Why is John F.Kennedy remembered so fondly?

Question

Is america no longer capable of producing such hero? Can you support your answers with evidence(s).thnks. if you're not too busy, post a link or two.

Answer 1

He was a legitimate war hero, who saved his comrades after the sinking of his PT boat in WWII. This was before it became acceptable (among some) to attack the record of a man who actually served heroically in combat. Sometimes I think that if it was 30 years later, the Republicans would have claimed that he sunk his boat on purpose to advance his future political career.

Secondly, he guided us through the Cuban Missile Crisis and stood down the Soviets without a nuclear war. Clearly that was the most perilous moment in the history of the world and he led us through it.

Thirdly, he represented hope in the future of the generation that fought WWII. He was the first modern example of what we now call a "rock star" in the Presidency, was wildly popular abroad and perfectly exemplified American idealism, optimism, enterprise, might and prestige.

Also, unlike pretty much every other President, he was genuinely funny, incredibly quick on his feet and witty. People were proud that he was our President. If you wtach some of the old press conferences, you see how he had them eating out of his hand (somewhat similar to Reagan in the 80's).

Finally, there is always the idealized notion of what he might have achieved. He was a very young man, only 46, when he was killed, and almost certainly would have had 5 more years as President had he lived. No one will ever know what he could have achieved in those lost years.

Answer 2

I think we're more cynical as a nation now. We're incapable of believing that someone might just want to make a difference. Our opinions are colored by our societal need for dirt and gossip. If you read this forum carefully, for instance, you'll notice that the complaints about the candidates for the 2008 Presidential election have very little to do with the issues; they're all personal. Hillary's ugly or a b*tch, Obama is a "terrorist" (or the "n" word), Giuliani's been divorced a hundred times, etc., etc., etc. No one talks about their stance on any issue and has intelligent debate as to why THOSE things make each person a good or bad candidate for President. Politics has become little more than entertainment in this country. We've lost our respect for the process. We dig for dirt about our President's sex life and air it on international television and then wonder why we're not respected by other nations. We are the only country that tries to attack our own President. We are spoiled and walk around with a sense of blithe entitlement - the world owes us something simply because we say it does.

I love my country, but what we've become as a people shows very little respect to what this country is supposed to be - COULD be.

I'd like to see all that fall away, and I'd love for people to focus on important issues, and not things like whether or not a Presidential candidate is a closet lesbian.

Answer 3

JFK had a charismatic personality that he could sell freezers to the Eskimos. However there were still questions about his leadership, he almost got us into a shooting war with the Soviets. His direction into Vietnam.

The undisclosed problems of his health, his womanizing etc. If known would have caused problems for a second term. With the rife between Bobby and J. Edgar it could have been possible.

His assignation made this all mute, he became a martyr for the nation to idealize.

Answer 4

The difference between then and now is that now we have the 24-7 news media watching every one with a magnifying glass. JFK would have been caught in some of his extra-marital affairs if he was the subject of such scrutiny as politicians have now. He is remembered as the King of "Camelot" with Jackie as his Queen. His assassination made him to be remembered as "forever young" despite of his health issues that came to light only after Jackie died.

Answer 5

Oh No, I don't look at JFK as an American hero... he did no more than a lot of other presidents.. JFK stopped Russia from launching missiles at us from Cuba but what president wouldn't have done that? He had several people killed, as does other members of his family. Look at Marilyn Monroe!! That was clearly a assisted "suicide". He wasn't a great man!! People of those days were completely brainwashed to love that man.

Answer 6

He is a great American tragedy, a young man, a father and a widely popular president struck down in the prime of his life.

Answer 7

Hold on a sec... JFK is no hero. That being said, he was beloved by the youth in America. Had he not been assassinated, the history books would remember him quite differently.

Answer 8

He is remembered fondly, not as a great president, but because he was young, handsome, and was killed. In fact it was his inabilities that made the USSR think they could put missiles in Cuba, but thankfully it was that same inability that didn't escalate the crisis.

I think if he hadn't died in office he wouldn't be remembered as fondly.

Answer 9

He was very charismatic. He had an ability to move people with his speaking skills, he was young, and considered handsome. He was a poster boy, so to speak. His assassination is what immortalized him - otherwise he'd be remembered differently.

Answer 10

Young, bright, good speaker, camelot, hope for the future, intrigue with wealth, a beautiful, young wife, a martyr.