Before the Oval Office: JFK's Rise to Power (1917-1960) | Full Documentary | American Experience PBS

“JFK” presents a fresh look at the life and legacy of America’s 35th president. Forever enshrined in myth by an assassin's bullet, Kennedy's presidency long defied objective appraisal. Recent assessments have revealed an administration long on promise and vigor, and somewhat lacking in tangible accomplishment. His proposals for a tax cut and civil rights legislation, however, promised significant gains in the months before his assassination. While maturation, as evidenced in the handling of the Cuban missile crisis, was apparent, the potential legacy of the New Frontier will forever be left to speculation. JFK is narrated by Oliver Platt. PART ONE (1917-1960) covers John F. Kennedy from childhood through his presidential campaign. The youngest man ever elected to the presidency, JFK grew up privileged, wanting for nothing except good health. Faking a medical exam to pass conscription into WWII, JFK came home a war hero shortly before his older brother was killed in action. Despite increasing health problems, JFK runs for and wins a seat in the Senate and then Congress before marrying Jacqueline Bouvier. In 1960, JFK runs for president. 🎥 Stay tuned for PART TWO! Subscribe to be notified when the episode is available: https://www.youtube.com/c/AmericanExp... Official Website: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexpe... | #ThePresidentsPBS © 2013 WGBH Educational Foundation 00:00 Introduction: Who Was John F. Kennedy? 05:40 JFK’s Childhood: Wealth, Illness, and Rebellion 14:21 JFK’s Defining Years: Harvard, London, and the Start of WWII 28:33 JFK in WWII and the Heroic Story of PT-109 36:03 The Kennedy Turning Point: Joe Jr.’s Death and JFK’s Path to Politics 40:07 The Election of 1946: JFK’s Run for Congress 45:54 JFK’s Addison's Disease & The Loss of Kick Kennedy 47:39 JFK Finds Purpose in Foreign Affairs 50:43 JFK vs. Henry Cabot Lodge: The Senate Election of 1952 52:43 Taking a Chance on Bobby Kennedy: JFK’s Campaign Manager 54:42 JFK’s Private Struggle: Chronic Pain, Health Battles, and Senate Ambitions 57:10 Camelot: The Marriage of John and Jackie Kennedy 01:05:27 The 1956 Democratic National Convention 01:14:12 JFK on the World State: The Algerian War, Sputnik, and a Rising Cold War 01:21:44 JFK Announces his Candidacy for President 01:25:38 Electing the First Catholic President 01:28:09 How JFK Selected Lyndon Johnson for Vice President 01:34:06 The Presidential Election of 1960: Kennedy vs. Nixon 01:36:53 JFK’s Address to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association 01:38:44 Nixon vs. Kennedy: The First Televised Presidential Debates in U.S. History 01:42:37 JFK, Martin Luther King Jr., and the Civil Rights Struggle 01:46:58 Election Night 1960: A Frighteningly Close Victory 01:50:44 President-Elect John F. Kennedy: A New Administration and a New Generation #JFK #Presidents #History #20thCentury #Kennedy This program is made possible by viewers like you. Support your local PBS station: https://www.pbs.org/donate Subscribe to the AMERICAN EXPERIENCE channel for more videos: https://www.youtube.com/c/AmericanExp... Enjoy full episodes of your favorite AMERICAN EXPERIENCE shows anytime, anywhere with the free PBS App: https://to.pbs.org/2QbtzhR FOLLOW AMERICAN EXPERIENCE Newsletter: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexpe... Facebook:   / americanexperiencepbs   Instagram:   / americanexperiencepbs   Threads: https://www.threads.net/@americanexpe...