25 Defining Days: John F. Kennedy

Welcome to Part Thirty-Four. It’s time for the president who brought the world to the brink, the president whose assassination keeps us guessing over sixty years later. Let’s dive into the administration of John F. Kennedy.

Inauguration- 20th January 1961

John F. Kennedy was inaugurated on this day. He was sworn in at the East Portico of the Capitol Building by Chief Justice Earl Warren. Kennedy’s inauguration speech was relatively brisk at 1,364 words and contained the famous line ‘Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.’ The weather was famously cold, with eight inches of snow hitting in the morning and the noon temperature clocking in at 22F/-6C. Frank Sinatra and Peter Lawford (who was also Kennedy’s brother-in-law) hosted a major pre-inaugural party with a glittering guest list that included Bette Davis, Nat King Cole and Sir Laurence Olivier. Sammy Davis Jr. was famously uninvited as he had just married a white woman. The actual inaugural ball was held at the National Guard Armory.

Peace Corps is founded- 1st March 1961

The Peace Corps was founded on this day. The aim was to help American soft power by sending young Americans abroad to help poor communities. Kennedy appointed his brother-in-law Sargent Shriver as the programme’s first director. The Peace Corps still exists today, though not without controversy.

Yuri Gagarin orbits the Earth- 12th April 1961

Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin successfully orbited the Earth on this day. His lap around the planet in the manned Vostok 1 flight and subsequent successful return made him a hero not only in the Soviet Union, but the world. His popularity was so great that Kennedy barred him from entering the United States. Gagarin remained a hugely popular figure until his tragic death during a training flight in 1968.

Alan Shephard in space- 5th May 1961

Alan Shephard became the first American in space on this day. The Mercury-Redstone 3/Freedom 7 left Earth for fifteen minutes, though Shephard did not leave orbit. Despite the excitement of the successful mission, the wind had been taken out of their sails by Gagarin’s mission less than a month before. It was nevertheless a giant step in the Space Race. Shephard remained with NASA and managed to walk on the moon during the Apollo 14 mission.

Bay of Pigs Invasion fails- 20th April 1961

The Bigs of Pay Invasion failed on this day. Devised by Dwight D. Eisenhower, it was continued by Kennedy. The aim was to remove Castro from power. Trained Cuban exiles arrived into the country on the 17th and were met by the country’s armed forces. Several factors played into the loss: the locals didn’t join the exiles, the lack of soldiers in the invasion force, poor planning and Kennedy pulling air support at the last minute. Over one-hundred exiles and Americans were killed, and over two-thousand Cuban soldiers and militiamen. Over one-thousand men were imprisoned. It was a major victory for Fidel Castro and a huge embarrassment for Kennedy. Relations were even more soured between the two nations.

First meeting with Khrushchev- 3rd June 1961

Kennedy met Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev for the first time on this day. It was the Vienna Summit in Austria. The first meeting did not go well. Khrushchev thought that Kennedy was young and inexperienced, and pressured and bullied him during the event. Kennedy did not think much of the Soviet Premier either. Still, they would be very much forced together over the next few years.

Construction begins on the Berlin Wall- 13th August 1961

Construction began on the Berlin Wall on this day. East Germany was worried about many of their citizens defecting to the West, and thus built the wall to prevent this. Soon, the Berlin Wall became the physical symbol of the Iron Curtain and the Cold War. Over twenty-eight years, thousands attempted to defect, with some succeeding and others not- some dying in the attempt.

‘Happy Birthday, Mr. President’- 19th May 1962

On this day, Marilyn Monroe sang ‘Happy Birthday, Mr. President.’ John F. Kennedy sat in the front row of Madison Square Garden as Marilyn Monroe wished him an early happy birthday via song, all whilst wearing a skintight dress designed by Bob Mackie and Jean Louis. As one might imagine, Jackie Kennedy was not present. There are a lot of rumours that the pair had a night together, though it was more like that she spent time with Robert Kennedy. When Marilyn Monroe died just over two months later, it created a lasting rumour that the Kennedys were involved.

‘We choose to go to the moon’- 12th September 1962

Kennedy delivered his famous moon speech on this day. At the stadium at Rice University, Texas, Kennedy spoke proudly about his ambition for America to land on the moon. The most famous, often repeated line ‘We choose to go to the Moon. We choose to go to the Moon… We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard’ is one of the most recognised in the Kennedy lexicon. As we sadly know, Kennedy never lived to see that dream come true.

