Kennedy’s creation of the PeaceCorps and his support of the space program were major victories at home during his presidency. Kennedy also helped move forward civil rights efforts.
VOA’s national reporter, Jim Malone, researched and produced an extensive program on President Kennedy for the 50th anniversary of his death. Our own Christopher Cruise spoke with Jim to find out what he learned about America’s 35th president.
Jim, where were you when you heard that the president had been shot?
I was in 3rd grade in an elementary school in Massachusetts. I remember the reactions of family members, especially my parents. When you’re young, I think, that has an incredible impression on you: when you see your parents get sad, when you see your parents break down in tears, then you know something big is happening. And, of course you realize, over time, it was happening to the whole country.
John Kennedy and his children in the Oval Office at the White House in 1962.
Kennedy has a special place. A lot of John Kennedy is tied up in the idea of the hope, the promise, and then a leadership example that inspires people to this day and so people still are inspired by John Kennedy. And the fact that he was struck down in the prime of life: all the photographs, all the films, show him in the prime of his life. It’s almost as though there’s a moment frozen in time.
And a deep and dispassionate look at his presidency would indicate that he probably would not rank in the greatest of presidents.
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2013-11-25
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