John Kennedy: Young
2023-10-29
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1VOA Learning English presents America's Presidents.
2Today we are talking about John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
3He was also known as Jack Kennedy, or by the letters JFK.
4When he took office in 1961, Kennedy was 43 years old.
5He was the youngest elected president in United States' history.
6Kennedy was also the first Catholic to be elected U.S. president.
7Kennedy's youth and religion raised questions in the minds of some Americans that Kennedy could lead the country.
8They wondered if he would always follow the policies of the Roman Catholic Church.
9But Kennedy became well-known as a statesman, and popular with people around the world.
10He was intelligent, funny and good-looking.
11For many, Kennedy was a sign of new energy and hope.
12The public was shocked, then, when the president's term was violently cut short.
13John F. Kennedy was born in 1917 near Boston, Massachusetts.
14He was the second of nine children.
15Both his parents were Catholic, with ancestors from Ireland.
16Many years ago, Irish Catholics often faced discrimination in the United States.
17But the Kennedy family was also politically powerful and wealthy.
18As a result, young Jack Kennedy grew up in big, beautiful houses and received a top quality education.
19His family did not suffer during the Great Depression, as many Americans had.
20Instead, the Kennedy children swam, sailed boats and played sports.
21Jack also enjoyed reading books and following the news.
22His older brother Joe wanted to enter politics, but Jack said he might become a teacher or writer.
23When he was a college student at Harvard, Jack wrote a long paper about Britain in the years leading up to World War II.
24A version of it was published in 1940 as a book.
25The war changed Jack's thinking about his future plans.
26During World War II, both Jack and his older brother joined the U.S. Navy.
27In the Pacific, Jack became a hero. He won medals for leading some of his troops to safety after a Japanese warship struck a boat they were on.
28But Joe was killed. In 1944, his airplane exploded over Europe.
29When the war ended, Jack's father urged him to follow his brother's dream of succeeding in politics.
30Jack agreed, and he set his sights on becoming the country's first Catholic president.
31Kennedy was nominated as the Democratic Party's candidate, and he was elected in 1960.
32He easily defeated Vice President Richard Nixon, the Republican candidate, in the Electoral College.
33But Kennedy won only narrowly in the popular vote.
34Though he was young, Kennedy brought experience to the job.
35In addition to being a naval officer, Kennedy had been a member of the U.S. House of Representatives as well as a senator from Massachusetts.
36He also published a Pulitzer Prize-winning book called "Profiles in Courage."
37And he had become a husband and father.
38He married a wealthy, well-educated woman who had been working as a newspaper photographer.
39Her name was Jacqueline Bouvier, but she was sometimes called Jackie.
40She became pregnant five times, but only two of her children would survive: a daughter named Caroline, and a son, John F. Kennedy, Junior.
41The family of four moved into the White House in January 1961.
42On the day he was sworn-in, Kennedy gave a speech that many people still remember today.
43It celebrated the "new generation of Americans," and promised to "pay any price" for liberty.
44Supporters of the new president loved his energy and sense of hope.
45In his most famous line, Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country."
46Many young people remembered that line when they volunteered for a program Kennedy created in 1961: the Peace Corps.
47Other Americans remembered the line when they watched two Apollo 11 astronauts walk on the moon in 1969.
48Kennedy strongly supported the country's space program.
49He promised that Americans would land on the moon by the end of the 1960s, and they did.
50Kennedy also supported efforts to improve civil rights across the U.S., although his administration moved slowly.
51Calls to end legalized racism were growing stronger during Kennedy's time in office, particularly because of the leadership of Martin Luther King, Junior.
52In June of 1963, King spoke to hundreds of thousands of people at a civil rights protest called the March on Washington.
53He told the crowd that he dreamed "my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
54The March on Washington, among other events, showed the power of the civil rights movement.
55In late 1963, President Kennedy sent a civil rights bill to Congress and spoke to Americans about the injustice that remained in the country.
56The Peace Corps, the Space Race, and civil rights are all part of Kennedy's legacy.
57Kennedy is also remembered for several troubling international events.
58In one, known as the Bay of Pigs, Americans supported Cuban refugees in an effort to oust the government of Fidel Castro.
59Not only did the refugees fail, but Kennedy's government was found to be lying about their support of the effort.
60And Kennedy faced off with the leader of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev.
61In 1962, American leaders learned that the Soviets had hidden nuclear weapons in Cuba.
62The missiles would be able to reach the U.S. mainland easily.
63Kennedy ordered a blockade of Cuba.
64People around the world held their breath as they waited to see if the U.S. and the Soviet Union would launch a nuclear war.
65They did not. After several very tense weeks, Kennedy and Khrushchev reached an agreement that ended the crisis.
66Kennedy went on to reach an agreement with the Soviet Union and Britain to limit nuclear weapons testing.
67He said the agreement was one of the presidential acts of which he was most satisfied.
68Historians still debate Kennedy's actions, and what else might have happened during his presidency.
69They wonder especially what he would have done about the increasing conflict in Vietnam.
70But Kennedy did not live to finish his first term.
71By November 22, 1963, Kennedy had been president for just under three years.
