John F. Kennedy
John. F. Kennedy | |
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John Kennedy in 1963 | |
36th Vice President of the United States Incumbent | |
January 20, 1961 | |
President | Richard Nixon |
Preceded by | Howard McMurray |
United States Senator from Massachusetts | |
January 3, 1953 - December 22, 1960 | |
Preceded by | Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. |
Succeeded by | Robert Kennedy |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 11th district | |
January 3, 1947 - January 3, 1953 | |
Preceded by | James Michael Curley |
Succeeded by | Tip O'Neill |
Future 37th President of the United States | |
Vice President | None |
Preceded by | Richard Nixon |
Succeeded by | John McCormack |
Personal details | |
Native name | John Fitzgerald Kennedy |
Date of birth | May 29, 1917 |
Place of birth | Brookline, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Age at start | 44 years old |
Nationality | American |
Role |
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Political party | Republican-Democratic Coalition - (Democrat) |
Ideology | Dynastic Liberalism |
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (Born 29 May 1917) is the current Vice President of the United States of America and U.S.A's starting Head of Government. He will become the 37th President in 1964, when Nixon resigns from the Presidency. However, his reign as Presidency will be one of the shortest as he will be assassinated within two months of Nixon's Resignation.
In-Game Description[edit | edit source]
Young, rich, handsome, and charismatic, John Fitzgerald Kennedy doesn't embody his nation as it exists. He embodies his nation as it wants to be.
A son of the businessman and politician Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., JFK has enjoyed a life seemingly unburdened by hardship. As far as the public knows, he grew up in a supportive family and went to the best schools before enlisting in the US Navy and displaying heroism against the Japanese. Bolstered, by his eloquence and a rare ability to connect with voters, Kennedy found himself swept into politics upon his return, ascending from congressman to senator, ousting a Republican rival in the process. His unabashed liberalism and uplifting campaign style led the party bosses to think of him as a good balance to Nixon on the ticket in '60. While Kennedy has his own ambitions, he is aware of the dangers in upsetting his erratic and confusing boss. He is determined to see their partnership succeed, at least for now.
Biography[edit | edit source]
Early Life[edit | edit source]
Born on May 29th, 1917 to prominent Kennedy family, a family of Irish descent that held sway over Massachusetts's politics. John was expose to politics as a young age touring the city of Boston in 1922 during his grandfather's failed attempt to become Governor of Massachusetts. Kennedy's younger years was mostly unremarkable beyond his family's wealthy background with his older brother Joseph Jr. assumed to the son of Joseph Kennedy to advance the family prominence.
Despite that view among his family's members and teacher, John was admitted into Harvard University. While John had little initial interest in politics at college, preferring to focus on football and his social life, he would develop an interest in political philosophy during the latter part of his college education. In 1938 and 1939, John would spend his summer breaks traveling Europe, it was there that John would developed a strong stance towards US intervening in Europe which created some tension with his father who preferred Isolationism. John's time in Europe would influence his senior thesis on the Munich Agreement, which was so well-received by his professor that it was shortly published as a book. In 1940, John F. Kennedy would graduated from Harvard with Bachelor of Arts in government, concentrating on international affairs. While he initially considering going to Stanford Business Graduate School or Yale Law School, he initially decided to instead help his father write his memoir about his ambassadorship in the United Kingdom.
Military Career[edit | edit source]
In 1941, instead of deciding to go to Law School, John F Kennedy felt that America entry into the Second World War was immediate and decided it was his duty to help his country fight in it. While rejected from the Navy's officer academy due to a back problem he developed during his time playing for the Harvard football team, he was able to join the Navy Reserve thanks to his family's connections.
While initially serving in the Navy Reserve as an intelligence officer, Kennedy wanted to fight on the front lines and thanks to a fake medical record, was able to convince the navy to let him train to be the captain of a Patrol Boat. After finishing his training in the middle of 1942, he was initially stationed as a captain with Navy Forces protecting the Panama Canal. Unhappy with guard duty, John convinced Senator David Walsh to help him arrange a transfer to South Pacific.
While stationed in South Pacific, the Patrol Boat PT-109 John captained was cleaved in two by a Japanese destroyer. John survived the incident and famously rescued one of his subordinates by dragging back him to nearby island with his teeth dragging him by his life jacket. After working with men to contact the local natives, they gave them a coconut shell with their location to give to the Navy, after which they were rescued.
This incident became highly publicized thanks to John's heroism and he was award both the Navy and Marine Corps Medal as well as the Purple Heart for his injuries. While initially returning to captain another PT Boat, John's back problems, which were only aggravated by injures he suffered when the Patrol boat was cleaved in half, lead to him spending the rest of war on medical leave. During this time, John would suffer a personal tragedy in 1944, when his older brother died during an air mission. He would then formally leave the Navy reserve when he was honorably discharged in early 1945 due to physical disability.
Politicians[edit | edit source]
With his older brother's tragic death, John was convinced by his father to follow in his footstep by running for the position of representative for Massachusetts in 1946. A position that Kennedy won and began his first of three terms as a representative of the state of Massachusetts.
In 1952, Kennedy decided to further his political career by running for the position of Massachusetts' senator. An election he won and unseated an in-state republican rival. As senator, Kennedy focused on introducing bill to help the people of Massachusetts and the wider New England region. This focus along his personal charisma made him popular with his constituents leading his re-election in 1958 being widest margin of victory in the history Massachusetts politics.
While seeking to become president, Kennedy was convinced to run as the vice-president on a joint party ticket with Richard Nixon prevent the NPP from gaining the presidency. They joint ticket ended up being quite successful in 1960 as Kennedy's liberalism and uplifting campaign help balance out any of Nixon's conservativism.
Vice-Presidency[edit | edit source]
Elected together with Nixon, they would be tested immediately as heads of state, with the Hawaiian Missile Crisis. Taking initiative, Kennedy would initiate talks with Japanese Prime Minister Ino, with both men negotiating a diplomatic way to resolve the situation. With him at the helm of US negotiations, an agreement would be made between both Superpowers, although not without the lack of sleep and a battle of nerves on both sides.
Kennedy would be praised by the R-D core for his actions to defuse the crisis with his Japanese counterpart, whilst President Nixon is attacked for his lack of action during the entire standoff. Now into the mid-terms of his term as Vice-President, Kennedy is very popular amongst his circle of supporters, especially with his liberal attitudes.