Can John F Kennedy be classified as one of the great US Presidents?

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Can John F Kennedy be classified as one of the great US Presidents?

John F. Kennedy was the president of the United States. He was also the

youngest president and the first Roman Catholic. Although he was only in

power for 2 years and 10 months his legacy still lives on today, through books,

images, buildings and numerous conspiracy theories. American society over

the years has portrayed him as an American Hero fighting for peace and

justice. The media have cultivating this image of, "The Camelot legend." After

his assassination on 22nd November 1963 the myth of Kennedy was formed.

The legend developed as a means to elevate alleviate peoples suffering and shock,

Kennedy went down in history as one of the most important presidents. He

was seen as the mirror of American Culture, the all- American man and with

his death, some say his career took off. Polls after his death saw Kennedy as

being the most popular president, beating the likes of George Washington or

Abraham Lincoln. Undeniably Kennedy was a great leader, with an appealing

personality but his achievements during his presidency have become matters

of much debate. He did do great work to force soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev

to back down in the Cuban Missile Crisis and also is famous for initiating the

space programme. This aside, "Even a well informed person in the street

would have difficulties in naming a single historical event or achievement

which can be credited to JFK."1

It is Kennedy's character and private life that

captured the public's imagination not his political career as such. The Myth

which has developed around Kennedy has left historians, 40 years after his

assassination still arguing whether or not he was one of the great US

presidents.

When Kennedy became president in 1961 he was faced with a difficult task.

The country was in the midst of the fourth recession, which was putting a

huge strain on the economy and mass unemployment. He was in the midst of

the Cold war between communism and democracy. Americans were

beginning to lose their faith in the presidency [KY1]and needed someone like

Kennedy, a fresh, young face to promise hope for the future. A promise for the

future is what Kennedy did. In his inaugural speech he asked the nation to

come together to fight, "The the "common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty,

disease, and war itself."2 Kennedy's main enemy was communism which

became a constant throughout his presidency. He came to power with the

great promise of "A New Frontier" and a better future for Americans.

John F Kennedy's first year in office brought much success as he was able to

pass important acts through Congress. He increased the minimum wage,

passed a housing bill and granted government aid to areas of the country

more economically depressed. These acts helped build on his popularity as

people saw him as a caring president who was carrying out his promise of "a

New Frontier." Kennedy's first major accomplishment as president was

bringing in the Peace Corps, a charity organisation which he campaigned for

during his pre election period. The Peace Corps was the idea of sending

young Americans to volunteer abroad to work in poorer countries. This

appealed to the younger idealists by trying to encourage America to take an

active role in poverty and to increase Americas influence in the Third World.

Also the aim of the Peace Corps was to, "Educate "educate America about the world
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and the world about America."3 This idea was supported by the nation on a

whole and also the media. However, Richard Nixon stated that the Peace

Corps is, "a program which looks good on the surface but which is inherently

dangerous."4 This aside the Peace Corps was created and is still flourishing

today. It is seen as one of Kennedy's great successes as it has aided many

countries suffering poverty and providing valuable educational lessons for

Americans. Kennedy was able in his first year to set ...

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