Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
59. JFK
Thu Feb 14, 2013, 09:45 AM
Feb 2013

Last edited Thu Feb 14, 2013, 07:22 PM - Edit history (2)

He had many goals set that the American people did not know about. The biggest impressive thing he planned (to me) before his life was suddenly taken was to disempower the CIA and other elements of the intelligence community. He was outraged over the Cuban Missile Crisis and the role it had played. He also was quietly trying to improve our relationship with Russia.

President Kennedy was privately determined not to see the Vietnam War become our war and he planned during his second term to fully withdraw. I believe that is another prong in his ambitious policies that played a role in his assassination. He was perceived to be "weak" by the war mongers; but I saw him as a true hero, a champion of positive moves to dramatically reform our society, and along with it, our government.

Many of the programs Johnson introduced as legislation after President Kennedy's death, such as Medicare and The Voting Rights Act of 1965 sprang from JFK's unfinished agenda for the Nation. The promotion of Medicare was a prominent plank in President Kennedy's 1960 campaign, and his support for that never waivered. And as far as pushing the right to vote for African-Americans as a civil rights issue:

http://blsciblogs.baruch.cuny.edu/his1005/2010/06/14/the-voting-rights-act-of-1965/

"In June 11, 1963, during a national television address about civil rights, John F. Kennedy stated: “We preach freedom around the world…, but are we to say to the world, and much more importantly, to each other, that this is a land of the free except for Negroes?” (Foner 921) Kennedy was killed few months after this presentation without enacting his civil rights bill, in which, among other points, he proposes the right to vote to blacks. One hundred years before Kennedy’s speech about civil rights, Abraham Lincoln expressed in his last public address his support to black suffrage. Like Kennedy, Lincoln was assassinated few days later." (emphasis added)

I believe his determination to right many wrongs existing in this country played an important role in his early death. I also believe he knew the actions he was quietly taking in fact did put his life at risk. But he decided to put Country first and proceeded to formulate a plan to enact his initiatives. That is a description of a man who loved his Country more than his own life and was prepared to risk it in order to eradicate threats on our Republic.

