Challenges Faced by John F. Kennedy: Obstacles and Turning Points

Life is full of challenges, and John F. Kennedy faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.

John F. Kennedy (JFK) was the 35th U.S. President, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. As the first Roman Catholic and youngest elected president at 43, his presidency occurred during the peak of the Cold War. His foreign policy heavily focused on relations with the Soviet Union and Cuba. Prior to becoming president, Kennedy, a Democrat, represented Massachusetts in both the House and Senate.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1920: Kennedy Contracts Scarlet Fever

In 1920, three months before his third birthday, Kennedy contracted scarlet fever and was admitted to Boston City Hospital.

June 1934: Kennedy Admitted to Mayo Clinic

In June 1934, Kennedy was admitted to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, where he was diagnosed with colitis.

October 1935: Return to the U.S. due to Ill Health

In October 1935, Kennedy returned to the U.S. due to ill health and enrolled at Princeton University, but had to leave after two months due to gastrointestinal illness.

1940: Attempted to enter Officer Candidate School

In 1940, Kennedy attempted to enter the army's Officer Candidate School but was medically disqualified.

December 1943: Kennedy left the Pacific front

In December 1943, with his health deteriorating, Kennedy left the Pacific front.

January 1945: Kennedy recovered from back injury at Castle Hot Springs

Beginning in January 1945, Kennedy spent three months recovering from his back injury at Castle Hot Springs, a resort and temporary military hospital in Arizona.

September 1947: Kennedy's Diagnosis with Addison's Disease

In September 1947, when he was 30 and in his first term in Congress, Kennedy was diagnosed with Addison's disease by Sir Daniel Davis at The London Clinic.

1960: Kennedy's Victory in the 1960 Election

Kennedy had a small margin of victory in the 1960 election which hindered the passage of New Frontier policies.

March 1961: Kennedy Changes Policy on Laos

In March 1961, Kennedy shifted policy from supporting a "free" Laos to a "neutral" Laos and privately designated Vietnam as America's tripwire against communism's spread in the area. He approved CIA activities, including bombing raids and the recruitment of the Hmong people, to combat Communist insurgents.

April 1961: Soviet Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin's Space Flight

In April 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person to fly in space, which reinforced American fears about being left behind by the Soviet Union.

May 1961: Alliance for Progress Initial Grant

In May 1961, Congress approved an initial grant of $500 million for the Alliance for Progress in response to Kennedy's request to contain communism in Latin America.

May 1961: Freedom Riders and Kennedy's response

In May 1961, the Congress of Racial Equality organized integrated Freedom Rides to test segregation laws, met with mob violence. Kennedy assigned federal marshals to protect the Riders.

June 1961: Vienna Summit Meeting

In their Vienna summit meeting in June 1961, Khrushchev and Kennedy reached an informal understanding against nuclear testing, but the Soviet Union began testing nuclear weapons that September.

December 1961: Iraq Passes Public Law 80

In December 1961, Abd al-Karim Qasim's Iraqi government passed Public Law 80, restricting the Iraq Petroleum Company (IPC)'s concessionary holding, effectively expropriating 99.5% of the IPC concession.

1961: Kennedy's Health Issues at Vienna Summit

During the 1961 Vienna Summit, Kennedy appears to have been taking a combination of drugs to treat back pain, which may have had diplomatic repercussions.

1961: Kennedy Escalates Involvement in Vietnam

In 1961, Kennedy escalated American involvement in Vietnam by financing the South Vietnam army, increasing the number of U.S. military advisors, and authorizing U.S. helicopter units to provide support to South Vietnamese forces.

1961: Kennedy's legislative agenda and successes

In 1961, Kennedy focused on passing five key bills: federal education assistance, medical insurance for the elderly, housing legislation, aid to struggling areas, and a minimum wage increase. The minimum wage bill increasing it to $1.25/hour passed but exempted laundry workers. He also secured passage of the Area Redevelopment Act and the Housing Act of 1961, but faced defeat for his education and health insurance bills.

1961: Kennedy's first budget leads to a deficit

In 1961, Kennedy's first budget resulted in the nation's first non-war, non-recession deficit.

