JFK Legacy

The American Ireland Fund, part of the Ireland Funds network, is a nonprofit organization that assists the island of Ireland and Irish-related causes in the United States. The Ireland Funds currently operate in 12 countries and have raised over $380 million for more than 1,200 outstanding organizations. Their mission is to be the largest network of friends of Ireland dedicated to supporting programs of education, peace and reconciliation, arts and culture, and community development throughout the island of Ireland.

The President authorized the “Green Beret” as the official headgear for all US Army Special Forces and these Unconventional Warriors were thereafter and ever known as “The Green Berets." Presently, there are 5,500 active duty green berets, with 1,100 more in the National Guard. They are tasked with six primary missions, including unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, direct action, hostage rescue, and counter-terrorism.

A memorial to President Kennedy, the Institute of Politics' mission is to unite and engage students, particularly undergraduates, with academics, politicians, activists, and policymakers on a non-partisan basis and to stimulate and nurture their interest in public service and leadership. The Institute strives to promote greater understanding and cooperation between the academic world and the world of politics and public affairs. Led by a Director, Senior Advisory Board, Student Advisory Committee, and staff, the Institute provides wide-ranging opportunities for both Harvard students and the general public.

The legacy of President John F. Kennedy and his administration continues to resonate in today’s society. This is a collection of short interviews with leading figures in politics, science and innovation, the arts, diplomacy, and civil rights discussing how President Kennedy influenced them and their work.

The JFK 50 mile ultra marathon was first held in the spring of 1963. At that time, it was one of numerous such 50 mile events held around the country as part of President John F. Kennedy's push to bring the country back to physical fitness. President Kennedy's initial inspiration for the event derived from his challenge to the country's military officers to meet the same fitness requirements for officers as established by President Theodore Roosevelt at the dawn of the 20th century.

In the twenty years following the Kennedy administration, Congress passed 116 acts or amendments providing support for people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Established in 1966 by President Johnson, the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (formally called the President's Committee on Mental Retardation) still exists today, providing advice to the president and to the secretary of Health and Human Services. President Kennedy and his family forever changed public attitudes toward people with intellectual disabilities. Their influence on related policies and programs can still be seen today.

President John F. Kennedy was a lifelong supporter and advocate of the arts and frequently steered the public discourse toward what he called "our contribution to the human spirit." Kennedy placed his administration firmly behind the endeavor, taking the lead in raising funds for the new “National Cultural Center” and holding special White House luncheons and receptions focused on the arts. President Kennedy also appointed his wife, Jacqueline, and Mrs. Eisenhower as honorary co-chairwomen of the institution.

The Kennedy Memorial is situated at Runnymede, the meadow on the banks of the Thames where King John sealed the Magna Carta in 1215. Although the Kennedy Trust is responsible for the Memorial, it is maintained by the National Trust of the United Kingdom. The Memorial was designed by Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe, who drew on Pilgrim's Progress and Bunyan's allegory of life as a journey, as inspiration for the design of the site.

On July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 astronauts—Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin Jr.—realized President Kennedy's dream. At 8:18 p.m. ET, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first two individuals to ever land on the moon. Six hours later, Neil Armstrong became the first to step onto the lunar surface.

The United States Navy's Sea, Air, and Land Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, were established by President John F. Kennedy in 1962 as a small, elite maritime military force to conduct Unconventional Warfare. They carry out the types of clandestine, small-unit, high-impact missions that large forces with high-profile platforms (such as ships, tanks, jets and submarines) cannot. SEALs also conduct essential on-the-ground Special Reconnaissance of critical targets for imminent strikes by larger conventional forces.

Today's Peace Corps is more vital than ever, working in emerging and essential areas such as information technology and business development, and contributing to the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Peace Corps Volunteers continue to help countless individuals who want to build a better life for themselves, their children, and their communities.

The Situation Room was created after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion during the Kennedy Administration. President Kennedy felt he could no longer trust the information coming to him from the various areas of the national defense departments. As a way to ease the tensions and create a place for higher communication after the Bay of Pigs, President Kennedy’s national security advisor, McGeorge Bundy, created the Situation Room in May of 1961. To create space for the Situation Room, President Truman’s bowling alley was removed.