The Lu Lac Political Letter: The LuLac Edition #3518, May 29th, 2017

JOHN KENNEDY @ 100

Today marks the 100th birthday of President John F. Kennedy. Kennedy shaped many generations. For sure his own. Kennedy was the first President that was born in this century. That was very significant to the World War II generation. Men and women who served in the military as well as those who worked in civilian capacities felt a bond with JFK.
Then there was my generation. Baby boomers who were shaped by his policies, style and charisma. We all remember where we were when his death was announced. His death shaped us culturally in so many ways. It also shaped the way news was covered in the country.

Kennedy’s family always felt that his birthday should be commemorated by most Americans. From the time he died, the family made sure there was coverage of their pilgrimages to the grave site to accentuate that request. But unfortunately most people remember the day he died.
That’s why this year the JFK Library made special care to make sure the Kennedy Legacy was highlighted. A special shout out to the Exploration of Space was highlighted on Sunday. Today the Navy midshipmen will play a prominent role in the ceremonies. Various artifacts are on display of items that were never unveiled by the Library. But the Kennedy Library is not done yet. Various events will be held throughout the rest of the year. Here’s information from the JFK Library website: https://www.jfklibrary.org/
Locally, efforts are continuing to place a statue of Kennedy on JFK Blvd in downtown Pittston. The funding mechanism are in place, plans are being implemented and you'll be hearing more about this as the year goes on.

HIS BIRTH

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, on May 29, 1917. He was the second son of nine children born to the multimillionaire business executive and financier Joseph P. Kennedy (1888–1969) and his wife, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy (1890–1995). Joseph's father had served in the Massachusetts Legislature and in elective offices in Boston, Massachusetts. Rose's father, John Francis Fitzgerald (1863–1950), had been a state legislator, the mayor of Boston, and a U.S. congressman. Joseph himself had served as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, chairman of the U.S. Maritime Commission, and ambassador to Great Britain (1937–40). Thus, the Kennedys were a wealthy family with a history of political and public service.

FORMATIVE YEARS

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was second of the four children of Joseph P. Kennedy and Rose Fitzgerald. While his father was a banker, later serving as the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission and Ambassador to Great Britain, his mother was a debutante.
Born in Brookline, young Kennedy completed his preliminary education from various schools, before the family shifted base to New York. Mischievous and playful, he excelled in English and history - subjects he had profound interest in, but remained a mediocre student overall.
Following his elder brother, Kennedy attended The Chaote School for his higher education. He graduated from the same in 1935 and wished to enrol himself at the London School of Economics. But his constantly failing health forced him to return to America where he sought admission at the Princeton University.
After spending a semester in Princeton, Kennedy moved to Harvard in 1936. His academic life at Harvard was a replica of his former years – he excelled in subjects that he loved but remained an average student on an overall basis due to his diversified interest.
With time, Kennedy developed an interest in political philosophy which made him serious about education. He completed his thesis in 1940 on ‘Appeasement of Munich’, which was so well received that it was turned to a book under the title ‘Why England Slept’. The book became a bestseller. Same year, Kennedy graduated from Harvard with a Bachelor of Science cum laude in international affairs.
Kennedy who would later join the Navy, (his first choice was The Army but he was turned down because of illnesses) become a war hero when in his words “The Japanese sunk my boat”. Politically he served in Congress, The U.S. Senate as well as President. There are many quotes that you can pick out from John Kennedy. But for me, one of my favorites is this one. He once said, ‘Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men”. To me that perfectly summarizes his philosophy of life. For me that is truly a lasting legacy of a man frozen in time. But that eternal flame still burns brightly in the hearts of many Americans who still consider him the reason why they got involved in government or public service. (LuLac, JFK Library, Famous People.com)

(Photos: Life, JFK Library, Edd Raineri, Sunday Dispatch, Look Magazine, LuLac archives).

THROUGH THE YEARS