Today, May 29, is John F. Kennedy’s birthday.
The 35th president of the United States would have been 101 today. Although Kennedy’s term was cut short and he only lived to see age 46, the highly popular president and longtime public servant left no shortage of a legacy behind.
Perhaps the most memorable part of Kennedy’s presidency was in 1961, when Cuba invaded the Bay Of Pigs, further escalating tensions between the U.S., Soviet Union and Cuba. Though initially skeptical of his forbearer, Kennedy relied heavily on Dwight D. Eisenhower, as well as his brother and former Attorney General Bobby Kennedy for insight on precautionary measures and actions to take as the crisis amplified.
Both Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline, brought the First Family into the public eye, as they were younger and more socially involved than some of their predecessors. Kennedy was the first president to live-stream his press conferences, making him both a recognizable and popular household figure. The family maintained close ties to high profile artists and personalities in popular culture, including Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe.
The Kennedys have their fair share of scandals but remain one of the most fascinating political families in the history of the country. Take a look at some of their most interesting shots over the years.