72The next election was still a year away, but it was time to start campaigning again.
73So the president and his wife went to Dallas, Texas to connect with voters.
74They were riding in a car with other official vehicles that drove slowly through the center of the city.
75Jack, Jackie, and the Texas governor and his wife sat in a convertible - an automobile without protection over the seats.
76The president was waving at the crowd. Suddenly, several gunshots were fired. The president was struck twice.
77The governor was also hit and injured.
78Kennedy was hurried to a hospital, but doctors were unable to help him. News reporters announced his death to a stunned public.
79Hours later, Jackie Kennedy appeared next to the former vice president - now president - Lyndon Johnson.
80She still wore the clothes with her husband's blood on them.
81The events remain intense in the minds of many Americans who were alive at the time.
82The images remain easily recognizable parts of American history.
83The pictures of Kennedy's family at his funeral are especially memorable.
84In one, three-year-old John holds up his arm and salutes his father's casket.
85Attention quickly turned to the gunman.
86It was reportedly a 24-year-old man named Lee Harvey Oswald.
87Shortly after the president and the governor were shot, Oswald shot a policeman who questioned him.
88Oswald was eventually detained. Officials planned to bring him to court for the death of the president and the policeman.
89But on the way from the police station to the jail, a local night-club owner shot and killed Oswald.
90As a result, the case never came to trial.
91Many Americans believe the reason for the attack has yet to be clarified.
92Historians have a mixed reaction to Kennedy's years as a president, although their opinions are generally positive.
93His image with the public suffered some years after his death because of reports that he had romantic relationships with women other than Jackie throughout his marriage.
94In time, the public also learned about Kennedy's health problems.
95He suffered from severe back pain and Addison's disease.
96He often used strong medicine to help control the conditions.
97The health problems are at odds with Kennedy's image of health and love of sports.
98Yet even with these new details, Kennedy is still one of the country's best-remembered leaders.
99He was a charismatic man whose career influenced many other Americans to enter public service.
100Americans also remember his stylish, cultured wife.
101Jackie Kennedy compared the Kennedy years at the White House to Camelot, the legendary court of King Arthur.
102Their remains, along with those of two of their children, are buried at Arlington National Cemetery, across the Potomac River from Washington.
103They are honored there with an eternal flame - one designed so the fire will never go out.
104I'm Kelly Jean Kelly.
1VOA Learning English presents America's Presidents. 2Today we are talking about John Fitzgerald Kennedy. He was also known as Jack Kennedy, or by the letters JFK. 3When he took office in 1961, Kennedy was 43 years old. He was the youngest elected president in United States' history. 4Kennedy was also the first Catholic to be elected U.S. president. 5Kennedy's youth and religion raised questions in the minds of some Americans that Kennedy could lead the country. They wondered if he would always follow the policies of the Roman Catholic Church. 6But Kennedy became well-known as a statesman, and popular with people around the world. He was intelligent, funny and good-looking. For many, Kennedy was a sign of new energy and hope. 7The public was shocked, then, when the president's term was violently cut short. 8Early life 9John F. Kennedy was born in 1917 near Boston, Massachusetts. He was the second of nine children. 10Both his parents were Catholic, with ancestors from Ireland. Many years ago, Irish Catholics often faced discrimination in the United States. But the Kennedy family was also politically powerful and wealthy. 11As a result, young Jack Kennedy grew up in big, beautiful houses and received a top quality education. His family did not suffer during the Great Depression, as many Americans had. Instead, the Kennedy children swam, sailed boats and played sports. 12Jack also enjoyed reading books and following the news. His older brother Joe wanted to enter politics, but Jack said he might become a teacher or writer. When he was a college student at Harvard, Jack wrote a long paper about Britain in the years leading up to World War II. A version of it was published in 1940 as a book. 13The war changed Jack's thinking about his future plans. During World War II, both Jack and his older brother joined the U.S. Navy. In the Pacific, Jack became a hero. He won medals for leading some of his troops to safety after a Japanese warship struck a boat they were on. 14But Joe was killed. In 1944, his airplane exploded over Europe. 15When the war ended, Jack's father urged him to follow his brother's dream of succeeding in politics. Jack agreed, and he set his sights on becoming the country's first Catholic president. 16Presidency 17Kennedy was nominated as the Democratic Party's candidate, and he was elected in 1960. 18He easily defeated Vice President Richard Nixon, the Republican candidate, in the Electoral College. But Kennedy won only narrowly in the popular vote. 19Though he was young, Kennedy brought experience to the job. In addition to being a naval officer, Kennedy had been a member of the U.S. House of Representatives as well as a senator from Massachusetts. 20He also published a Pulitzer Prize-winning book called "Profiles in Courage." 21And he had become a husband and father. He married a wealthy, well-educated woman who had been working as a newspaper photographer. Her name was Jacqueline Bouvier, but she was sometimes called Jackie. 22She became pregnant five times, but only two of her children would survive: a daughter named Caroline, and a son, John F. Kennedy, Junior. 23The family of four moved into the White House in January 1961. On the day he was sworn-in, Kennedy gave a speech that many people still remember today. It celebrated the "new generation of Americans," and promised to "pay any price" for liberty. 24Supporters of the new president loved his energy and sense of hope. In his most famous line, Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country." 