We all make history just by the mere fact that we exist. However, there are people who seem to have an incredibly¹ huge influence on the course of history and on the lives of millions of people. One of them was the 35th president of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

It is almost impossible to put his life and achievements into a few paragraphs so that you get the right information and don’t get bored at the same time. I’ll try my best! The initials JFK are iconic. Various statistics list John Fitzgerald Kennedy as one of the most popular and respected figures of the 20th century. What do you know about him? Probably this:
•He was an American president.
•His wife Jacqueline was a fashion icon.
•He had an affair with Marilyn Monroe.
•He was assassinated.
•New York’s busiest airport is named after him.

WELL, THERE IS MUCH MORE YOU MIGHT (SHOULD) KNOW:
•John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born on May 29, 1917, into one of the most famous American political families. His father was a businessman and a politician – he was also Ambassador to the United Kingdom for a couple of years.
•JFK had eight brothers and sisters, and some of them became active in public life too.
•He became the 35th president of the United States in January 1961, and he was the youngest president ever elected.
•During his presidency he had to deal with some important political issues involving the Cold War, including the Cuban Missile Crisis, the building of the Berlin Wall, and the space race.
•It is believed that during this period, mankind² was the closest to nuclear war. Kennedy’s ability to deal with the Soviet Union helped prevent nuclear war.
•He supported civil rights and the fight against racial discrimination.
•He was famous for his powerful speeches³.
•He was shot dead on November 22, 1963, on a political trip to Dallas, Texas. His assassination was a national shock comparable to the events of September 11, 2001.
•Although the supposed assassin⁴ was caught and killed, there have been various conspiracy theories about Kennedy’s death.
•When John F. Kennedy was president and especially right after his death, the importance and popularity of television broadcasts grew rapidly as TV sets definitely found their way into people’s households.

TIME TO THINK
•Which of the above facts were new to you?
•Do you know anything about John F. Kennedy that wasn’t mentioned in the text?
 

Miroslava Dubanová

VOCABULARY: 1 neuveriteľne – neuvěřitelně; 2 ľudstvo – lidstvo; 3 prejav, reč – projev, řeč; 4 údajný vrah