JFK had lived. “Kennedy would have sought a more diplomatic solution than Johnson.” Kennedy planned to exit Vietnam as quick as possible without losing a solider. Instead, 58,220 U.S. military personnel died, along with over a million Vietnamese.
Premier Nikita Khrushchev trusted JFK, and after his death, the Soviets returned to an aggressive front in the Cold War. “The Cold War would have been warmer and shorter had Kennedy not been cut down in Dallas.” Said Garry Rodgers of The Huffington Post.
Many lives may have been spared, and much less tears would have been shed if Kennedy lived, and served a full two-term presidency in America’s 1960s.
World leaders and citizens all over the globe mourned, and expressed their grief after hearing the devasting news, including Fidel Castro, British monarchs, leaders in Asia, and more. Many of those countries held memorials and canceled events because of the tragic news.
JFK will forever be known as the greatest president of the 20thcentury in many minds.
As former first-lady, Jacqueline Kennedy said in a post-assassination Lifemagazine interview, “Don’t let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief, shining moment that was known as Camelot. There will be great presidents again… but there will never be another Camelot.”