Our instrument and our hope is the United Nations--and I see little merit in the impatience of those who would abandon this imperfect world instrument because they dislike our imperfect world.
John F. Kennedy
The Public Record
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, also known as JFK, was the 35th president of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was the youngest person elected president, at 43 years, and the first Catholic president. Kennedy served at the height of the Cold War, and the majority of his foreign policy concerned relations with the Soviet Union and Cuba. A member of the Democratic Party, Kennedy represented Massachusetts in both houses of the United States Congress before his presidency.
★ Featured Quote
January 1, 1962
There is no longer any reason why American children should suffer from polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, or tetanus.
— John F. Kennedy
gutenberg.org
But the world was not meant to be a prison in which man awaits his execution.
But as an institution, it should have in the future, as it has had in the past since its inception, no stronger or more faithful member than the United States of America.
No policeman is universally popular--particularly when he uses his stick to restore law and order on his beat.
Our aim is not simply to be first on the moon, any more than Charles Lindbergh's real aim was to be the first to Paris.
For the troubles of a world organization merely reflect the troubles of the world itself.
But the quest is the greatest adventure of our century.
For this is the most urgent task confronting the Congress in 1963.
First, we need to strengthen our Nation by investing in our youth.
The future of any country which is dependent upon the will and wisdom of its citizens is damaged, and irreparably damaged, whenever any of its children is not educated to the full extent of his talent, from grade school through graduate…
The product of our abundance must be used more effectively to relieve hunger and help economic growth in all corners of the globe.