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Birth
Kennedy was born in Massachusetts to Rose and Joseph Kennedy. -
Scarlet Fever
Kennedy contracted scarlet fever and was hospitalized -
Choate Boarding School
Kennedy begins high school at Choate, an elite boarding school in Connecticut. He earns only mediocre grades. -
Graduation from Harvard
Kennedy graduates from Harvard with a degree in International Affairs. -
Navy Enlistment
Kennedy was enlisted in the Navy -
Command of PT Boat
Kennedy is assigned to take command of a patrol boat stationed in the South Pacific. Arrives on the Solomon Islands in month and a half. -
Sinking of PT 109
Kennedy's boat was rammed by a Japanese destroyer. Kennedy orders all the men to abandon ship and leads them to shore on a nearby island. -
Death of Joe, Jr.
Kennedy's brother, Joe Jr., was killed in Europe. -
Election to Congress
Kennedy is elected to the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts. -
Addison's Disease
At the age of 30, Kennedy is diagnosed with Addison's disease, a potentially fatal disorder. Kennedy is prescribed a strict regimen of medications. -
Death of Kathleen
Kennedy's sister, Kathleen, is killed in a plane crash and her death inspires him to pursue politics with greater fervor and dedication. -
Election to US Senate
Kennedy is elected to the United States Senate. -
Marriage to Jackie Kennedy
Kennedy marries Jacqueline Bouvier, a beautiful young journalist. -
Back Surgery
Kennedy undergoes risky back surgery to address his excruciating and constant back pain, During his recovery, he begins work on Profiles in Courage. -
Failure to Win VP Nomination
At the Democratic National Convention, Jack unsuccessfully vies for the vice presidential spot on Adlai Stevenson's ticket. -
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Kennedy joins the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. -
Birth of Caroline Kennedy
Kennedy and Jackie's first child, Caroline Kennedy. -
Kennedy-Nixon TV Debate
John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon participate in the first-ever televised presidential debate. The debate marks a turning point in the campaign. -
Kennedy Defeats Nixon
Kennedy is elected the 35th President of the United States. -
Birth of JFK, Jr.
Kennedy and Jackie's second child is born, named after his father. -
Kennedy Inaugural
Kennedy is sworn into the Presidency and delivers his inaugural address, a speech. -
Peace Corps
Kennedy establishes the Peace Corps. -
Bay of Pigs
A group of CIA-trained Cuban exiles attempts to invade Cuba at the Bay of Pigs. The Cuban army quickly thwarts their efforts, and the Kennedy-approved fiasco becomes a major embarrassment for the new president. -
Mission to the Moon
Kennedy announce his goal of putting a man on the moon. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
JFK discovers Soviet nuclear missile sites being installed in Cuba. In order to minimize Soviet power in the West, the president "qurantines" Cuba the following week. The Cuban Missile Crisis will bring the world closer to nuclear war than ever before or after. -
Khrushchev Pulls Missiles Out of Cuba
The Cuban Missile Crisis ends when Soviet Leader Khrushchev finally agrees to remove the missiles from Cuba. -
Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
U.S. and Soviet officials sign the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, agreeing not to test nuclear bombs. -
Civil Rights
Kennedy proposes the enactment of civil rights legislation, marking his first decisive action on civil rights. -
Death of Patrick Kennedy
Kennedy and Jackie's third child, Patrick, dies only two days after his birth. -
JFK Assassination
Lee Harvey Oswald shoots and kills John F. Kennedy in Dallas, where the president is campaigning for re-election.
