Image: By NASA - Great Images in NASA Description
About This Quiz
For his first 45 years, John F. Kennedy led a storied life; the son of wealth and influential parents, he graduated from Harvard, fought in WWII, then went on to become a Congressman and Senator. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1957, then became the youngest elected President in history in 1961 at the age of 43. He had a beautiful young wife, two young children, and held the highest political office in the United States.Â
The dream ended on November 22, 1963, when Kennedy was killed by an assassin while riding in a motorcade. Just four days after his burial, his grieving widow cemented his legacy and image when she told a reporter, "Don't let it be forgot that for one brief moment, there was Camelot," comparing JFK's life in the White House to the mythical King Arthur.
Do you know which branch of the service JFK belonged to during WWII, or which state he represented in the Senate before being elected President? Remember the names of his two kids, or how long he was in office? Can you separate our the myths from the reality? Prove your knowledge of the 35th U.S. President with this John F. Kennedy quiz!
What was John F. Kennedy's middle name?
Francis
Fitzgerald
John F. Kennedy's middle name was Fitzgerald. Rose Kennedy's maiden name was Fitzgerald.
Fitzpatrick
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John F. Kennedy is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
TRUE
On Nov. 25, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on the slope just below Arlington House.
FALSE
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John F. Kennedy enlisted into which military branch in 1941?
Air Force
Army
Navy
In 1941, John F. Kennedy enlisted in the U.S. Navy, embarking on a military career that would eventually lead him to the highest office in America.
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What was the name of the commission appointed to investigate the assassination of John F. Kennedy?
The Johnson Commission
The Kennedy Commission
The Warren Commission
President Lyndon Johnson, Kennedy's successor, established a commission to investigate the assassination of President Kennedy. The commission was led by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren and was called the Warren Commission.
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What childhood illness resulted in the hospitalization of John F. Kennedy?
Scarlett fever
John F. Kennedy was hospitalized for nearly a month with scarlet fever when he was nearly 3 years old.
Chicken pox
Mumps
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John F. Kennedy authorized 1,500 CIA-trained refugees to invade which country?
Bay of Pigs
On April 15, 1961, John F. Kennedy authorized 1,500 CIA-trained Cuban refugees to invade Cuba at the Bay of Pigs. By all accounts, the mission was a failure.
Guantánamo Bay
Bay of Santa Clara
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What was Jacqueline Kennedy's maiden name?
Shriver
Onassis
Bouvier
Before marrying John F. Kennedy on Sept. 12, 1953, Jacqueline Kennedy's maiden name was Bouvier.
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In October 1962, John F. Kennedy successfully negotiated the removal of what from Cuba?
A buildup of Soviet troops
A fleet of Soviet ships
Soviet ballistic nuclear missiles
In October 1962, John F. Kennedy successfully negotiated the removal of Soviet ballistic nuclear missiles, bringing a peaceful end to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
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What was the title of the book authored by John F. Kennedy?
"Why England Slept"
John F. Kennedy's senior Harvard thesis titled, "Appeasement at Munich," was published as the book, "Why England Slept," in 1940.
"Appeasement"
"England and Germany"
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In April, 1943, John F. Kennedy took command of which naval vessel?
PT 109
John F. Kennedy took command of the naval vessel PT 109 in April 1943.
BB 109
DD 109
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What severe injury did John F. Kennedy suffer as a result of the sinking of PT 109?
leg injury
back injury
John F. Kennedy suffered a severe back injury as a result of the sinking of PT 109, a malady that would cause him discomfort for years.
abdominal injury
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John F. Kennedy was born in Boston, Massachusetts.
TRUE
FALSE
John F. Kennedy was born in Brookline, Massachusetts. Brookline borders the city of Boston and was incorporated as an independent city in 1705.
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How many siblings did John F. Kennedy have?
four
six
eight
Joseph and Rose Kennedy had nine children --four sons and five daughters -- thereby giving John F. Kennedy eight siblings.
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What legislation did John F. Kennedy introduce to congress in June 1963?
