Born into one of America's wealthiest families, educated at the finest schools, and branded a war hero and philanthropist, JFK is consistently ranked as one of America's most popular presidents.
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New details are emerging about JFK's death — here's his life story
John F. Kennedy was only president for 1,036 days — but his legacy has lived on for generations.
New reports suggest Kennedy's chronic back problems may have aided his assassin 54 years ago today.
Here's a look at the incredible life of JFK.
John F. Kennedy was born to a wealthy Irish Catholic family on May 29, 1917. He was the second oldest of nine Kennedy children.
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Despite his father’s constant encouragement, JFK wasn’t much of a student and preferred to play football or flirt with girls.
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Kennedy, in spite of his lack of effort, was extremely smart. He excelled at Harvard when he applied himself. His senior thesis was so well done it was published as a book in 1940 and sold more than 80,000 copies.
“Jack” was plagued by lifelong health problems and received last rites three times before he became president. In fact, JFK was so sickly he failed the physical examination to enter the Army and was only admitted thanks to his father's contacts.
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While serving on the PT-109, JFK’s boat was attacked by the Japanese. Despite a severe back injury, Kennedy dragged another sailor to safety and led all other survivors to a nearby island.
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He was awarded the Navy and Marine corps Medal for “extremely heroic conduct” and a Purple Heart for his valor and injuries.
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Joseph Kennedy Jr, JFK’s brother who hoped to one day become president, wasn't so lucky. After he was killed in the war, JFK decided to abandon his job at Hearst newspapers and follow in his older brothers footsteps.
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He hired his little brother, Robert, as his campaign manager, and successfully ran for the U.S. House of Representatives, Congress and eventually the Senate.
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Kennedy never took his congressional or later his presidential salary. He instead donated his salaries to charity and lived off the trusts his father set up for him.
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Jacqueline Bouvier was working as the “Inquiring Camera Girl” for the Washington Times-Herald newspaper when she met JFK.
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At a dinner party JFK reportedly “leaned across the asparagus and asked her for a date.” The couple were married soon thereafter in Newport, Rhode Island.
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Early on in their marriage, while recovering from a surgery, Jackie encouraged her new husband to write a book about US senators who had risked their careers for their beliefs. JFK won a Pulitzer Prize for the biography entitled "Profiles in Courage" in 1957.
The next few years were extremely eventful for JFK. His children, Caroline and John Jr., were born and in January 1960 Kennedy announced his candidacy for the presidency of the United States.
Kennedy won over the hearts of the American people in televised national debates. After defeating his opponent, Richard Nixon, he become the first Catholic president, the first president born in the 20th century and second youngest American president ever.
During his brief tenure as president, JFK managed to leave a lasting impression on American policy. Kennedy walked the US back from the brink of nuclear war during the Cuban Missile Crisis, eased Cold War tensions, propelled the civil-rights bill he hoped would end racial segregation forward, and started the Peace Corps organization.
The Kennedy family quickly became a national treasure. Photos of John Jr. hiding under his father’s desk in the Oval...
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... Caroline astride her pony “Macaroni”...
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... and the always elegant Jackie, captivated America.
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On November 22, 1963, JFK and Jackie were traveling in a motorcade in downtown Dallas when the president was shot in the neck and head. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
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Why is America still so fascinated by the Kennedy years? For one, historians have speculated that America would be a very different place today had Kennedy survived.
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The romanticized memory of a handsome young president's "interrupted promise" and the glamorous life he left behind has captivated Americans for years.
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Additionally, the obscure facts surrounding JFK's assassination have ignited fascinating conspiracy theories that include CIA coverups, mafia hit jobs and a covert Soviet attack.
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New reports suggest the tightly laced back brace Kennedy wore for his chronic back pain may have prevented the president from recoiling from his assassin's lethal shots in Dallas 54 years ago.
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