The Presidents #35: John F. Kennedy

“And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”  -John F. Kennedy 

“My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”  -John F. Kennedy

Born: May 29, 1917, at his family home in Brookline, Massachusetts
Died: November 22, 1963 in Dallas Texas 
Buried in Arlington National Cemetery (Arlington, Virginia) 

John F. Kennedy served one of the shortest terms of any president, yet his presidency is among the most legendary in American history.  As one of the most written-about presidents in history, it is a challenge to find any information about JFK that feels fresh. I hope this short summary goes a bit beyond the legend and into a few lesser-known realities that shaped JFK and his presidency.

The book "Confronting The Presidents" strips away much of the polished “Camelot” image (that Americans loved) to reveal a far more complicated and physically fragile man. The youthful, athletic president seen playing touch football and sailing off Hyannis Port was, in reality, battling a lifetime of serious illness. 

John F. Kennedy was exceptionally sickly as a child. He was frail and prone to infections. His family joked that a mosquito biting him would die from his blood. He nearly died from scarlet fever at age two, which turned out to be the first of at least five times he received the last rites during his life. 

As an adult, he suffered from chronic back pain, digestive disorders, and adrenal insufficiency, later linked to Addison’s disease. He relied on daily medications and frequent treatments, all carefully hidden to preserve an image of strength and vitality.

Those private health battles affected more than his daily schedule. They gave Kennedy empathy for wounded veterans and people living with invisible pain. The famous rocking chair and hammock in his office were coping tools that helped him function through long days spent on civil rights, nuclear testing, and the Cold War.

The Kennedy family itself played an indisputable role in shaping who JFK became. It is well known that he grew up as the second of nine children in an extremely competitive household overseen by Joseph and Rose Kennedy. His father viewed politics as a family destiny. It is well documented that the original heir apparent was JFK’s older brother, Joe Jr., whose death in World War II shifted the family’s focus and expectations directly onto the second son, whom they called Jack. That loss, combined with his father’s relentless ambition, pushed Kennedy toward public life even when his health and more reflective nature might have guided him elsewhere.

O’Reilly also explores Kennedy’s complicated personal life. While Jacqueline Kennedy became a global symbol of elegance, their marriage was far from a fairy tale. JFK carried on numerous extramarital relationships, even during his presidency. These affairs created serious personal and national security risks that were never publicly acknowledged at the time, further underscoring the gap between image and reality. 

Further behind the glamour and public image, John and Jacqueline Kennedy also shared profound personal joys and heartbreaking loss. They welcomed two children who survived to adulthood, Caroline and John F. Kennedy Jr., who became enduring symbols of the young family in the White House. Far less visible to the public were the tragedies they endured. The Kennedys lost two infants, including their son Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, who was born prematurely in August 1963 and lived for only two days. His death devastated both parents and occurred just months before the president’s assassination. These private losses added another layer of emotional strain to a presidency already marked by immense pressure, reminding us that behind the iconic photographs was a young family coping with grief while living under the constant gaze of the world.

As president, Kennedy projected calm confidence, especially during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Behind the scenes, however, the book emphasizes how close the world truly came to nuclear war, with back-channel negotiations and intense pressure that tested Kennedy physically and emotionally.

Perhaps most striking is how carefully Kennedy’s public image was managed. The charm, wit, and youthful glow masked exhaustion, pain, and the constant need for medical care. 

The recent passing of Caroline Kennedy’s daughter, Tatiana Schlossberg, at just 35 years old from a rare form of leukemia, has added yet another heartbreaking chapter to the long and tragic history of the Kennedy family, a reminder that even generations later, loss continues to touch this famous family.

Fun Fact:
A polished coconut shell sat on JFK’s Oval Office desk as a paperweight. It bore a carved message from World War II, when he used the coconut to send for help after his PT-109 boat sank, saving him and his crew. 

The coconut is now part of the permanent collection at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, Massachusetts. 

 

Carol Williams

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