charisma and charm that still entrances America? Maybe it
is his elevated status as a pop culture icon that bedazzles
most American citizens. It might be the martyr status he
attained through his tragic assassination that makes
American culture revere him as a President. Whatever the
reason is that defines John F. Kennedy as probably one of
the most beloved Presidents in American History; one
assumption by many is that it has nothing to do with his
political legacy. Many respected historians will tell you that
he has an insubstantial political legacy. Using the body of
legislation that was passed during his short time in office as
evidence, historians say that significant legislation was
lacking. More than likely they will remark about his
emphasis on rhetoric and his deficient action. On the other
hand, many historians and writers contend his political
legacy reverberates to this very day. They claim that
through his mastery of that novel medium of his day,
Television, his inclusion of culture into the office of
President, and most of all his idealism, echoes in today 's
political atmosphere. In total, the latter argument is actually
stronger. Although JFK does lack substantial legislation
that would bolster a claim to a significant political legacy, in
other ways John F. Kennedy has such an intense political
legacy that to this very day the Presidency of the United
States cannot escape it. In respect to truly monumental
legislation, John F. Kennedy does lack and therefore the
people who say he does not have a true political legacy
have a point. These critics believe a true political legacy is
in what the President has accomplished legislatively in the
White House. With Kennedy, they state he was more talk
than action. They do concede it was not truly do to his lack
of initiative. He did have many proposals, but because he
was dealing with a Congress that was very strong and
Cited: Http://users.southeast.net/~cheryl/auspeech.html, June 10, 1963 Aïda DiPace Donald. New York:Hill and Wang, 1966. Company, 1983. Schlesinger Jr., Arthur M. "Kennedy on the Eve." John F Aïda DiPace Donald. New York:Hill and Wang, 1966. York:Hill and Wang, 1966.