ABSTRACT
John Kennedy (served 1961-1963) very narrowly won election in 1960 with a campaign proclaiming the need to “get the country moving again.” In foreign affairs he asserted the importance of increased defense spending and a staunch anticommunist posture. Domestically, he stressed the importance of economic growth and endorsed a lengthy list of initiatives. To achieve those goals, he promised “decisive and vigorous” presidential leadership. His promise, however, was short-lived. In November 1963 his term was cut short by an assassin’s bullet. Thus, while historians and others can never take full measure of the Kennedy presidency, they can still ask how well did this moderate-opportunity president perform in his short time in office?
