Kennedy's Legacy

Most Americans who lived through the events of November 22, 1963 can remember exactly what they were doing when they received the news of the death of President John F. Kennedy. He's widely regarded as one of the greatest presidents in U.S. history, despite the fact that he was only in office for around 1,000 days. His approval ratings have in fact gone up since his death, as seen from the chart on the left. This week, flags flew half staff throughout the country, as the 50th anniversary of the events that occurred in Dealey Plaza passed. According to an article in the most recent edition of The Week,  "a Gallup poll showed that Americans still rate Kennedy as the best president since World War II, with 74 percent saying he was an outstanding or above average leader."

Kennedy represented a new era in leadership when he took office, he was a "youthful charmer who turned the White House into an idealistic 'Camelot,'" according to Doyle McManus of the Los Angeles Times. His increasing approval ratings seem shocking to historians. Many view him as a president who couldn't pass legislative initiatives, is blamed for the escalation of the conflict in Vietnam, and a relentless womanizer. A 1988 survey of historians named Kennedy the most overrated figure in American History, which begs the question, what did he really do in office? Americans value glamour, and when an innovator such as Kennedy and his presence comes around, he's bound to have his fair share of supporters. For the same reason that we have advertisements of the most visually appealing people that companies can find. Kennedy may have been thought of more because of his appearance (in comparison to the many men he followed, no offense to them) rather than his accomplishments. Kennedy's legacy has been embellished in my opinion, but I'd like to hear yours as well.