John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to as John F. Kennedy, JFK or Jack Kennedy, was the 35th President of the United States. He served from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. A member of the politically prominent Irish-American Kennedy family, he is considered an icon of American liberalism. During World War II, he was cited for exceptional bravery and heroism while rescuing a fellow sailor in the South Pacific. Kennedy served his home state of Massachusetts in the U.S. Congress during 1947–1960, as both a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. He was elected President in 1960, in one of the closest elections in history.
Major events during his presidency included the Bay of Pigs invasion, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the building of the Berlin Wall, the Space Race, early events of the Vietnam War, and the American Civil Rights Movement. In rankings of U.S. presidents, historians usually grade Kennedy above average, but among the general public he is often regarded as among the greatest Presidents. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963. Official investigations later determined Lee Harvey Oswald to be the culprit. His assassination is considered a defining moment in U.S. history because of its traumatic impact on the nation, its impact on the political history of the ensuing decades, Kennedy's status as an icon for a new generation of Americans and American aspirations, and for the mystery and conspiracy allegations that surround his assassination.

President Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis - Examines the controversy that surrounds Kennedy's handling of the international crisis.
Meta Description: [ John Kennedy and the Cuban missile crisis. This gallery contains four case studies and an activity for key stage 3-5 pupils (age 11-18) ]
The Cuban Missile Crisis - Brief history, timeline, and RealAudio recordings from the period.
The Cuban Missile Crisis - From Click2History, an interactive tour of America's archives of actual pictures and Presidential options.
The Real Thirteen Days - Includes photographs of the missile installations, chronology, declassified documents, audio files of White House briefings, and the analysis of contemporary historians.
Meta Description: [ The Hidden History of the Cuban Missile Crisis ]
Vincent Voice Library: President John F. Kennedy - Hear Kennedy's voice as he outlines the U.S. response to the crisis. In RealAudio and MP3 formats.
Meta Description: [ Voice of President John F. Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 ]
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