John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States, the youngest person ever to be elected President, and the first Roman Catholic. Kennedy was assassinated before he completed his third year as President. He had a worldwide influence and his handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis may have prevented the United States from entering another world war. The younger people especially admired Kennedy and he was possibly the most popular president in history. Kennedy expressed the values of 20th century America and his presidency had an importance beyond its political achievements. John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born in Brookline, Massachusetts and was one of nine children. The Kennedy family was very wealthy, thus the Kennedy children were able to pursue whatever they chose.
John F. Kennedy chose to purse politics and was elected to Congress in 1942. As a new member Kennedy supported legislation that would serve the interests of his elements. Kennedy usually backed bills sponsored by his party but would sometimes show independence by voting with the Republicans. He also joined with the Republicans in criticizing the Truman administration's handling of China. In China, the Nationalist government of Chiang Kai-shek, which had been supported by the United States, was unable to withstand the advance of Communist forces under Mao Zedong. By the end of 1949 government troops had been overwhelmingly defeated, and Chiang led his forces into exile on Taiwan. The triumphant Mao formed the People's Republic of China. Truman's critics, including Kennedy, charged that the administration had failed to support Chiang Kai-shek against the Communists. .
Despite Kennedy's wavering within his own party platform, John F. Kennedy easily won reelection to Congress in 1948 and 1950. In 1952 he decided to run against functioning Republican Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. Kennedy was little known outside his congressional district therefore he began his campaign two years before the election, meeting with hundreds of thousands of people in Massachusetts.