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Why is J.F.K. such a famous and controversial character today
Why is John F Kennedy such a famous and controversial figure in history?
Jack Kennedy was born into a family already steeped in controversy. His millionaire father, Joseph Kennedy, was reputedly involved in bootlegging in the 1920s during prohibition, and was said to have had links with the mob. He dreamed of a life in politics however after World War 2 broke out he leant politically towards the Axis powers and ruined his chances forever. However, this did not stop the chances of his sons, whom he worked hard to bring into office. He first focussed his attentions on his eldest son, Joe Kennedy Jnr., however he was killed in a plane crash during WW2. However his work did finally pay off, when in 1946, Jack Kennedy was elected as a Democrat to the House of Representatives and later served as a Senator for Masachusetts.
During his time as Senator, JFK allegedly developed links to the mafia himself and was famously associated with the "Rat Pack", which was a group of actors and musicians (eg. Frank Sinatra, his brother-in-law Peter Lawford) who were also connected with the mob. It is also alleged that Frank Sinatra was a "runner-boy" between Kennedy and the mafia during the 1960 Presidential Election campaign.
J.F.K. married his wife, Jacqueline Lee Bouvier in 1953, however he continued to live a swinging lifestyle of drink, jazz and women. This was all, however, a life that remained hidden from the public eye for his entire political career, and was only more well known much after his death. While he was alive he cultivated his "Camelot" image; welcoming media into the whitehouse. He was a young good-looking president with a young good-looking family. They became a kind of "Royal Family" for the American people.
In 1960 he was elected president of the United States after beating Richard Nixon. This election itself was a very controversial one. It was the closest victory ever recorded (with the recent exception of George Walker Bush's controversial "victory" over Democrat, Al Gore). It is also alleged that Kennedy used his mafia links to "buy" the election for him. Despite the allegations, it has to be said he was a very charismatic character. John was a man who was made for television, whereas his opponent Nixon was more geared towards a radio election. This was the first ever televised election and both candidates were in the spotlight. JFK emerged the more charismatic and photogenic of the two, effectively beating Nixon in the first ever televised presidential debate. He was sworn in on the 20th of January 1961 as the first ever Catholic president of the USA. In his Inaugaral Address he said that "the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans". He certainly tried to say that he was going to change things, saying his term was perhaps a "new dawn" for America.
His mob connections and [next page]