Today is the 60th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
This dark day should always be remembered in America for what was stolen from us.
He was a great man, and the youngest ever elected president. He was wise, judicious and elegant. He saved the world from nuclear catastrophe because he understood that the most important quality of political leadership is restraint.
He was a man with vision, guts, courage and integrity.
I have written about him often. Here are a few of my essays that pay tribute to this great man:
Even though I wrote this and tied it to the 2022 midterm elections, this essay includes JFK’s four-part test for service in his “City on the Hill” speech. I would encourage you to listen to it:
In this essay, I reference John F. Kennedy’s last major speech of his presidency at Amherst College where he paid tribute to the poet Robert Frost. He spoke to the qualities of character that infuse the spirit of “true artists:”
Thank you, Steve, for lifting up the memory of JFK. He was my Commander-in-Chief. When JFK was assassinated, I was a young Airman (all of 19!) stationed in Bremerhaven, Germany. I learned about Kennedy's assassination while at a German pub, accompanied by a fellow Airman. While sitting in that pub, a couple of German youth our age came over to us, tears streaming down their faces. Somewhat confused at first, I had learned enough German to know when one of the lads mentioned Kennedy and then said, "Er ist tote". He is dead. Even today, as I remember this moment I am moved to tears.
My buddy and I hastened back to base, which was on full alert and lockdown. For the Germans, JFK was a bright and shining beacon. For a young nineteen-year-old Airman, he was a symbol, an icon, of all that was great about my country. He was idolized by the thousands.
Happy & Blessed Thanksgiving to you and yours. There are those who believe the memory of John F. Kennedy should be relegated to the dustbin of history. I pray to God Almighty that never happens!
Mr Schmidt, I am so grateful for your insightful commentary each day, and really appreciate your ability to bring in examples of inspirational leadership, past and present, to inspire us today to our own action. I admit that the last 8 years have been exhausting and sometimes -as recently- the powers of darkness seem overwhelming, despite so many of us working hard to counter them (think Ohio, Wisconsin, Louisiana, North Carolina, Texas -the list feels endless!). Reading your column and thinking of JFK and his charismatic and positive outlook on life is a much needed reset. In our family we always note this terrible day, the first time I ever saw my big, strong father cry. But so much of JFK was lyrical, and we focus too much on the tragedy, and perhaps his various stumbles, instead of on his amazing and visionary philosophy for our democracy and this republic. Thank you. I give thanks for you on this Thanksgiving, for helping me stay sane as we battle to keep our country a democracy. All good wishes to you and your family on this most American holiday.