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Birth of John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, his parents were Joseph and Rose Kennedy and John F. Kennedy was the second of nine childern. -
John f Kennedy Attends Choate Boarding school
John Kennedy begins high school at Choate, an elite boarding school in Connecticut. Despite his high intelligence and academic potential, John earns only mediocre grades. -
John F. Kennedy Graduates From Harvard
John F. Kennedy graduates from Harvard with a degree in International Affairs. His senior thesis, a critique of Britain's preparedness for World War II, later served as the foundation for his first book. -
John Kennnedy Joins the Navy
On the eve of America's entry into World War II, JFK enlists in the Navy. His older brother, Joe Jr., is already training to be a navy. Also the japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, compelling the U.S. to enter World War II. pilot -
Kennedy's Command of PT Boat
After an eight-week training course in Rhode Island, Kennedy is assigned to take command of a patrol boat stationed in the South Pacific. Kennedy's patrol boat, collides with a Japanese destroyer. Two of his men are killed instantly and John orders all the men to abandon ship and leads them to shore on a nearby island. -
Death of Johns brother Joseph Ker.nedy JR
Joseph Kennedy, Jr., John's older brother, is killed while fighting in Europe. Jack, the second oldest Kennedy child, is now "next in line" for political leadership within the powerful Kennedy clan. -
Kennedy Elected to Congress
John Kennedy wins the Democratic primary for Massachusetts' Eleventh Congressional District. With the help of his father's campaign financing -
John Kennedy with Addison's Disease
John Kennedy is elected to a second term in the House. While on a trip to England, he is diagnosed with Addison's Disease. His condition is kept secret from the public. -
Bobby Kennedy Becomes Campaign Manager
Jack Kennedy's younger brother, Bobby, becomes his campaign manager in the 1952 Senate race. Also John F. Kennedy is elected to the United States Senate. Joe Sr., Jack, and Bobby all consider the Senate seat to be a key step in Jack's political ascendancy. -
John Marriage to Jackie Kennedy
John F. Kennedy marries Jacqueline Bouvier, a beautiful young journalist from a wealthy New England family. -
Failure to Win VP Nomination
At the Democratic National Convention, Jack unsuccessfully vies for the vice presidential spot on Adlai Stevenson's ticket. Another senator, Estes Kefauver, earns the VP nomination -
Birth of Caroline Kennedy
Jack and Jackie's first child, Caroline Kennedy, is born in New York City. -
Kennedy Inaugural
JFK is sworn into the Presidency and delivers his inaugural address, a landmark speech in which he urges Americans to seek out opportunities to serve their country. -
Kennedy-Nixon TV Debate And Kennedy Defeats Nixon in Election
John F. Kennedy is elected the 35th President of the United States, defeating his Republican opponent, Richard Nixon, by a slim margin of only 118,000 votes nationwide. -
Birth of JFK, Jr
Jack and Jackie's second child—and first son—is born. He is named John F. Kennedy, Jr., after his father. -
Bay of Pigs
Less than three months into JFK's presidency, a group of CIA-trained Cuban exiles attempts to invade Cuba at the Bay of Pigs. The Cuban army quickly thwarts their efforts, and the Kennedy-approved fiasco becomes a major embarrassment for the new president. -
Mission to the Moon
Kennedy announces his goal of putting a man on the moon -
Cuban Missile Crisis
JFK is shown photos of Soviet nuclear missile sites being installed in Cuba. To minimize Soviet power in the West, the president initiates a blockade of Cuba the following week. For nearly two weeks, the Cuban Missile Crisis will bring the world closer to nuclear war than ever before or after. -
Civil Rights Movement
In a televised address to the nation, Kennedy proposes the enactment of civil rights legislation, marking his first decisive action on civil rights. -
Death of Patrick Kennedy
Jack and Jackie's third child, Patrick, dies from a lung ailment only two days after his birth. -
John F Kennedy Assassination
Lee Harvey Oswald shoots and kills John F. Kennedy in Dallas, where the president is campaigning for re-election.
