Born: May 29, 1917, Brookline, Massachusetts
Presidential Term: 1961-1963
Three Interesting Facts (arlingtontours.com):
He was the first president to be a Boy Scout.
He is the only president to have received a purple heart.
He used crutches to walk but he hid that from the public.
Died: November 22, 1963, Dallas, Texas
The President Has Been Shot! : the Assassination of John F. Kennedy
by
This YALSA-ALA Excellence in Young Adult Nonfiction Award Finalist is a breathtaking and dramatic account of JFK's assassination by NY Times bestselling author of CHASING LINCOLN'S KILLER.In his award-winning young-adult book on the Kennedy assassination, James Swanson will transport readers back to one of the most shocking, sad, and terrifying events in American history. As he did in his bestselling Scholastic YA book, CHASING LINCOLN'S KILLER, Swanson deploys his signature "you are there" style -- a riveting, ticking-clock pace, with an unprecedented eye for dramatic details and impeccable historical accuracy. Here is the story of the JFK assassination as it has never been told before.
Who Was John F. Kennedy?
by
The man who saved the lives of his PT-109 crewmen during WWII and became the 35th president fought-and won-his first battle at the age of two-and-a-half, when he was stricken with scarlet fever. Although his presidency was cut short, our nation's youngest elected leader left an indelible mark on the American consciousness and now is profiled in our Who Was...' series. Included are 100 black-and-white illustrations as well as a timeline that guides readers through this eventful period in history.
I Am #9: John F. Kennedy
by
I was the 35th President of the United States. I am John F. Kennedy. When I was young, people called me courageous and competitive. I used those qualities to serve as a commander in the U.S. Navy. The leadership skills I learned in combat helped earn me a place first as a congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives, and later as a U.S. senator-but that was just the beginning. I became another kind of commander, the commander in chief of the U.S. armed forces, when I was elected president. I was the youngest man to ever hold the office. and my youth affected the progressive decisions I made and the laws I passed. Though I accomplished a great deal in my short life, I was assassinated at the age of forty-six. Still, my brave choices changed the lives of generations to come. I am John F. Kennedy. Featuring full-color illustrated covers, beautiful interior illustrations, a detailed timeline, introductions to other notable people from the story, and simple maps, this is more than your average biography.
John F. Kennedy the Brave
by
The life of President John F. Kennedy is explored in this early reader biography. "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country." When he was a young boy, John Fitzgerald Kennedy wondered about what happened in the world. He wanted to change the world when he grew up, and he did just that! Beginning readers will learn about the milestones in John F. Kennedy's life in this Level Two I Can Read biography, which combines a traditional, illustrated narrative with historical photographs at the back of book. Complete with a timeline, photographs, and little-known facts about the United States' thirty-fifth president, the brave John F. Kennedy. John F. Kennedy the Brave is a Level Two I Can Read, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help.
Myths and Facts about John F. Kennedy
by
On June 26, 1963, President John F. Kennedy made a speech to the German people in Berlin. He famously said, "Ich bin ein Berliner," which translates to "I am a Berliner" (someone from Berlin). However, future sources, including newspapers, sometimes considered the quote a blunder, as it could be confused for, "I am a jelly doughnut!" Inside this volume, readers will learn more about this historic event and the myth that arose from it. They will also explore other myths and facts about Kennedy. Primary sources accompany the text, and a timeline of the life of America's 35th president helps create a well-rounded, enjoyable learning experience.
Explore a large assortment of resources designed for K-5 students to help them learn about John F. Kennedy. Explora - Elementary contains relevant articles from children's magazine and reference materials about the president.
Note: Articles can be translated into over 130 language for ESL students. When accessing articles, select Online Full Text versions rather than PDF versions when available to utilize the translation feature. Open the Online Full Text version of the article, and then click the globe icon in the top right corner to access the translation feature.
Discover a large collection of ebooks, articles, and reference materials all about John F. Kennedy, perfect for middle and high school students. Below is a sample of available titles.
Note: Articles can be translated into over 130 language for ESL students. When accessing articles, select Online Full Text versions rather than PDF versions when available to utilize the translation feature. Open the Online Full Text version of the article, and then click the globe icon in the top right corner to access the translation feature.
JFK and His Enemies
by
The famed 19th century humorist Finely Peter Dunne once commented that life "would not be worth living if we didn't keep our enemies." Certainly John F. Kennedy could appreciate the wisdom behind this observation. At nearly every stage of his noteworthy political career, which stretched from the dank, run-down tenement houses of Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1946 to the gleaming downtown skyscrapers of Dallas, Texas in 1963, Kennedy had collected his fair share of enemies. Some, like Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. in 1952 and Lyndon Johnson in 1960, presented formidable political obstacles to his attaining higher office. Others, like Nikita Khrushchev during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, threatened the very survival of the human race itself. Regardless of the stakes, Kennedy always seemed to rise to the level of the domestic or international challenge presented. "Our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man," he said. To those who knew him best, this single-mindedness was not surprising. "He clearly wanted to establish a place in history," insisted Robert McNamara, Kennedy's Secretary of Defense. But being an historian himself, Kennedy realized that political success did not come easily or cheaply. It required individual strength of character, clarity of thought, and the ability to act decisively. "There are risks and costs to action," he allowed. "But they are far less than the long range risks of comfortable inaction."
