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Birth of John F. Kennedy
Born in Brookline, Massachusetts, a wealthy suburb of Boston. The second of nine children. -
Command of PT Boat
JFK is assigned to take command of a patrol boat stationed in the South Pacific after an eight week training course. -
Death of Sister Kathleen
Kennedy's sister, Kathleen, is killed in a plane crash. Her tragic death reminds JFK of morality and inspires him to pursue politics heavily. -
Marriage to Jackie Kennedy
JFK married Jacqueline Bouvier, a journalist from a wealthy New England family. -
Kennedy Inaugural
JFK is sworn into presidency and delivers his inaugural address, a landmark speech that encourages Americans to seek out opportunities to serve their county. -
Kennedy-Nixon Debate
JFK and Richard Nixon participate in the first ever televised presidential debate. -
Peace Corps
JFK establishes Peace Corps by executive order. -
Bay of Pigs
A group of CIA-trained Cuban exiles attempt to invade Cuba at the Bay of Pigs. The Cuban army stop them and it becomes a major embarrassment for JFK. -
Mission to the Moon
Kennedy announces his goal of putting a man on the moon. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
JFK initates a blockade of Cuba to minimize Soviet power in the West. For nearly two weeks, this Cold War becomes closer to nuclear warfare than ever. -
Khrushchev Pulls Missiles Out of Cuba
After a week of extreme U.S.- Soviet tension, the crisis ends when Khrushev agrees to remove the missiles from Cuba. -
Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
U.S. and Soviet officials sign the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, agreeing not to test nuclear bombs in the air, space, or water. -
JFK Assasination
Lee Harvey Oswald shoots and kills JFK in Dallas where the president is campaigning for reelection.