Nathaniel+Woodman+Speech+09

John F. Kennedy touched many lives because of many reasons, but I think his most important accomplishments that make him special are founding the Peace Corps., writing a Pulitzer Prize winning book, saving his crew in WWII, and as President of the United States, staring down the USSR in the Cuban Missile Crisis. First I'll talk about his life from a rich boy to a Leiutenant to the 35th president. Jack was born on May 29, 1917 to Joe and Rose Kennedy. The Kennedys were, and still are probably one of the richest families in the US. Joe Sr, Jack's dad, was an investor. They also have a big family with 9 children.  Even during the Depression, they didn't lose a penny.

John was a very sickly child. In the 1930s, he was treated for many diseases, such as colitis, leukemia, and appendicitis. His serious illnesses didn't stop him from enrolling in Harvard College, one of the best colleges in the country. In 1940, he graduated //cum laude//(with honor) from Harvard with a degree in international affairs.

In 1941, Jack enrolled in the U.S Navy and soon became Lt. Kennedy. On August 2, 1943, Jack's boat, the //PT-109//, was rammed by a Japanese destroyer by New Georgia in the Solomon Islands in the Pacific. Even though he had a back injury, he towed a wounded man from the boat to an island 3.5 miles away. Jack wrote on a coconut for help, and in a matter of time, he and his crew got help. Lt. Kennedy was rewarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Purple Heart, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.

Joe Sr the dad, hoped that Joe Jr, the oldest brother of Jack would be in politics and be president. But J.J died in an during WWII, so J.S depended on his 2nd oldest, you know who. First Jack became a U.S. Representative and then a U.S. Senator. In 1956, he published //Profiles in Courage//, a book describing eight instances in which U.S. Senators risked their careers by standing by their personal beliefs. The book was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 1957. The Pulitzer Prize is an award for books.

In 1960, Jack decided to run for president of the USA. As President, he accomplished many things. First, the Peace Corps. Through this program, Americans volunteer to help underdeveloped nations in areas such as education, farming, health care and construction. Second, Kennedy sought to contain communism in Latin America by establishing the Alliance for Progress, which sent foreign aid to troubled countries in the region and set up greater human rights standards in the region. Third, he said that America should win the space race, which was when the US and USSR were trying to go into space and land on the moon. He promised that America would land on the moon by 1970. Fourth, The Cuban Missile Crisis. Thr Russians were secretly sending parts of //**__Nuclear Missiles__**// to Cuba. Cuba was only a few miles away from Florida, which means that the USSR could easily bomb Miami, New York, Chicago, L.A., or worse, Washington D.C. Jack found out about the Soviet plans. But instead of bombing the USSR and possibly causing WWIII, he ordered the Navy to "quarintine" or surround Cuba for 13 days. USSR eventually stopped the construction and the US stopped the quarantine on Cuba.

Jack's life ended tragically. On November 22, 1963, Jack, Jackie, the Governor of Texas and his wife were in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas. Lee Harvey Oswald assasinated Jack. On the 25th at the funeral, representatives from over 90 countries, including the __Soviet Union__, came to the funeral. Jack left a big legacy. He has freeways, museums, buildings, and airports named after him. Jack kept his promise that the US would land on the moon by the 70s. Apollo 11 landed on the moon in 1969. John F. Kennedy was, and still, is a person who touch many lives.

Fin