John F. Kennedy (PJW)

John F. Kennedy (May 29, 1917 - September 7, 1966) was an American politician, a Senator of Massachusetts, and 36th President of the United States for a few months in 1964.

Kennedy served as the junior senator of Massachusetts from 1953 to 1960. He campaigned for the presidency in 1960, coming in second in the Democrat primaries to Jimmie Davis. Due to Kennedy's northern background and moderate stance on civil rights, he was chosen as Davis's running mate to balance out the ticket. Davis and Kennedy defeated Nelson Rockefeller in the 1960 presidential election.

Davis espoused a policy of segregation and non-interventionism, often to the frustration of Kennedy. Davis was often absent during his presidency, leaving Kennedy battling with Chief of Staff Leander Perez to continue the president's policies and possibly, a rumors claim, run the country themselves. The conflict between Kennedy and Davis led to Kennedy challenging Davis in the 1964 Democrat primaries.

Davis's assassination in May 1964 left Kennedy the president and the front runner at a crucial time during the primaries. The Dixiecrats failed to organize in time and Kennedy became the nominee. Emboldened, Kennedy announced his support for civil rights and foreign interventionism, resulting in the Dixiecrats splitting away and running an independent ticket of Strom Thurmond and James William Fulbright. Despite being the incumbent, Kennedy only took third place in the 1964 election.

Kennedy remained a vocal supporter of interventionism, which became popular following the Santo Domingo Massacre and Dominican War in the summer of 1965. His newfound popularity led many to believe Kennedy might run for the presidency once again in 1968, but Kennedy suffered from numerous health issues, leading to his death in 1966.