In the United States, especially among those who are over fifty, there is a persistent belief that the United States radically changed after the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963. What evidence can you supply from your reading(s) that would support this belief? Did the event itself cause a change, or was it a milepost marking the beginning of a series of events that would alter the direction and character of the nation?
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (JFK) was the youngest to be elected as United States President. Of Irish descent, he was born in Brookline, Massachusetts on May 29, 1917. After graduating from Harvard at 23, he joined the Navy. When Kennedy returned from the war he started his political career as a Democratic Congressman. After three terms in the House of Representatives he was elected to the Senate in 1953. It was during this same year that he married Jacqueline Bouvier. In 1956, Kennedy lost the nomination to become the Democratic Vice President but won the presidential race four years later in 1961. Kennedy did not finish his presidential term as he was assassinated roughly 1000 days after his inauguration (theWhiteHouse.gov). This tragic event stunned the nation and the world. John F. Kennedy 's assassination started a chain of events that changed the character …show more content…
After his appointment, Johnson announced an investigation into the JFK assassination and appointed Chief Justice Earl Warren to lead the investigation. The investigation found the prime suspect, Lee Harvey Oswald, guilty. But, due to inconsistencies and lack of evidence, many Americans did not accept this verdict giving way to their own conspiracy theories (Henkin and McLennan). The media industry also changed as radio talk shows and newspapers declined in popularity and cable television became the main means of entertainment and getting the news
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (JFK) was the youngest to be elected as United States President. Of Irish descent, he was born in Brookline, Massachusetts on May 29, 1917. After graduating from Harvard at 23, he joined the Navy. When Kennedy returned from the war he started his political career as a Democratic Congressman. After three terms in the House of Representatives he was elected to the Senate in 1953. It was during this same year that he married Jacqueline Bouvier. In 1956, Kennedy lost the nomination to become the Democratic Vice President but won the presidential race four years later in 1961. Kennedy did not finish his presidential term as he was assassinated roughly 1000 days after his inauguration (theWhiteHouse.gov). This tragic event stunned the nation and the world. John F. Kennedy 's assassination started a chain of events that changed the character …show more content…
After his appointment, Johnson announced an investigation into the JFK assassination and appointed Chief Justice Earl Warren to lead the investigation. The investigation found the prime suspect, Lee Harvey Oswald, guilty. But, due to inconsistencies and lack of evidence, many Americans did not accept this verdict giving way to their own conspiracy theories (Henkin and McLennan). The media industry also changed as radio talk shows and newspapers declined in popularity and cable television became the main means of entertainment and getting the news