John Fitzgerald Kennedy is widely considered one of the most popular and well-known occupants of the American Presidency, often ranking in poll after poll among the greatest presidents to have served. This despite his short term in office. He guided the nation through the tumultuous early 1960’s and worked to advance the American Civil Rights Movement and the American space program. He did this while maintaining a robust foreign policy against Soviet aggression and tensions. President Kennedy was tragically assassinated in November of 1963 in Dallas, Texas. He was 46 years old and the last president to have suffered assassination of the four to have done so.

President Kennedy stands as the first of two Roman Catholic presidents the nation has had during its history, the second being President Joe Biden. During his campaign for president in 1960, he had to give countless accounts as to whether he would answer to the Pontiff or the American people because of his faith—an absurd question now but one that was top-of-mind for the voting population at the time.

Listen to a Podcast on Roman Catholicism and the American Presidency.