John F. Kennedy

==Personal life, family, and reputation==
{{further|Kennedy family}}
[[File:ARC194238-JFK-Robert-Edward.jpg|thumb|The Kennedy brothers: Attorney General [[Robert F. Kennedy]], Senator [[Ted Kennedy]], and President John F. Kennedy in 1963]]
The Kennedy family is one of the most established political families in the United States, having produced a president, three senators, three ambassadors, and multiple other representatives and politicians. While a congressman, Kennedy embarked on a seven-week trip to India, Japan, Vietnam, and Israel in 1951, at which point he became close with his then 25-year-old brother Robert, as well as his 27-year-old sister Patricia. Because they were several years apart in age, the brothers had previously seen little of each other. This {{convert|25000|mi|km|-3|adj=on}} trip was the first extended time they had spent together and resulted in their becoming best friends.{{sfn|Reeves|1993|p=29}} Robert would eventually serve as his brother's [[United States Attorney General|attorney general]] and closest presidential advisor;{{sfn|Reeves|1993|p=29}} he would later run for president in [[Robert F. Kennedy 1968 presidential campaign|1968]] before his [[assassination of Robert F. Kennedy|assassination]], while another Kennedy brother, Ted, ran for president in [[Ted Kennedy 1980 presidential campaign|1980]]. Kennedy's nephew and Robert's son, [[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.|Robert Jr.]], is [[Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 2024 presidential campaign|running]] for president in [[2024 United States presidential election|2024]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 5, 2023 |title=Robert F. Kennedy Jr. files paperwork to run for president as a Democrat |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/05/politics/robert-kennedy-president-democratic-nomination/index.html |website=CNN |language=en |access-date=May 2, 2023 |archive-date=April 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405224500/https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/05/politics/robert-kennedy-president-democratic-nomination/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Robert F. Kennedy Jr. running for president in 2024|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/04/05/robert-f-kennedy-jr-running-president-2024-00090706|author=Kelly Garrity|date=April 5, 2023|access-date=April 5, 2023|work=Politico|archive-date=April 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405235155/https://www.politico.com/news/2023/04/05/robert-f-kennedy-jr-running-president-2024-00090706|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Statement of Candidacy|url=https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/P40011793/1696043/|website=docquery.fec.gov|date=April 5, 2023|access-date=April 5, 2023|archive-date=April 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405230724/https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/P40011793/1696043|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 5, 2023 |title=Robert F. Kennedy Jr. files paperwork to run for president as a Democrat |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/anti-vaccine-activist-robert-f-kennedy-jr-challenging-biden-in-2024/ |website=CBS |language=en |access-date=May 2, 2023 |archive-date=April 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407201224/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/anti-vaccine-activist-robert-f-kennedy-jr-challenging-biden-in-2024/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Wife and children===
Kennedy met his wife, [[Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis|Jacqueline Lee "Jackie" Bouvier]], when he was a congressman. [[Charles L. Bartlett (journalist)|Charles L. Bartlett]], a journalist, introduced the pair at a dinner party.<ref>Cover story, ''Time magazine'', January 20, 1961</ref> They were married on September 12, 1953.<ref>Specious allegations in 1997 by UK journalist Terry O'Hanlon {{cite web |title=JFK The Bigamist. ... . The Truth At Last; Kennedy was already married when he got wed to Jackie. ... . |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/JFK+THE+BIGAMIST...+THE+TRUTH+AT+LAST%3b+Kennedy+was+already+married...-a061139564 |work=Sunday Mirror |access-date=October 31, 2010 |author=Golden, Andrew |date=July 27, 1997 |archive-date=September 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906210243/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/JFK+THE+BIGAMIST...+THE+TRUTH+AT+LAST%3b+Kennedy+was+already+married...-a061139564 |url-status=live }} and by author Seymour Hersh {{cite web |last=Reingold |first=Joyce |title=JFK 'Secret Marriage' A Story With Legs |url=http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/pbupd8/entries/2008/03/26/durie_appleton_spent_a_lifetim.html |work=Palm Beach Daily News |access-date=October 31, 2010 |date=March 26, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510034800/http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/pbupd8/entries/2008/03/26/durie_appleton_spent_a_lifetim.html |archive-date=May 10, 2011 }} that Kennedy had married previously have been soundly disproven. Reeves states that [[Ben Bradlee]], then at ''[[Newsweek]]'', inspected FBI files on it, and confirmed the falsehood. {{harvnb|Reeves|1993|p=348}}; for further refutation, see {{harvnb|O'Brien|2005|p=706}}.</ref> After a miscarriage in 1955 and a stillbirth in 1956 (their daughter Arabella), their daughter [[Caroline Kennedy|Caroline]] was born in 1957. [[John F. Kennedy Jr.