25Many young people remembered that line when they volunteered for a program Kennedy created in 1961: the Peace Corps. 26Other Americans remembered the line when they watched two Apollo 11 astronauts walk on the moon in 1969. Kennedy strongly supported the country's space program. He promised that Americans would land on the moon by the end of the 1960s, and they did. 27Kennedy also supported efforts to improve civil rights across the U.S., although his administration moved slowly. Calls to end legalized racism were growing stronger during Kennedy's time in office, particularly because of the leadership of Martin Luther King, Junior. 28In June of 1963, King spoke to hundreds of thousands of people at a civil rights protest called the March on Washington. He told the crowd that he dreamed "my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." 29The March on Washington, among other events, showed the power of the civil rights movement. In late 1963, President Kennedy sent a civil rights bill to Congress and spoke to Americans about the injustice that remained in the country. 30The Peace Corps, the Space Race, and civil rights are all part of Kennedy's legacy. 31Kennedy is also remembered for several troubling international events. In one, known as the Bay of Pigs, Americans supported Cuban refugees in an effort to oust the government of Fidel Castro. Not only did the refugees fail, but Kennedy's government was found to be lying about their support of the effort. 32And Kennedy faced off with the leader of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev. In 1962, American leaders learned that the Soviets had hidden nuclear weapons in Cuba. The missiles would be able to reach the U.S. mainland easily. 33Kennedy ordered a blockade of Cuba. People around the world held their breath as they waited to see if the U.S. and the Soviet Union would launch a nuclear war. They did not. After several very tense weeks, Kennedy and Khrushchev reached an agreement that ended the crisis. 34Kennedy went on to reach an agreement with the Soviet Union and Britain to limit nuclear weapons testing. He said the agreement was one of the presidential acts of which he was most satisfied. 35Historians still debate Kennedy's actions, and what else might have happened during his presidency. They wonder especially what he would have done about the increasing conflict in Vietnam. 36But Kennedy did not live to finish his first term. 37Death 38By November 22, 1963, Kennedy had been president for just under three years. The next election was still a year away, but it was time to start campaigning again. 39So the president and his wife went to Dallas, Texas to connect with voters. They were riding in a car with other official vehicles that drove slowly through the center of the city. Jack, Jackie, and the Texas governor and his wife sat in a convertible - an automobile without protection over the seats. 40The president was waving at the crowd. Suddenly, several gunshots were fired. The president was struck twice. 41The governor was also hit and injured. 42Kennedy was hurried to a hospital, but doctors were unable to help him. News reporters announced his death to a stunned public. 43Hours later, Jackie Kennedy appeared next to the former vice president - now president - Lyndon Johnson. She still wore the clothes with her husband's blood on them. 44The events remain intense in the minds of many Americans who were alive at the time. The images remain easily recognizable parts of American history. The pictures of Kennedy's family at his funeral are especially memorable. In one, three-year-old John holds up his arm and salutes his father's casket. 45Attention quickly turned to the gunman. It was reportedly a 24-year-old man named Lee Harvey Oswald. Shortly after the president and the governor were shot, Oswald shot a policeman who questioned him. 46Oswald was eventually detained. Officials planned to bring him to court for the death of the president and the policeman. But on the way from the police station to the jail, a local night-club owner shot and killed Oswald. 47As a result, the case never came to trial. Many Americans believe the reason for the attack has yet to be clarified. 48Legacy 49Historians have a mixed reaction to Kennedy's years as a president, although their opinions are generally positive. 50His image with the public suffered some years after his death because of reports that he had romantic relationships with women other than Jackie throughout his marriage. 51In time, the public also learned about Kennedy's health problems. He suffered from severe back pain and Addison's disease. He often used strong medicine to help control the conditions. The health problems are at odds with Kennedy's image of health and love of sports. 52Yet even with these new details, Kennedy is still one of the country's best-remembered leaders. He was a charismatic man whose career influenced many other Americans to enter public service. 53Americans also remember his stylish, cultured wife. Jackie Kennedy compared the Kennedy years at the White House to Camelot, the legendary court of King Arthur. 54Their remains, along with those of two of their children, are buried at Arlington National Cemetery, across the Potomac River from Washington. They are honored there with an eternal flame - one designed so the fire will never go out. 55I'm Kelly Jean Kelly. 56Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 57______________________________________________________________ 58See how well you understand the story by taking this listening quiz. Play each video, then choose the best answer. 59________________________________________________________________ 60Words in This Story 61content - n. the things that are in something 62legacy - n. something that happened in the past or that comes from someone in the past 63casket - n. coffin 64nightclub - n. a place that is open at night, has music, dancing, or a show, and usually serves alcoholic drinks and food 65positive - adj. showing or expressing support, approval, or agreement 66at odds - n. not agreeing with each other : in a state of disagreement 67charismatic - adj. having great charm or appeal : filled with charisma 68eternal - adj. having no beginning and no end in time : lasting forever 69flame - n. the hot, glowing gas that can be seen when a fire is burning