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Birth - Early Years
Growing Up John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born in Brookline, Mass., May 29, 1917 to Joesph Kennedy and Rose Fitzgerald. -
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JFK
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Graduates College
Graduates cum laude with a bachelor of science degree from Harvard University. -
Joins U.S. Navy
At age 24, he is sworn in as an ensign in the U.S. Navy. John Kennedy commanded a torpedo boat in the Pacific. He was hailed a hero when he helped rescue crew members after a Japanese destroyer sank PT‐109 in 1943. -
Elected for Congress
Elected as a U.S. representative for the 11th Congressional District in Boston at age 29. He is re-elected in 1948 and 1950. In November. 4, 1952, he was elected as senator from Massachusetts and re-elected in 1958. -
Marriage
Marries Jacqueline Lee Bouvier in Newport, R.I. She is the daughter of John Vernon Bouvier III and Janet Lee Bouvier. -
First Child
Caroline Bouvier Kennedy is born at Cornell Medical Center, New York. -
Announces candidacy for President
Announces his candidacy for president of the United States. -
Wins 1960 Election
Defeats Richard M. Nixon to become the 35th president of the United States. Kennedy wins by a margin of 2/10 of 1 percent with 49.75 percent of the votes. Nixon receives 49.55 percent. -
JFK Jr.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr. is born at Georgetown University Hospital. -
Inaugural Speech
Speech "And so, my fellow Americans ... ask not what your country can do for you ... ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world ... ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba. Kennedy supports the invasion to oust that country's Communist leader, Fidel Castro, but the invasion fails. Kennedy is heavily criticized. -
Man on the Moon
Delivers a speech at Rice University, pledging that the United States will put a man on the moon "before the end of this decade." Seven years later, on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong walks on the moon. -
Cuban Missle Crisis
U.S. intelligence discovers that the Russians are building missile sites in Cuba, thus beginning the Cuban Missile Crisis. Kennedy orders a naval and air quarantine on all shipments of weapons to Cuba. Armed conflict seems imminent; however, the Soviets retreat and promise not to set up the missiles. The United States agrees not to attack Cuba. -
Assassination
Assassination
John Fitzgerald Kennedy is shot at 12:30 p.m. while riding in an open-top limousine in a motorcade through downtown Dallas. He is pronounced dead at 1 p.m. at Parkland Memorial Hospital. Eighty minutes after the assassination, Lee Harvey Oswald is arrested. Later Oswald is charged with murder. -
Funeral
Funeral John Fitzgerald Kennedy is buried in Arlington National Cemetery with his son Patrick and his daughter Arabella.
