John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States.
History[]
Early life[]
Friendship with Eddie Blake[]
During World War II, John F. Kennedy met Eddie Blake. The two maintained a close friendship ever since, sharing their affection for rugby, playing matches together with his siblings and placing bets.[1]
President of the United States[]
Inauguration[]
In January 20, 1961, Kennedy was inaugurated as the 35th President of the United States at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.. Eddie Blake and Adrian Veidt were in attendance and congratulated the new president.
Meeting Doctor Manhattan[]
In 1961, Kennedy met the first real superhero, Doctor Manhattan, in Washington, D.C.. He asked him what it's like to be a superhero, to which Manhattan replied that JFK should already know and everyone laughed. That year, JFK kept silent his problems with Cuba and didn't ask for Manhattan's help.[2]
Affair with Marilyn Monroe[]
Kennedy had an romantic affair with Marilyn Monroe, while under the alias of "Janet Smith". His wife, Jackie, was aware of the affair and requested that Eddie Blake should "take care of her".[1]
Cold War[]
Vietnam War[]
During the first phase of the Vietnam War, Kennedy hoped that the existence of Doctor Manhattan would ensure that American soldiers would not need to participate in the atrocities of the war. Doctor Manhattan meets with him at the White House and notes that the President carefully avoids any mention of a superpowered intervention in Vietnam.
Cuban Missile Crisis[]
In 1962, Kennedy had to resolve the Cuban Missile Crisis with the help of Adrian Veidt and forbid Russian ships to approach Cuba.
Football Bet[]
Blake had put a bet against the New York Giants with Kennedy. As the Giants won, Blake was supposed to buy him a steak dinner at Dunston's in Dallas.[1]
Assassination[]
On November 22, 1963, Doctor Manhattan knows that Kennedy is going to be assassinated in Dallas, Texas, but feels it would be futile to try to prevent it, as it has already happened in Manhattan's altered awareness of time. Kennedy was cut down by bullets as his motorcade approached downtown Dallas.[1][2] Kennedy never gave the speech in Dallas in which he would refer to contemporary Americans being "the watchmen on the walls of world freedom."[3]
Kennedy died in Parkland Hospital, and his vice-president, Lyndon B. Johnson, took office. The news of his death devastated both Moloch and the Comedian.[1]
Legacy[]
John's brother Robert tried to continue his work and became senator of New York, and then ran for President of the United States until his assassination.[4]
Trivia[]
- In the original series, It is vaguely implied that the Comedian, in Dallas at the time minding then-former Vice President Richard Nixon, may have killed John F. Kennedy. The film adaptation does show the Comedian assassinating Kennedy in the opening credits. However, this is contradicted by Issue #1 of Before Watchmen: Comedian.