Real Kennedy Shrouded in Myth and Mystery,

¶ … REAL KENNEDY

Shrouded in myth and mystery, John F. Kennedy is usually presented as a leader who could make a difference. He is seen as a man of character who wanted equal civil rights for blacks, effectively dealt with Cuban missile crisis, was a good father and had a perfect wife. Kennedy is even touted as the man who could direct the country to more prosperity had he not died in office. But this is just a mythical image of Kennedy. The real Kennedy was shockingly less pious and anything but a good leader. What he promised he never delivered and was consistently unfaithful to his very devoted wife.

Let us start with his political undertakings. As much as we would love to believe that Kennedy was a great political leader, the truth is that he was anything but that. President Kennedy used the political system to his advantage only and not for public's benefit. For one he never tried to change or shape the system in which he worked. He was too concerned about his own popularity to try changing public opinion or political system. Leaders bring changes; they are fearless and love taking calculated risks. Kennedy doesn't fulfill any of these conditions. He avoided risks even the ones that the country desperately expected him to take such as civil rights for blacks. He always played safe simply because that was afraid of losing his popularity in the Congress. And these are documented facts. Cronin (1998) writes:

"John F. Kennedy, the author of the much-acclaimed Profiles in Courage, was often criticized for presenting more profile than courage. He avoided political risks where possible. Kennedy was fond of pointing out that he had barely won election in 1960 and that great innovations should not be forced on the public by a leader with such a slender mandate. President Kennedy is often credited with encouraging widespread public participation in politics, but he repeatedly reminded Americans that caution is needed, that the important issues are complicated, technical, and best left to the administrative and political experts. Seldom did Kennedy attempt to change the political context in which he operated." (p. 17) He was not interested in changing the political and social scene in the country as many would love to believe. In fact he opposed, "the new form of politics emerging with the civil rights movement: mass action, argument on social fundamentals, appeals to considerations of justice and morality. Moving the American political system in such a direction would necessarily have been long-range, requiring arduous educational work and promising substantial political risk." (Miroff, p. 31)

Political incompetence was not his only fault. His career was consistently plagued by sex scandals, pain killer addiction, philandering ways and broken promises. How can we possibly describe him as a man of morals when everyone knows how very unfaithful he was to his wife and how often his sex scandals especially the one with Marilyn Monroe made headlines during his tenure. Thomas C. Reeves, author of 'A Life of John F. Kennedy: A Question of Character' presents a more realistic and true picture of United States' most highly rated President. He explains that Kennedy was never a family man. He was always interested in other women and his father believed that the reason Kennedy ought to get married was because "a wife and a family [are] political necessities" (111).

Kennedy was busy with his philandering during his crucial presidential campaign too. He was addicted to having other women with him as Reeves maintains that even few minutes before his debate with Nixon, Kennedy wanted to spend some time with a woman. "Ninety minutes before airtime, Kennedy was in a hotel room with a call girl (20).