John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Birth-Death: (1917 - 1963 ) Term: (1961-1963 )

President Kennedy fiercely addressed two domestic issues. He launched numerous programs designed to help stimulate the economy and expand its global economic influence. His programs resulted in the longest sustained expansion the U.S. had experienced after World War II. His second motivation was the quest for human equality and civil rights, both at home and abroad.

Domestic Events of John Kennedy

    The election of John F. Kennedy showed the even split between the Democrats and the Republicans during the 1960s. The platforms of the two parties did not differ much throughout the campaign, both favored civil rights and federal aid in financing the health programs. Overall Kennedyıs margin of victory was less than one fifths of one percent of one electoral vote; he had a noticeable majority in the electoral vote though (303 to 219). Kennedy was the first Catholic and the youngest President ever elected. He was 43 when he took office.

    In March of 1961 Congress approved a bill which created Peace Corps. Peace Corps put American citizens side by side with needy people in third world nations in Africa, Asia, and South America. The first year the program had about three thousand volunteers and it has grown since then. Altogether, it was a great success.

    President Kennedy was assassinated by the infamous Lee Harvey Oswald in 1963. His Vice President, Lyndon Johnson, was inaugurated the new President of the United States.