An unemployment bill
A civil rights bill
In June 1963, John F. Kennedy introduced a civil rights bill to Congress. Kennedy's bill was passed as the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The passage came shortly after his death.
An income tax bill
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Which nickname was not used to refer to John F. Kennedy?
"Johnny"
The nickname "Johnny" was not used to refer to John F. Kennedy. He was, however, often referred to as "Jack." Following his presidency, "JFK" also became a popular moniker.
"Jack"
"JFK"
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Which East Coast private boarding school did John F. Kennedy attend?
The Taft School
The Hotchkiss School
The Choate School
John F. Kennedy attended The Choate School in Wallingford, Connecticut, which was a private college-preparatory boys' boarding school.
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When did John F. Kennedy graduate from Harvard University?
1938
1940
John F. Kennedy graduated from Harvard University with a degree in international affairs in June 1940.
1942
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John F. Kennedy's brother Joseph Jr. died flying which plane during World War II?
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-24 Liberator
John F. Kennedy's older brother Joseph Jr. died flying a B-24 Liberator during World War II.
P-51 Mustang
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Which year was John F. Kennedy elected to the U.S. House of Representatives?
1950
1948
1946
John F. Kennedy was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1946.
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Which potentially fatal illness was John F. Kennedy diagnosed with in 1947?
Addison's disease
John F. Kennedy was diagnosed with Addison's disease in 1947. Patients with Addison's disease can develop a potentially fatal disorder called adrenal crisis.
Graves' disease
Hashimoto's disease
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In his 1952 bid for the U.S. Senate, John F. Kennedy appointed his younger brother Robert as campaign manager.
TRUE
John F. Kennedy appointed his younger brother Robert as campaign manager during his 1952 bid to become a U.S. senator. One journalist called the campaign "…the most disciplined and smoothly working statewide campaign in Massachusetts history -- and possibly anywhere else."
FALSE
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When was John F. Kennedy born?
1917
John F. Kennedy was born on May 29, 1917, to Joseph and Rose Kennedy.
1919
1921
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Who was the incumbent U.S. senator from Massachusetts that John F. Kennedy defeated in the 1952 election?
David I. Walsh
Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.
John F. Kennedy defeated the incumbent Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. for the Senate seat in Massachusetts in the 1952 election.
Benjamin Smith
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How many children did John F. and Jacqueline Kennedy have?
three
John F. and Jacqueline Kennedy had three children: Caroline, John Jr. and Patrick. Patrick was born prematurely and died just 39 hours after birth. The cause of death was a respiratory disorder.
two
one
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What was the title of the book John F. Kennedy wrote while recovering from back surgery?
"Profiles in Politics"
"Courage in Politics"
"Profiles in Courage"
While recovering from back surgery, John F. Kennedy wrote the book "Profiles in Courage." Kennedy was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for the book in 1957.
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Which presidential candidate nearly selected John F. Kennedy as his running mate in 1956?
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Adlai Stevenson
In 1956, presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson nearly selected Kennedy as his running mate for vice president. Stevenson instead chose Sen. Estes Kefauver of Tennessee, and the pair lost the election.
Richard Nixon
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Which presidential candidate did John F. Kennedy face in the first-ever televised presidential debate in 1960?
Richard Nixon
On Sept. 26, 1960, presidential candidates John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon faced-off in the first-ever televised presidential debate.
Lyndon B. Johnson
Hubert Humphrey
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On Jan. 20, 1961, John F. Kennedy was sworn-in as which president?
33rd
35th
On Jan. 20, 1961, John F. Kennedy was sworn-in as the 35th president of the United States.
37th
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Which organization did John F. Kennedy create to provide aid to people of impoverished foreign countries?
World Health Organization
The International Red Cross
The Peace Corps
John F. Kennedy created the Peace Corps by executive order on March 1, 1961, to provide aid to people of impoverished foreign countries.
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How old was John F. Kennedy when he died?
46
John F. Kennedy was 46 years old when he died as the result of an assassination on Nov. 22, 1963.
48
50
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You Got:
/30
By NASA - Great Images in NASA Description