Why is John F. Kennedy famous?


Quick Answer

John F. Kennedy was the 35th president of the United States, and he remains famous for the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty, the Alliance for Progress and his own assassination. He was also an active advocate of civil rights in America.

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Why is John F. Kennedy famous?
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Full Answer

The assassination of John F. Kennedy is likely the most infamous event associated with him. This happened on November 22, 1963 while President Kennedy was riding in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas. He had barely been in office for a thousand days when Lee Harvey Oswald shot him in the head with a rifle. There was a great controversy in the United States about why Oswald assassinated Kennedy and whether anyone else assisted him in the act. Kennedy is also famous for the four nationally televised presidential election debates with Richard Nixon in 1960 that are credited with determining the outcome of the election. Kennedy defeated Richard Nixon in the 1960 presidential election by a thin margin. Audiences said that Kennedy appeared much more relaxed and eager than Nixon. Nixon came across as nervous by fidgeting and sweating. Many people who attended the debate or saw it live declared Kennedy the victor. The Alliance for Progress was a program Kennedy created to help make strong economic ties with Latin America. He hoped it would help halt the spread of communism.

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