John F. Kennedy served as the commander of the Motor Torpedo Boats during World War II and went on to represent Massachusetts’ 11th congressional district in the House of Representatives from 1947 to 1953. Afterwards, he served on the Senate until 1960 until becoming President of the United States.
It was on this day, November 8, 1960, that John F Kennedy was elected as the 35th (and 2nd youngest) President of the United States. He won against Republican candidate and then- Vice President Richard Nixon and was elected at the age of 43, making him the second-youngest president and youngest to be elected into office. Kennedy was also the first president to be born in the 20th century and the only one to have won a Pulitzer Prize.
While in office, he dealt with many historic events such as the Bay of Pigs, Cuban Missile Crisis, the Space Race, building of the Berlin Wall, and the African American Civil Rights Movement. On November 22, 1963, Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas and Lee Harvey Oswald was charged with the murder.