JFK and LBJ
by
A firsthand observer weighs the achievements--and failures--of two fabled American presidents As a young White House correspondent during the Kennedy and Johnson years in Washington, D.C., Godfrey Hodgson had a ringside seat covering the last two great presidents of the United States, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, two men who could not have been more different. Kennedy's wit and dashing style, his renown as a national war hero, and his Ivy League Boston Brahmin background stood in sharp contrast to Lyndon Johnson's rural, humble origins in Texas, his blunt, forceful (but effective) political style, his lackluster career in the navy, and his grassroots populist instincts. Hodgson, a sharp-eyed witness throughout the tenure of these two great men, now offers us a new perspective enriched by his reflections since that time a half-century ago. He offers us a fresh, dispassionate contrast of these two great men by stripping away the myths to assess their achievements, ultimately asking whether Johnson has been misjudged. He suggests that LBJ be given his due by history, arguing that he was as great a president as, perhaps even greater than, JFK. The seed that grew into this book was the author's early perception that JFK's performance in office was largely overrated while LBJ's was consistently underrated. Hodgson asks key questions: If Kennedy had lived, would he have matched Johnson's ambitious Great Society achievements? Would he have avoided Johnson's disastrous commitment in Vietnam? Would Nixon have been elected his successor, and if not, how would American politics and parties look today? Hodgson combines lively anecdotes with sober analyses to arrive at new conclusions about the U.S. presidency and two of the most charismatic figures ever to govern from the Oval Office.
Making JFK Matter
by
In Making JFK Matter, Paul Santa Cruz examines how popular memory of John F. Kennedy has been used politically by various interest groups, primarily the city of Dallas, Lyndon Johnson, and Robert Kennedy, as well as how the memory of Kennedy has been portrayed in various museums. Santa Cruz argues that we have memorialized JFK not simply out of love for him or admiration for the ideals he embodied, but because invoking his name carries legitimacy and power. Memory can be employed to accomplish particular ends: for example, the passage of long overdue civil rights legislation, or even successfully running for political office. Santa Cruz demonstrates the presence and use of popular memory in an extensive analysis of what was being said, and by whom, about the late president through White House memoranda and speech material, museum exhibits (such as the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas and the JFK Presidential Library and Museum in Boston), public correspondence, newspapers and periodicals of the time, memoirs, and archival research. He also explores how JFK has been memorialized in films such as Bobby, JFK, and Thirteen Days. Written in an accessible manner to appeal to both historians and the general public, Making JFK Matter tells us much of how we have memorialized Kennedy over the years.
Scholastic Teachables offers a variety of presidential lessons and clip art to supplement your classroom activities. Below is a sample of lessons on John F. Kennedy.
Read or listen to reference entries about John F. Kennedy, plus see the correlated Missouri Learning Standards for each article. Also, browse art featuring the president. Select articles from World Book Kids for students in grades K-5, World Book Student for students in grades 6-12, and Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos for students in grades K-5.
Explore John F. Kennedy's timeline from his birth through his assassination in World Book Timelines.
From the 2013 JFK - A New World Order Series from Mill Creek Entertainment:
From the The Great Courses 2022 series Reconsidering JFK:
Use the search box below to find items in our catalog. Below is a sample of available titles.
Action Presidents #4: John F. Kennedy!
by
"A delightful, educational spin on history--and plenty of jokes," said School Library Journal. "Sheer joy," praised Booklist in a starred review. Finalist for the 2019 Excellence in Graphic Literature Award in Middle Grade Nonfiction U.S. history comes to life like never before in this full-color graphic novel! We all know that John F. Kennedy was a World War II hero and a pro at giving speeches. But did you also know he survived shark-infested waters, suffered a case of mistaken identity, and once used a coconut to send a secret message Wimpy Kid meets the Who Was... series in these hilarious new graphic novels--where the history is real and the jokes are fake--from New York Times bestselling comic book author Fred Van Lente and award-winning cartoonist Ryan Dunlavey. Historically accurate and highly entertaining, Action Presidents' bold and hilarious comic-style illustration is perfect for curious minds, filled with timelines, maps, charts, and more, readers will keep learning until the last page.
The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy (Library Edition)
by
Learn the events leading up to and transpiring after the assassination of JFK.On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was shot and killed as rode through the streets of Dallas, Texas, in the back seat of a convertible. Decades later, details of the event remain shrouded in mystery. Readers will uncover the evidence surrounding the assassination as they learn the official story of what happened that fateful day. They will also get a glimpse at some of the many alternate theories about who shot President Kennedy, and why.
John F. Kennedy
by
John F. Kennedy was the 35th president of the United States. Learn about his childhood, military service, and work as president.
John F. Kennedy's Presidency
by
When John F. Kennedy became the youngest person ever elected president of the United States in 1961, he stepped to the forefront of an invisible battleground. The Cold War standoff between America and the Soviet Union threatened to lead to nuclear war and worldwide destruction. Kennedy also faced domestic turmoil with the civil rights movement. Despite these challenges, Kennedy worked to bring the country into a "New Frontier." He supported space exploration, the arts, education, and groundbreaking social programs. He took a controversial stand in favor of civil rights legislation, and navigated dangerous webs of foreign affairs. Kennedy inspired the nation with his hopes for the future and his efforts to make them a reality.