JFK born one hundred years ago today. He was elected president a couple weeks before I was born so I have no real memory of the man while he was alive. I do remember a little of when he was assassinated but only a few memories of that- I knew something bad had happened but did I understand it? Not fully at age three.
I got this t-shirt while in Dallas at a store near the Dealey Plaza. I know a lot of folks view him as a great president but I think he has to be given a mostly ‘incomplete’ grade- had he lived he most likely would have won re-election in 1964. Had he served eight full years instead of under three we’d have a better take on him as POTUS. He was only 46 when assassinated, he will be forever young.
slicethelife 
I’d be interested to know who you would consider the most successful President, or maybe top 3?
I was doing a series this winter on the presidents and ranking them- I got into the 20’s and got side tracked- I need to get back with it. I’d rank the most significant presidents as Washington- Lincoln and FDR- now a lot of folks disagree with the New Deal and some of FDR’s policies but he got a lot of what he wanted. It is interesting how TIME is needed to evaluate a president. I like the old Zho En Lai quote when asked about the results of the French Revolution- replied “It’s too soon to tell.”- now whether he really said that is up for debate but..
It will be interesting to see how time evaluates Obama’s legacy. I can’t argue with FDR. Britain (I’m from England) holds a huge debt of gratitude to him and his “lend lease” program during WW II.
JFK attempted to serve country rather than party. Compare that to the dismal performance to date of the Trump machine.
I wouldn’t give a warm bucket of spit for any of the presidents this century.
I consider the election and Presidency of JFK the beginning of my political awareness. These events happened when I was just a young grade schooler. When the topic of Jack Kennedy comes up, I sometimes say he was my first President.
I look at LBJ as my first president. I was 3-7 when he was POTUS and have memories of that time. I don’t know about you but some of the things that fascinate me the most are things that I was maybe barely aware of from my early days- I read all I can on LBJ, The Beatles and I was also a big fan of the moon landings- those things continue to have my attention.