Why do many still consider JFK as great ?

Question

I believe he was headed there , but didn't have the time. Nasa and the Peace Corp what else? LBJ was the one with the so called wefare reform.

Answer 1

JFK was good at public relations. His career was short but full of news. It was the beginning of live coverage. His term was not too long after the war and immediately after Eisenhower. So there was some glamour. But he accomplished little, if anything.

The main thing is the legend. And legends have a way of living longer then fact.

Answer 2

I was in high school, actually in "study hall" hiding an earphone
attached to a transistor radio, and heard the newsflash. I listen for a minute, then just walked to the front of the class and placed my radio on the teachers desk with the volume up and walked home.

It is like "Pearl Harbor" everybody knows where they were the second they heard the news.

JKF was young, realize that in 1963 most all us "baby boomers" were teens. We were so hopeful for our future, I cannot say that enough. Finally a young Pres and a pretty and bright First lady: the "times were a changing".

The world although dangerous (Cuban Missle Crisis) was
exciting: space travel! Wow! Color television! Wow!

His Inaugural Address offered the memorable injunction: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country."

So much hope, the except for the Beatles, life in America turned sad. Well the Beach Boys also helped us heal.

He is a great President for not so much what he did, although he did avoid a nuclear war, but for what he inspired in youth, teens!

I recall everyone crying, teens, kids, old ladies, my parents,
policemen, in history people only are also know for crying openly a FDR's death in 1945.

JFK as they said then "was the first president born in our century", he was the first of the 20th century.

To cut a life short in such a senseless way, by a complete piece of psycho trash is just to sad too bear.

Anyway I wrote this because I was a teen when JFK dies. He inspired my youth to "go forth" and do something. Life was simpler then, things not as complicated, less stress on teens,
we had it so much easier than youth today. Untill Dallas November 22, 1963.

Now I am an olde dude: well it is not that bad, my generation is the first to say "no way' am I gonna act old! Rock & Roll!

But I was a freshman in high school, seems a million years ago,
it was never a political issue with JFK's death: it broke everyones heart. What "could have been" was known from the first day.

The historians can write and talk but it was a sad, sad day for our country.


Best song about JFK?

"Song for a friend" by John Stewart

Written by my friend on Novermber 22, 1963, recorded in a day,
his voice crackles with tears.

Answer 3

JFK and themyth of "Camelot" were perpetrated by the media and hsi family after his untimely demise. ti is another example of the false perceptions put forth by society to create a good feeling. think of the good ol days, in my case my parents implied ti was the 1950s ( i was born in 62) but take time to think what was so great? space race, and nuke race w russia, korean war, womens oppression, racism and a myriad of other issues. others would say the 40s= ww2, 30s= great depression, 20s= prohibition 10s= ww1 and the klan, anytime before you were born was the good ol days and its a fabrication. Kennedy did present soem ideas but LBJ is the oen ythat got them thru congress, which is not an easy task, LBJ still has gotten more legislation passed then any other president. dotn forget JFK started Nam, cheated on his wife and nearly cost us nuke war w russia re cuba, and he also screwed up the bay of pigs, JFK was also a racist and an party boy

Answer 4

Many possible answers e.g., young, handsome, rich, part of the Kennedy dynasty. He was charistmatic, a gifted speaker, had great relations with the press.

Though he served less than 1,000 days in office, much of his legislative proposals stalled in Congress, but was seen as a man who sought change (perhaps characteristic of being born under sign of Gemini?). His speech at the
Berlin Wall "Ich Bien ein Berliner" was dynamic. Likewise, the debates with Nixon revealed him to be not only better informed on issues, but quick to point our what he viewed as viable solutions.

Certainly, Jackie his wife and two surviving children added to the aura of his presidency: much photographed, and quoted. His press conferences were unique: with his quick repartee with the questioner and his "Harvaad" accent i.e., "let me say this about that. etc."

Finally, his assassination, like other prominent individuals i.e., Lincoln; cast him as a martry.

The "tag" of great is not reflected either in his popularity polls (less than 40% approval rating on eve of the assassination).

Historians today still rank JFK as "average". It remains for the wheel of history to turn to see if historians will ever rank him as a "great" President.

Answer 5

For many people who were alive when Kennedy was president, he was an inspirational figure. He spoke well and was naturally witty. Perhaps because of his relative youth, he seemed to give the US a boost in energy. When he was assassinated, not only did he die, but (with the expansion of the Vietnam War) so did many of the idealistic hopes of many young people. Whether it was realistic to connect Kennedy and idealism is a debatable point, but that is another story.

Answer 6

People don't remember the real JFK, they remember the mythic JFK. After his death, and maybe even because of it, JFK went from a patrician pretty boy to a mythic paragon of American virtue. He is not remembered for the actual legistlation he enacted while in office, he is remembered as an ideal character of American values.

Answer 7

How odd JFK died in Texas, How odd that LBJ was from Texas, even Odder was that LBJ was the one person who stood to gain the most from JFK's death...ever wonder why Jackie Kennedy never spoke to LBJ again after he was sworn in....

Answer 8

His was a time of rebellion and turmoil ... however, he managed to keep a level head. He did a lot with the 1000 days he had in office.

Answer 9

He had great press. Photogenic and beautiful first lady. He also had the good fortune to be assassinated. That fact alone made him popular.

Answer 10

I do. LBJ sucked. He was a crook and I know, and everyone who lived in Texas knew it.