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John F. Kennedy was born
John F. Kennedy—known in his family as John—is born in Brookline, Massachusetts, a wealthy suburb of Boston. He is the second of Rose and Joseph Kennedy's nine children. -
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John F. Kennedy
A short brief timeline of John F. Kennedy -
Kennedy contracts scarlet fever
Young Kennedy contracts scarlet fever just before his third birthday and is hospitalized for two months. -
John begins high school at Choate in Wallingford
Jack Kennedy begins high school at Choate, an elite boarding school in Connecticut. Despite his high intelligence and academic potential, Jack earns only mediocre grades. -
Kennedy graduates at Harvard University
John F. Kennedy graduated cum laude, meaning "with praise" from Harvard University with a degree in International Affairs. -
Kennedy published his bestseller "Why England Slept
After graduating from Harvard University, Kennedy published his bestseller "Why England Slept" -
John joined the U.S 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 pilot. -
Kennedy took command of a Patrol Boat, PT-109
After an eight-week training course in Rhode Island, Kennedy is assigned to take command of a patrol boat stationed in the South Pacific. He sails west from San Francisco, but does not arrive at his final destination—the Solomon Islands—for another month and a half. -
JFK's boat, PT-109 was sunk by Japanese destroyer Amagiri
Kennedy's patrol boat, (PT 109, collides with a Japanese destroyer. Two of his men are killed instantly; the remaining crewmembers, including Kennedy himself, are severely injured. John orders all the men to abandon ship and leads them to shore on a nearby island. -
John's brother, Joe Jr., dies from an army operation
Joseph Kennedy, Jr., John's older brother, is killed while fighting in Europe. John, the second oldest Kennedy child, is now "next in line" for political leadership within the powerful Kennedy clan. -
Kennedy's election to Congress
With the help of his father's campaign financing, Jack is elected to the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts' 11th District. -
John was diagnosed Addison's Disease
At the age of 30, John F. Kennedy is diagnosed with Addison's disease, a potentially fatal disorder of the adrenal glands. In order to manage the illness, Jack is prescribed a strict regimen of medications. -
Marriage to Jackie Kennedy
John F. Kennedy marries Jacqueline Bouvier, a beautiful young journalist from a wealthy New England family. -
Kennedy's back surgery
John undergoes risky back surgery to address his excruciating and constant back pain, a legacy of the injuries he suffered when PT 109 was sunk during World War II. During his recovery, he begins work on Profiles in Courage. -
Kennedy's begins his Presidency
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. -
JFK announces the Peace Corps
John F. Kennedy establishes the Peace Corps by executive order. -
Mission to the moon
Kennedy announces his goal of putting a man on the moon. -
Cuban Missle 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
In a televised address to the nation, Kennedy proposes the enactment of civil rights legislation, marking his first decisive action on civil rights. -
JFK Assassination
Lee Harvey Oswald shoots and kills John F. Kennedy with a sniper in Dallas, where the president is campaigning for re-election.