The Presidency of John F. Kennedy

A 50th Anniversary Celebration

On January 20, 1961, John Fitzgerald Kennedy took the oath of office and became the 35th president of the United States.

During his little more than a thousand days in office, President Kennedy worked to remind Americans they could achieve great things as citizens of the nation and the world. He inspired people to enter public service by taking jobs in government or the newly created Peace Corps. He set into motion initiatives like civil rights legislation and space exploration. And through his words and examples, President Kennedy raised awareness of the importance of the arts in America.