|John Jr.]], nicknamed "John-John" by the press as a child, was born in late November 1960, 17 days after his father was elected. John Jr. died in 1999 when the [[John F. Kennedy, Jr. plane crash|small plane he was piloting crashed]].<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/jfkjr/stories/kennedy073199.htm | title = Kennedy Plane Found to Be Fully Functional | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = July 31, 1999 | access-date = January 2, 2010 | archive-date = May 25, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100525100145/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/jfkjr/stories/kennedy073199.htm | url-status = live }}</ref> In August 1963, Jackie gave birth to a son, [[Patrick Bouvier Kennedy|Patrick]]. However, he died after two days due to complications from birth.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Blair|first1=William M.|title=Kennedys Mourn Death of Infant – Kennedys Mourning Baby Son; Funeral Today Will Be Private|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1963/08/10/81822324.html?pageNumber=1|work=The New York Times|date=August 10, 1963|page=1|access-date=December 13, 2023|archive-date=October 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020170113/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1963/08/10/81822324.html?pageNumber=1|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Popular image===
[[File:JFK and family in Hyannis Port, 04 August 1962.jpg|thumb|The First Family in [[Hyannis Port, Massachusetts]], 1962]]
Kennedy and his wife were younger than the presidents and first ladies who preceded them, and both were popular in the [[media culture]] in ways more common to pop singers and movie stars than politicians, influencing fashion trends and becoming the subjects of photo spreads in popular magazines. Although Eisenhower had allowed presidential press conferences to be filmed for television, Kennedy was the first president to ask for them to be broadcast [[Live television|live]] and made good use of the medium.<ref name="american chronicle">{{cite news|url=http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/6883|publisher=American Chronicle|date=March 15, 2006|title=Happy Anniversary to the first scheduled presidential press conference—93 years young!|first=Robert|last=Rouse|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913094418/http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/6883|archive-date=September 13, 2008}}</ref> In 1961, the [[Radio Television Digital News Association|Radio-Television News Directors Association]] presented Kennedy with its highest honor, the [[Paul White (journalist)|Paul White]] Award, in recognition of his open relationship with the media.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rtdna.org/article/rtdna_s_kennedy_connections |title=RTDNA's Kennedy connections |publisher=[[Radio Television Digital News Association]], November 26, 2013 |access-date=May 27, 2014 |archive-date=August 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819191945/http://www.rtdna.org/article/rtdna_s_kennedy_connections |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Kennedys invited a range of artists, writers and intellectuals to White House dinners, raising the profile of the arts in America. On the White House lawn, they established a swimming pool and tree house, while Caroline attended a preschool with 10 other children inside the home.<ref>{{cite web |title=Life of Jacqueline B. Kennedy |url=https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/life-of-jacqueline-b-kennedy |website=John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum |access-date=December 13, 2023 |archive-date=December 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231218061208/https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/life-of-jacqueline-b-kennedy |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The White House Restoration |url=https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/jfk-in-history/the-white-house-restoration |website=John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum |access-date=December 13, 2023 |archive-date=December 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213012052/https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/jfk-in-history/the-white-house-restoration |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Vaughn Meader]]'s ''First Family'' comedy album, which parodied the president, the first lady, their family, and the administration, sold about four million copies.<ref>{{cite web |title="The First Family" (1962) |url=https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-recording-preservation-board/documents/first%20family.pdf |website=Library of Congress |access-date=December 20, 2023 |archive-date=January 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117172643/https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-recording-preservation-board/documents/first%20family.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Health===
Despite a privileged youth, Kennedy was plagued by childhood diseases, including [[whooping cough]], [[chicken pox]], [[measles]], and ear infections. These ailments compelled him to spend a considerable amount of time [[convalescing]]. Three months prior to his third birthday, in 1920, Kennedy came down with [[scarlet fever]], a highly contagious and life-threatening disease, and was admitted to [[Boston City Hospital]].{{sfn|Dallek|2003|p=32}}<ref name="jfklibrary.org"/>
[[File:John F. Kennedy after spinal surgery cph.3c33052.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Kennedy and Jackie leaving the hospital following his spinal surgery, December 1954]]

