After our discussion of George W Bush, I present a subject on one John F Kennedy.

 

 

Now this man is a man who died a tragic and horrible death, who many people idolized to the 'n'th degree and feel is one of the great American martyrs.

 

There is also another school feeling that Kennedy was a deeply flawed man, a man who did a lot of things wrong for this nation.

 

Lastly there is a school of thought somewhere in the middle.

 

 

Let's have another great debate folks.

JFK lived the life of a Kennedy. High risk, high reward. Always one of the most perplexing and amazing families to study.

 

JFK did a lot for this country. He, if only as a figurehead, proved to us that we could beat the Soviets at their own game. Even if they reached outer space first, JFK pushed the space program to new heights. His legacy is the space program. He really made sure that the space race was at the center of the public's eye rather then keeping it a highly militaristic operation.

 

The Cuban Missile Crisis. Most people criticize him for this. I, however, do not. He showed the Soviets he wasn't here to play games with this show of power.

 

 

For all his faults, of which there were many, no President of the time or ever is really outside of it. Eisenhower had a mistress. FDR had one. Clinton. Most presidents throughout our history have had some extramarital affair, especially in this modern age of technology. So if you are going to fault JFK for this, fault every president for it. If you are going to fault any illicit drug use or otherwise, fault Dubya and many other Presidents.

 

 

JFK as a war hero is amazing. The guy was born into not the greatest physical ability. But after his PT boat was sunk he managed to carry his men and swim for the shore. No one can fault his courage or bravery.

 

But most of all, JFK may have been the most American of presidents to take office. He was young, idealistic, a yearn for power. He lived the high life. He took a lot of risks. His most fatal one was his campaign mistake of wanting to be in an open air convertable without any glass protection because he wanted to be closer to the American people.

 

JFK was not the greatest. But he was the martyr that pushed this country's movement into the Space Age with his memory!

I thought he was an alright President. However, I thought that his stance on the USSR was not too smart, and far too hard-line.

 

I did think that his handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis was excellent.

 

Of course, he was the first President to try and help the Civil Rights movement. He did a lot more to help the Civil Rights movement than Truman and Eisenhower combined.

 

His greatest achievement might very well be the creation of the Space Race, something that he probably doesn't get enough credit for.