John F Kennedy
JOHN F. KENNEDY
Charismatic Leader
John Fitzgerald Kennedy Charismatic leadership can be defined with John F. Kennedy. He exuded all the traits of a charismatic leader. His good looks, charm, quick wit and youthful vigor endeared him to the American people. He was an independent thinker and had his own ideas and promises that gave Americans new hope. Despite many international conflicts including the Bay of Pigs Invasion, The Berlin Wall, The Cuban Missile Crisis and Vietnam he continued to lead the country with pride and hope. He continues to be a part of American lives long after his death. His speeches are still quoted and his ideals are still pursued. His tragic death brought short the remarkable period known as the Camelot years. John F. Kennedy, known as Jack to family and friends was born May 29, 1917 to Rose and Joe Fitzgerald in Brookline Massachusetts. He was the second of what would be nine children. His childhood years were plagued by sickness later diagnosed as Addison’s Disease. His illnesses did not stop him from participating in sports. Competition and loyalty were a driving force of the Kennedy family. Jack always lived in the shadow of his older Joe Jr. Joe Sr. believed that Joe Jr. would someday be the first Irish Catholic president of the United States and pushed him very hard. Joe Jr. excelled at everything he did and Jack was always being compared to him. Jack however had no interest in education. He attended Choate, a private school as a child, were he left a negative impression on the faculty. He was a rebellious adolescent with mediocre grades and little ambition. He then went to Princeton where after only a short time another bout with illness caused him to drop out. The following fall he returned to school though this time to Harvard where he would again live in Joe Jr’s shadow. He continued to suffer with recurring bouts of illness and was very sickly. This did not deter him from wanting to play football. During a practice
Charismatic Leader
John Fitzgerald Kennedy Charismatic leadership can be defined with John F. Kennedy. He exuded all the traits of a charismatic leader. His good looks, charm, quick wit and youthful vigor endeared him to the American people. He was an independent thinker and had his own ideas and promises that gave Americans new hope. Despite many international conflicts including the Bay of Pigs Invasion, The Berlin Wall, The Cuban Missile Crisis and Vietnam he continued to lead the country with pride and hope. He continues to be a part of American lives long after his death. His speeches are still quoted and his ideals are still pursued. His tragic death brought short the remarkable period known as the Camelot years. John F. Kennedy, known as Jack to family and friends was born May 29, 1917 to Rose and Joe Fitzgerald in Brookline Massachusetts. He was the second of what would be nine children. His childhood years were plagued by sickness later diagnosed as Addison’s Disease. His illnesses did not stop him from participating in sports. Competition and loyalty were a driving force of the Kennedy family. Jack always lived in the shadow of his older Joe Jr. Joe Sr. believed that Joe Jr. would someday be the first Irish Catholic president of the United States and pushed him very hard. Joe Jr. excelled at everything he did and Jack was always being compared to him. Jack however had no interest in education. He attended Choate, a private school as a child, were he left a negative impression on the faculty. He was a rebellious adolescent with mediocre grades and little ambition. He then went to Princeton where after only a short time another bout with illness caused him to drop out. The following fall he returned to school though this time to Harvard where he would again live in Joe Jr’s shadow. He continued to suffer with recurring bouts of illness and was very sickly. This did not deter him from wanting to play football. During a practice
References: John Kennedy. In The White House. Retrieved March 23, 2007 from http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/jk35.html Kelly, M. John F. Kennedy – 35th President of the United States. Retrieved March 23rd, 2007 from Mills, J. (1988). John F. Kennedy. New York: Franklin Watts. Retrieved April 6, 2007 from http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/jk35.html The History Place