Sam

FDR we can do it Feb 2013 #1
+1. n/t Laelth Feb 2013 #103
My Choice grilled onions Feb 2013 #2
I have to say Carter. NYC_SKP Feb 2013 #3
Abe Lincoln Lil Missy Feb 2013 #4
I agree. thucythucy Feb 2013 #10
Ditto. Cary Feb 2013 #54
+a brazillion undeterred Feb 2013 #104
President Obama. Tx4obama Feb 2013 #5
Since FDR and Lincoln have been mentioned, TDale313 Feb 2013 #6
"only one name" NYC_SKP Feb 2013 #8
Ok, I'll go with Teddy Roosevelt. TDale313 Feb 2013 #9
Having already cast my vote for Carter, above.... NYC_SKP Feb 2013 #13
Great Picks!!! RKP5637 Feb 2013 #15
Great list. TDale313 Feb 2013 #22
Xnay on Theodore Rex mikekohr Feb 2013 #79
JFK RKP5637 Feb 2013 #7
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Th1onein Feb 2013 #11
In my mind it would have to be a Roosevelt. Yavapai Feb 2013 #12
I'm 73 and have voted in a lot of elections. russspeakeasy Feb 2013 #14
I'd have to say JFK. n/t Still Sensible Feb 2013 #16
How about Washington? (And I personally like Madison.) Squinch Feb 2013 #17
FDR Lasher Feb 2013 #18
Jefferson is certainly up there (others already mentioned). alittlelark Feb 2013 #19
FDR Marie Marie Feb 2013 #20
millard fillmore niyad Feb 2013 #21
And Polk and Hoover, and Bush! NYC_SKP Feb 2013 #23
this was back in the dark ages, long before the unholy trinity (ray-gun, poppy and chimpy) niyad Feb 2013 #24
You went out on the limb nevergiveup Feb 2013 #25
fortunately, I landed on the part with plenty of padding, but thanks!! niyad Feb 2013 #30
Fillmore was a better president than W nevergiveup Feb 2013 #29
awwww, thank you so much--and thanks for the attempted rescue!! niyad Feb 2013 #31
FDR riverwalker Feb 2013 #26
FDR Thinkingabout Feb 2013 #27
FDR.... Wounded Bear Feb 2013 #28
Obama my2sense Feb 2013 #32
As a former resident of Charlottesville, VA, beveeheart Feb 2013 #33
Carter Kalidurga Feb 2013 #34
Clinton Mr.Bill Feb 2013 #35
Lincoln by far. R. Daneel Olivaw Feb 2013 #36
James Buchanan dlwickham Feb 2013 #37
better choice than Pat Buchanan nevergiveup Feb 2013 #39
thank you dlwickham Feb 2013 #40
FDR Rosco T. Feb 2013 #38
1. The genius Thomas Jefferson 2. The father of modern America, FDR 3. The decisive one... FleetwoodMac Feb 2013 #41
FDR. nm rhett o rick Feb 2013 #42
FDR best of all time, although he was before I was born. freshwest Feb 2013 #43
Teddy Roosevelt (nt) bigwillq Feb 2013 #44
FDR No Vested Interest Feb 2013 #45
Easy, FDR. longship Feb 2013 #46
FDR, LINCOLN, and TR.....I can't decide...OK, FDR.. tokenlib Feb 2013 #47
Madison. snot Feb 2013 #48
Harry Truman wilsonbooks Feb 2013 #49
FDR union_maid Feb 2013 #50
John F. Kennedy life long demo Feb 2013 #51
I Like Ike demwing Feb 2013 #52
Obama cyberspirit Feb 2013 #53
Jimmy Carter Sancho Feb 2013 #55
He's my favorite president, too... Rhiannon12866 Feb 2013 #98
Thomas Jefferson sunwyn Feb 2013 #56
FDR mikekohr Feb 2013 #57
John Adams Hissyspit Feb 2013 #58
JFK Samantha Feb 2013 #59
Kinda depends zipplewrath Feb 2013 #60
Excellent post. RedSpartan Feb 2013 #67
first term President Obama. There are other great presidents, today I answer /w our current Pres. Sunlei Feb 2013 #61
Franklin Roosevelt. Arkana Feb 2013 #62
Teddy Roosevelt trayfoot Feb 2013 #63
Teddy Roosevelt Myrina Feb 2013 #64
P. van den Berghe rates T. Roosevelt as among the modern world's top three racist statesmen mikekohr Feb 2013 #86
Washington RedSpartan Feb 2013 #65
FDR. (nt) Paladin Feb 2013 #66
Big Dawg hamsterjill Feb 2013 #68
Probably FDR 4_TN_TITANS Feb 2013 #69
I'd be surprised if Lincoln isn't at the top of anyone's list of great presidents.... Rowdyboy Feb 2013 #70
John Hanson of course...... whistler162 Feb 2013 #71
Hands down, JFK. n/t RebelOne Feb 2013 #72
FDR 11 Bravo Feb 2013 #73
TR. Brigid Feb 2013 #74
James Madison. hay rick Feb 2013 #75
FDR kairos12 Feb 2013 #76
Chester B. Arthur.... WCGreen Feb 2013 #77
Woodrow Wilson GoCubsGo Feb 2013 #78
Lincoln. nt EastKYLiberal Feb 2013 #80
FDR Chestrockwell Feb 2013 #81
The greatest angrychair Feb 2013 #82
Washington Trascoli Feb 2013 #83
how about TEDDY ROOSEVELT?? trueblue2007 Feb 2013 #84
FDR Agschmid Feb 2013 #85
My favs are Washington, Lincoln, TR, FDR, Eisenhower, LBJ and President Obama phleshdef Feb 2013 #87
FDR LeftishBrit Feb 2013 #88
JFK because he challenged people to contribute to avebury Feb 2013 #89
OK - I did read the instructions - bad me. avebury Feb 2013 #90
My choice: Abraham Lincoln. Filibuster Harry Feb 2013 #91
Thomas Jefferson DFW Feb 2013 #92
Lincoln n/t Onlooker Feb 2013 #93
FDR RBInMaine Feb 2013 #94
I noticed a lot of people here like tyrants who inflicted martial law Ter Feb 2013 #95
My favorite is Carter Rosa Luxemburg Feb 2013 #96
President Barack Obama, the greatest ever and still more to come. n/t Whisp Feb 2013 #97
George W. Bush Jamaal510 Feb 2013 #99
Dubya for teaching Americans to pay attention next time Gabby Hayes Feb 2013 #100
Lincoln, by far Skittles Feb 2013 #101
Lincoln. graham4anything Feb 2013 #102
FDR nt XanaDUer Feb 2013 #105
If not for the Japanese internment, I would say FDR. DavidDvorkin Feb 2013 #106
FDR boguspotus Feb 2013 #107
FDR Cane4Dems Feb 2013 #108
FDR (n/t) a2liberal Feb 2013 #109
Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»2016 Postmortem»Want a heart? Who has b...»Reply #59