James Meredith enters Ole Miss- 1st October 1962

James Meredith became the first African-American to enroll at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) on this day. He had managed to enroll at the previously segregated university through the help of the NAACP. The announcement of his enrollment caused riots at the university, killing two people, and forced Kennedy to send federal troops to quell it. Meredith was escorted to class by federal officials. He suffered from racism and ostracism but graduated in 1963. In 1966, Meredith was shot by a protester but survived. Meredith is still alive at the time of writing.

Kennedy learns of missiles on Cuba- 16th October 1962

Kennedy discovered evidence of missiles on Cuba was uncovered on this day. Photographs from reconnaissance pilot Richard Heyser uncovered them two days before, and Kennedy was shown the pictures on the 16th. He informed his brother, and a meeting was soon called. A blockade ensued.

Address to the nation- 22nd October 1962

Kennedy addressed the nation on the ongoing crisis on this day. He telephoned leaders from allied countries as well as former president Eisenhower. Kennedy then addressed the nation, explaining the situation and outlining his plan.

Readiness alert is raised to DEFCON 2- 26th October 1962

The readiness alert was raised to DEFCON 2 ‘Fast Pace’ on this day. Bombers and missiles were put on immediate alert, ready to deploy at any second. This is the only time in US history that they’ve ever put DEFCON that high. It is widely said to have been the closest America- and the world- have ever got to nuclear war. Years later, Robert McNamara discovered that there were way more missiles than they’d first known and nearly collapsed in shock.

An agreement is reached- 27th October 1962

An agreement was finally reached between the Russians/Cubans and the Americans on this day. Kennedy agreed to remove the missiles from Turkey and other locations in exchange for Khrushchev doing the same in Cuba. The Cold War was not getting hot.

Letter From a Birmingham Jail- 16th April 1963

Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. published an open letter from his cell in a Birmingham, Alabama jail. King had been arrested for his peaceful protests in the city. In the letter, King discussed the Civil Rights movements, prison conditions and the role of white people in the community. It’s regarded as an extremely important part of the Civil Rights movement.

Stand in the Schoolhouse Door- 11th June 1963

The famous Stand in the Schoolhouse Door occurred on this day. Governor George Wallace, one of the nation’s most prominent segregationists, stood in the door of the auditorium of the University of Alabama to prevent two African-American students from entering. An angry Kennedy federalised the Alabama National Guard under a 19th century law and had Guard General Henry V. Graham tell Wallace to move. It worked, allowing the students to enter. Wallace became a household name. He ran for the presidency in 1968, winning five states as well as a faithless elector in North Carolina. His run in 1972 ended after he was shot and paralysed and his attempt to run as a Democrat in 1976 also failed.

Medgar Evers is assassinated- 12th June 1963

Civil Rights activist Medgar Evers was assassinated on this day. He had been rejected by Ole Miss in 1954 and had continued his activism since. Evers usually had police and federal protection, but there were none on this day. As he got out of his car in the driveway of his home in Jackson, he was struck by a single bullet. Evers was taken to hospital. Initially refused because of his race, he became the first black man to be treated at a white Mississippi hospital. He died a few weeks later and was buried at Arlington. The killer, Byron De La Beckwith, was tried twice in 1964 but both juries were deadlocked. Thirty years later, he was again arrested and found guilty this time. He died in prison in 2001.

‘Ich bin ein Berliner’- 26th June 1963

Kennedy delivered his famous ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ speech on this day. In front of West Berlin’s state senate building, he spoke out against communism and in favour of better relations. ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ translates to ‘I am a Berliner.’ A popular story states that Kennedy said ‘I am a jelly doughnut,’ but this is not true. The speech is one of Kennedy’s most famous.

Patrick Kennedy dies- 9th August 1963

Patrick Kennedy, the infant son of John and Jackie Kennedy, died on this day. Jackie had already miscarried and had a stillbirth in the 50s before the births of John and Caroline. Whilst on holiday, Jackie went into premature labour. Patrick Bouvier Kennedy was born over a month early at an air force base hospital on the 7th August. Jackie never got to hold her son, who was rushed to Boston Children’s Hospital. The baby boy died on the 9th, having been diagnosed with infant respiratory distress syndrome. Observers stated that this tragic event brought Kennedy and Jackie closer together, all the sadder knowing what was to come soon. Patrick was initially buried with the stillborn Arabella in Brookline, but they were re-interred with their father in 1963.

