John Fitzgerald Kennedy essays

John Fitzgerald Kennedy essays Its June of 1961 and a wall has just started to be constructed to separate a nation. The United States needs to send a man to spread good will and build unity among Americas allies. Who is this man? Who could be such a diplomat? America sent their 35th President, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Kennedy was a democrat, the first Roman Catholic to hold office, and the youngest President to date. He was educated at Harvard University and The London School of Economics. After graduation he decided to join the navy. As a veteran of World War II, Kennedy received the Purple Heart and the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. JFK began his political career in 1946 when he was elected into the House of Representatives. In 1956 he furthered his career by becoming the Senator of Massachusetts, defeating one of Eisenhowers close supporters. Only three years before had he gotten married to his socialite wife, Jacqueline Bouvier. Although his religion and age were considered major barriers to his presidency, Kennedy won seven primaries; making him the Democratic candidate. He was a supporter of the civil-rights legislation and a prominent internationalist. World War II had ended about twenty years prior and a defeated nation was rebuilding. Germanys growing dissatisfaction with their economic and political conditions pushed them to the breaking point. East Germany is under Soviet control and West Germany is becoming a democratic nation. To separate the poverty stricken West from the rebuilding East, the USSR decided to build a huge wall to keep them divided. Early in the morning of Sunday, August 13, 1961, under the leadership of Erich Honecker, East and West were separated by barbed wire and antitank obstacles. Streets were torn up and barricades of paving stones were erected. Tanks gathered at strategica ...