With his movie star looks and beautiful young family, John F. Kennedy was the picture-perfect president of the television era. But some critics said he was too young and inexperienced to be president in a dangerous Cold War world. Were they right? Larry Elder recounts the remarkable political ascent of JFK.

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Script:
On the morning of November 22, 1963, the United States was at the peak of its power. It dominated the world in every respect—militarily, economically, and culturally. Nothing seemed out of America’s reach, even the moon.

The man guiding the ship of state was movie-star handsome, youthful (only 46), and always seemed to know what to say and how to say it.

That man was John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States.

JFK was born just outside of Boston on May 29, 1917, the second of nine children. His father, Joe Kennedy, made a fortune trading stocks, selling whiskey, and financing movies. A noted philanderer, his affair with actress Gloria Swanson was the stuff of Hollywood legend.

He parlayed his financial success into political success, eventually serving as Franklin Roosevelt’s ambassador to Great Britain.

Joe expected much from his sons, but most especially from his eldest son, Joe, Jr.

When young Joe died in Europe during World War II, the burden of the father’s ambitions fell on his second son.

But there was no certainty that John, known to his family and friends as “Jack,” would survive the war.

Some months earlier, when his PT boat was rammed by a Japanese destroyer in the South Pacific, it was assumed that he and his entire crew had been killed. But through Kennedy’s heroic efforts, all but two were rescued.

For his bravery, Jack was awarded the Purple Heart.

Living up to his father’s expectations and using the connections of his maternal grandfather, John “Honey Fitz” Fitzgerald—a former mayor of Boston—Kennedy was elected as a Democrat to Congress in 1946.

Kennedy was just 29.

But he already had his eyes on a bigger prize. In 1952 he was elected to the U.S. Senate.

One year later, he married the beautiful socialite, Jacqueline Bouvier. Their wedding was the major event of the 1953 social season. There were 700 guests at the ceremony and 1,200 at the reception.

With his new wife and new Senate seat, Kennedy was making all the right moves. Bored by the endless committee meetings in Congress, he focused on increasing his national profile, traveling around the country, giving speeches, and appearing on talk shows to discuss current events.

With his distinct Boston accent, he developed a dynamic speaking style which, coupled with his good looks and beautiful young family, made him picture-perfect for the new age of television.

He positioned himself as a centrist on domestic policy and a staunch anticommunist on foreign policy.

By 1960, he was ready to make his presidential move. While his critics argued that, at age 43, he was too young and inexperienced for the nation’s highest office, Kennedy argued that it was time for a new generation to take charge.

With his shrewd and loyal brother Bobby running his campaign, Kennedy won the Democratic nomination. But the race against Richard Nixon, Dwight Eisenhower’s vice president, would prove to be much tougher.

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