The Assassination That Changed the Nation - 1207 Words

In January of 1961, John F. Kennedy, or usually known by his initials JFK, became the 35th President of the United States. He was sworn in at the young age of 43, becoming the youngest man elected to office and the first of the Roman Catholic faith. Kennedy, a distinguished man of confidence, was known for his good looks, irresistible personality, and oratory skills. Kennedy is said to have â€Å"brought to public life not only the hard assets of leadership, but the rarest capacity to illuminate ideas by the grace of his personality and the clarity of his speech† (Freeman, par 5). Justin ONeill in his article, â€Å"The Day The President Was Shot,† continues the idea stated by Freeman, asserting that â€Å"many Americans saw Kennedy as a symbol of hope†¦show more content†¦1. JFKs assassination, Dallas, Texas, November 1963 Life magazine comment on the photos from the Zapruder film, with praise, â€Å"a remarkable and exclusive serious of pictures which show for the first time and in tragic detail, the fate which befell our President† (â€Å"JFKs Assassination, Frame By Frame: Key Stills From The Zapruder Film† par ). The historical photo of President John F. Kennedys assassination was one of the first shocking events of that decade, because it captured the ill fate of a great president, murder in broad daylight, and displayed Kennedy as a hero. The event affected individuals on a personal level. Morrow et al. claims â€Å"his [Kennedys] assassination much more profoundly affected the course of America than anything he did while he was in the White House† (par 43). Expanding on Morrows claims, Ross states that President Kennedys assassination â€Å"brought the nation together in a way not seen since the attack of Pearl Harbor in 1940† (par 23). Although, JFK was only in offic e for a little over a thousand days, he transformed the country that placed him in the White House. His administration catalyzed a series of events that set forth American progress. Gary Willis, a Kennedy revolutionist, insists that the â€Å"extraordinary glamor and heightened expectations that Kennedy bought to office have crippled all of his successors† (Morrow et al. Par 44). It is said that noShow MoreRelated60’s in America Essay examples870 Words   |  4 PagesPeople’s way of life had completely changed at the turn of the decade. It was the first decade to be radically different, then one’s before. It is the decade to set the trends of all to come. It started a large progressive movement, it created distrust throughout the country, and finally an innovative time that set the path to the technology era. The United States, during the 1960’s was a very progressive time for our country; the way people lived there life changed dramatically and has not been theRead MoreThe Assassination of Malcolm X Essay1102 Words   |  5 PagesAfrican-American Unity. Four men were involved in the assassination, but only one was convicted: Talmadge Hayer (a.k.a. Thomas Hagan). The theory accepted by most historians is that the government ordered the assassination of Malcolm X. There is significant evidence to support this theory. One key component in the government theory is the New York Bureau of Special Services, B.O.S.S., an extremely covert spy agency (Hutchinson 1). A week before his assassination, Malcolm’s house was firebombed. AlthoughRead MoreWas Malcolm X Justified Or Unjustified923 Words   |  4 PagesWas Malcolm X’s assassination justified or unjustified? Malcolm X was assassinated on February 21, 1965 in the audubon ballroom in Washington Heights, New York City. 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While he and his wife were visitingRead MoreThe Civil Rights Movement 1104 Words   |  5 Pagestwenty-one shots, four assassinations, one nation, and a changed world all effected throughout the 1960s. There were many distresses throughout the 1960s. Some of the main ones included the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Robert Kennedy and John Kennedy. The aftermath of all these deaths greatly affected the United States and the people in it. Each one of these men had a huge impression on a certain group in America that they broke a barrier for. The nation mourned and wept overRead MoreAnalysis Of Malcolm X By William F. Martin Luther King Jr.975 Words   |  4 PagesHaley told his story to millions who had never heard it before. His name was Malcolm X. As the title of the book suggests, The Autobiography of Malcolm X tells the life story of Malcolm Little from his childhood in Lancing, Michigan, up to his assassination (told in the epilogue) in 1965. His childhood was rough, his father was killed by a racist mob, and his mother was committed to a mental home when he was young. After moving to Boston to live with his sister, Malcolm fell in with the various â€Å"hustlers†Read MoreThe Assassination Of Robert F. Kennedy1048 Words   |  5 PagesThe tumultuous events that took place in 1968 effectively transformed the face of the nation in every aspect; economically, socially, and politically. Failed military tactics, assassinations, and violent civil rights movements were the defining characteristics of 1968. Despite the few good things that came out of that year, much of 1968 was dedicated to rebuilding the country, tragedy after tragedy. The assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, involvement in the Vietnam War, and escalating civil rights movements