1961: Disagreements Among Kennedy's Doctors

Into late 1961, disagreements existed among Kennedy's doctors concerning the balance of medication and exercise for his health issues. His primary White House physician, George G. Burkley, set up gym equipment in the White House basement.

January 18, 1962: Kennedy Authorizes Escalated Involvement in Vietnam

On January 18, 1962, Kennedy formally authorized escalated involvement in Vietnam when he signed the National Security Action Memorandum (NSAM) – "Subversive Insurgency (War of Liberation)."

April 1962: Kennedy confronts U.S. Steel over price increases

In April 1962, Kennedy responded to U.S. Steel's price increase by initiating a price-fixing investigation and pressuring other steel companies to rescind their increases, ultimately leading U.S. Steel to also reverse its decision.

April 1962: State Department Issues Guidelines on Iraq

In April 1962, the State Department issued new guidelines on Iraq intended to increase American influence. Kennedy instructed the CIA to begin preparations for a military coup against Qasim.

September 1962: James Meredith enrolls at the University of Mississippi

In September 1962, James Meredith's attempt to enroll at the University of Mississippi led to riots, prompting Kennedy to send federal marshals and troops to restore order and ensure his enrollment.

October 1962: Cuban Missile Crisis

In October 1962, the Cuban Missile Crisis occurred after U.S. spy planes discovered Soviet missile bases in Cuba, bringing the world close to nuclear war.

1962: Approval of the Manpower Development and Training Act

In 1962, Kennedy secured approval for the Manpower Development and Training Act, a three-year program aimed at retraining workers displaced by new technology, but its impact was minimal.

August 1963: Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. Replaces Frederick Nolting

In August 1963, Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. replaced Frederick Nolting as the U.S. ambassador to South Vietnam, and reported that several South Vietnamese generals sought U.S. assent to their plan of removing Diem from power.

August 28, 1963: March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

On August 28, 1963, over 250,000 people gathered in Washington for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, which Kennedy initially opposed, and subsequently led Robert Kennedy to authorize the FBI to wiretap Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders.

September 15, 1963: 16th Street Baptist Church bombing

On Sunday, September 15, 1963, a bomb exploded at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, resulting in the deaths of four Black children and further violence. The civil rights legislation underwent drastic amendments that critically endangered any prospects for passage of the bill, to the outrage of Kennedy. He called the congressional leaders to the White House and by the following day the original bill, without the additions, had enough votes to get it out of the House committee.

September 1963: Reevaluation of Policies in South Vietnam

In the aftermath of the aborted coup in September 1963, the Kennedy administration reevaluated its policies in South Vietnam, rejecting both full-scale deployment of ground soldiers and total withdrawal of U.S. forces.

November 1963: American Military Personnel in South Vietnam

By November 1963, there were 16,000 American military personnel in South Vietnam, up from Eisenhower's 900 advisors; more than one hundred Americans had been killed in action and no final policy decision was made.

November 22, 1963: Assassination of JFK

On November 22, 1963, John F. Kennedy was assassinated, marking the end of his presidency.

1963: Germany's Vulnerability and Franco-German Cooperation

In 1963, Germany was vulnerable due to Soviet aggression and the impending retirement of West German Chancellor Adenauer, while French President Charles de Gaulle was building a Franco-West German counterweight to American and Soviet influence, which Kennedy viewed as directed against NATO.

1964: Potential Policy Change

Historians disagree on whether the U.S. military presence in Vietnam would have escalated had Kennedy survived and been re-elected in 1964.

1964: Re-election considerations

In 1964, Kennedy needed the support of conservative Southern Democrats to support his reelection.

1966: Revelation of Kennedy's Hypothyroidism

In 1966, White House physician Janet Travell revealed that Kennedy also had hypothyroidism.

1973: Alliance for Progress Committee Disbanded

By 1973, the permanent committee established to implement the Alliance for Progress was disbanded by the OAS, as U.S. presidents after Kennedy showed less support for the program.

2002: Robert Dallek's History of Kennedy's Health

In 2002, Robert Dallek wrote an extensive history of Kennedy's health based on Kennedy-associated papers from 1955 to 1963, including X-rays and prescription records from Travell.