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During his campaign, Kennedy phoned Martin Luther King's wife, Coretta Scott King, during King's time in prison to encourage her. Kennedy obtained King's release, and in the long run this greatly impacted his victory in the election.
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LinkJohn F. Kennedy became president in 1960 on November 8. He took office shortly after.
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linkKennedy appointed 40 african Americans to senior office roles.This was significant as this doubled the total amount of African Americans in in office and was a large step toward equal rights for all citizens in a job setting. Kennedy set the example for Americans to promote African Americans in business.
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Kennedy verbally supported racial integration and civil rights; during the 1960 campaign he called Coretta Scott King, wife of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., who had been in jail while attempting to integrate a department store lunch counter.
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In 1961, the Interstate Commerce Commission ruled that transport terminals and interstate bus seating should be desegregated.
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LinkKennedy signed an executive order creating the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women on December 14, 1961. The Commission statistics revealed that women were also experiencing discrimination. They wanted to change this so they began taling about this.
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On this day, President Kennedy sent 400 federal marshalls to stop racial violence following the outbreak at the University of Mississippi. The riot left two dead and a dozen injured.
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linkOctober 1962, Kennedy imposed a quarantine on all offensive weapons bound for Cuba.
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LinkOn June 10, 1963 President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act of 1963. It was a federal law that amended the Fair Labor Standards Act, that was aiming at abolishing wage disparity based on sex.
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On June 11, 1963, President Kennedy intervened when Alabama Governor George Wallace blocked the doorway to the University of Alabama to stop two African American students, Vivian Malone and James Hood, from attending
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goo.gl/1kjSI On this day, Governor George Wallace blocked the door of the University of Alabama to prevent two African American students from entering the premesis. Wallace was stopped by a District Attorney General given direct orders from President Kennedy to intervene.
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linkKennedy called for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on June 11, 1963 where he asked for legislation “giving all Americans the right to be served in facilities” and “greater protection for the right to vote”.
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Kennedy gave his famous civil rights address on national television and radio, launching his initiative for civil rights legislation – to provide equal access to public schools and other facilities, and greater protection of voting rights. His proposals became part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
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June 19, 1963, President Kennedy sent comprehensive civil rights legislation to Congress. The need for civil rights legislation to address growing unrest in the country held sway.
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Over a hundred thousand African Americans, gathered in Washington for the civil rights March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963.
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linkNovember 22nd 1963 John F Kennedy is assassinated.
