American Experience

Highlights from The Kennedys web site include:

• get a historian's perspective on President Kennedy's health and his legacy
• access a timeline tracking the rise of America's most famous political family
• see a gallery of photos taken at the Kennedys' Cape Cod compound
• find out who's who in a Kennedy family tree

Overview
Born: May 29, 1917; Brookline, Massachusetts...John Kennedy was the nation's first Roman Catholic president...Forever enshrined in myth by an assassin's bullet, Kennedy's presidency long defied objective appraisal. Recent assessments have revealed an administration long on promise and vigor, and somewhat lacking in tangible accomplishment. His proposals for a tax cut and civil rights legislation, however, promised significant gains in the months before his assassination. While maturation, as evidenced in the handling of the Cuban missile crisis, was apparent, the potential legacy of the New Frontier will forever be left to speculation... Died: November 22, 1963 (Kennedy was the first president to have died before his parents).

Did you know? - Read some fun facts about John F. Kennedy

The Era

• Soviets erect the Berlin Wall (1961)
• Freedom Riders challenge segregation on interstate buses (1961)
• Mao's Great Leap Forward ends in China (1961)
• Rachel Carson publishes Silent Spring (1962)
• March on Washington for civil rights (1963)

World Timeline - See a timeline of world events during John F. Kennedy's administration.

Extended Biography
Access in-depth biographical materials for John F. Kennedy.

• Early Career
• Domestic Politics
• Foreign Affairs
• Presidential Politics
• Legacy

Additional Resources
Explore bonus materials for John F. Kennedy, including primary sources, audio interviews, television program transcripts, and in-depth teacher's guides.

• Vote on the Issues
• Primary Sources


• Teacher's Guide
• The Film & More