March on Washington- 28th August 1963

Martin Luther King led the March on Washington on this day. Around 250,000 marched to the Lincoln Memorial to advocate for civil rights. African-American activists and celebrities included Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier and Sammy Davis Jr. Non-blacks included Charlton Heston, Paul Newman and Marlon Brando. Martin Luther King delivered the final speech, the famous ‘I Have A Dream.’ It is one of the most famous protests in American history and a significant part of the Civil Rights movement.

16th Street Baptist Church bombing- 15th September 1963

The 16th Street Baptist Church bombing happened on this day. That morning, several members of the KKK planted a stick of dynamite under the church steps in Birmingham. An anonymous caller rang the church and warned ‘three minutes’ before hanging up. Only a minute later, a blast reverberated through the church. Four teen and pre-teen girls were killed, many were injured and the church was all but destroyed. The murder of four children horrified many. Two black teens were killed in the chaos afterward. Future Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was near the church and heard it happen, and was also a friend of one of the victims. Despite the perpetrators being named in 1965, nothing was done for some time. The efforts of the Alabama Attorney General saw one of the perpetrators jailed in 1977. The next two were convicted in 2001, the final one having been killed in 1994.

Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty goes into effect- 10th October 1963

The Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty went into effect on this day, having been signed by America and other powers in August. The treaty banned the non-underground testing of nuclear weapons. 126 countries have signed and ratified the treaty, which has been successful in banning non-underground testing since 1980.

Assassination of President Diem of South Vietnam- 2nd November 1963

Ngo Dinh Diem, President of South Vietnam, was assassinated by Vietnamese soldiers in a CIA-backed coup on this day. Diem and his brother were in a convoy when the soldiers escorting them suddenly attacked, shooting and stabbing both men. The reasons for the assassination were varied, but the Americans had become disenchanted with Diem and believed that he had too much popular power and would start another civil war. The Vietnamese believed that Diem was becoming too dictatorial and that his attacks on Buddhists were wrong. Kennedy, who believed Diem would have been instead evacuated, was horrified. The assassination of Diem left South Vietnam in a weakened state and left America more entrenched in the war.

Arrives in Texas- 21st November 1963

John F. Kennedy and his entourage arrived in Texas on this day. The state had been reliably Democrat but as the country headed towards the 1964 election, there were signs of trouble. Kennedy’s Civil Rights programme was unpopular in the South and conservative Democrat Governor John Connally seemed to be breaking from the administration. A trip to Texas was thus decided. Jackie Kennedy, still grieving Patrick, decided to go, even though she hated politics. This was a boon for Kennedy, as his wife was incredibly popular. They landed near Fort Worth, with the Johnsons, Connolly and Senator Ralph Yarborough

Assassinated- 22nd November 1963

John F. Kennedy was assassinated on this day. That morning, he and Jackie had breakfast at that hotel and delivered a speech before they flew to Dallas. The motorcade left Love Field at 11:15. The Kennedys were in the same car as Governor and Mrs. Connally, and the Johnsons a few cars behind. The car was heading down Dealey Plaza when three shots rang out. One missed. The second went through his back and through his neck, the third went through the back of his head. One of them also went through Connally before finishing at his thigh. The Secret Service had wanted a top over the car, but Kennedy said that the people of Dallas wanted to see Jackie. The First Lady started to climb out of the car, but Agent Clint Hill jumped from the vehicle behind and guided her back in. They were rushed to the nearby Parkland Memorial Hospital. Doctors immediately assessed Kennedy as mortally wounded but went through the motions to help. A priest was called to give the Last Rites. At 1PM, John F. Kennedy was pronounced dead. His press secretary announced it half an hour later. Plans to bring Kennedy back to D.C. were stopped by a Texas law that mandated an autopsy, but a compromise was reached. On the plane home, Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in beside a blood-stained Jackie. In Dallas, a young man named Lee Harvey Oswald killed a police officer before being arrested as the shooter. Air Force One landed back near D.C. with a new president on board. President Kennedy is buried at Arlington with Jackie, Arabella and Patrick. Kennedy is ranked highly by historians and the public alike, though he is the beneficiary of a lot of sympathy.

That’s it for John F. Kennedy! Tune in next week for Lyndon B. Johnson, in which we’ll see him deal with The Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam and the Great Society.