During his years at Choate, Kennedy was beset by health problems that culminated with his emergency hospitalization in 1934 at [[Yale New Haven Hospital]], where doctors suspected leukemia.<ref name = "Dallek">{{cite journal|last1=Dallek|first1=Robert|title=The Medical Ordeals of JFK|journal=The Atlantic|date=December 2002|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2002/12/the-medical-ordeals-of-jfk/305572/?single_page=true|access-date=March 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801185019/http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2002/12/the-medical-ordeals-of-jfk/305572/?single_page=true|archive-date=August 1, 2016 }}</ref> While sick, he became a passionate reader and also a fatalist.{{sfn|Matthews|2011|p=15}} In June 1934, he was admitted to the [[Mayo Clinic]] in Minnesota; the ultimate diagnosis was [[colitis]].<ref name = "Dallek"/> After withdrawing from Princeton University, Kennedy was hospitalized for observation at [[Brigham and Women's Hospital|Peter Bent Brigham Hospital]] in Boston. He then spent the spring of 1936 working as a ranch hand outside [[Benson, Arizona]] under [[Jack Speiden]].{{sfn|Dallek|2003|p=42}}

Years after Kennedy's death, it was revealed that in September 1947, while Kennedy was 30 and in his first term in Congress, he was diagnosed by Sir Daniel Davis at [[The London Clinic]] with [[Addison's disease]]. Davis estimated that Kennedy would not live for another year, while Kennedy hoped he could live for ten.<ref>{{cite episode|title=JFK (Part 1)|series=American Experience|series-link=American Experience|network=[[PBS]]|station=[[WGBH-TV|WGBH]]|date=November 11, 2013|season=25|number=7|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/jfk/|access-date=September 24, 2019|archive-date=September 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925003921/https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/jfk/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1966, White House physician [[Janet Travell]] revealed that Kennedy also had [[hypothyroidism]]. The presence of two [[endocrine disease]]s raises the possibility that Kennedy had [[autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 2]].<ref name="Mandel, Lee R. 2009 350–354">{{cite journal | author = Mandel, Lee R. | title = Endocrine and Autoimmune Aspects of the Health History of John F. Kennedy | journal = Annals of Internal Medicine | year = 2009 | issue = 5 | pages = 350–354 | pmid = 19721023 | doi = 10.7326/0003-4819-151-5-200909010-00011 | volume = 151 | doi-access = free }}</ref>

Kennedy suffered from chronic severe back pain, for which he had surgery. Kennedy's condition may have had diplomatic repercussions, as he appears to have been taking a combination of drugs to treat back pain during the 1961 [[Vienna Summit]]. The combination included hormones, animal organ cells, steroids, vitamins, enzymes, and amphetamines, and possible side effects included hyperactivity, [[hypertension]], impaired judgment, nervousness, and mood swings.{{sfn|Kempe|2011|p=213}} Kennedy at one time was regularly seen by three doctors, one of whom, [[Max Jacobson]], was unknown to the other two, as his mode of treatment was controversial<ref>[http://www.nysun.com/out-and-about/dr-feelgood/20251/ New York Sun September 20, 2005: "Dr. Feelgood"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410040218/https://www.nysun.com/out-and-about/dr-feelgood/20251/ |date=April 10, 2019 }} Retrieved July 11, 2011</ref> and used for the most severe bouts of back pain.{{sfn|Reeves|1993|pp=42, 158–159}}

Into late 1961, disagreements existed among Kennedy's doctors concerning the balance of medication and exercise. Kennedy preferred the former because he was short on time and desired immediate relief.{{sfn|Reeves|1993|p=243}} The president's physician, George Burkley, set up some gym equipment in the White House basement, where Kennedy did stretching exercises thrice weekly.{{sfn|Reeves|1993|p=244}} Details of these and other medical problems were not publicly disclosed during Kennedy's lifetime.<ref>Online NewsHour with Senior Correspondent [[Ray Suarez]] and physician Jeffrey Kelman, [https://web.archive.org/web/20021122141641/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/july-dec02/jfk_11-18.html "Pres. Kennedy's Health Secrets"], ''[[The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer]]'' transcript, November 18, 2002</ref> The President's primary White House physician, George Burkley, realized that treatments by Jacobson and Travell, including the excessive use of steroids and amphetamines, were medically inappropriate, and took action to remove Kennedy from their care.<ref name="jfkwhmd">{{cite web|last1=Ghaemi M.D., M.P.H.|first1=Nassir|title=What Jackie Kennedy Didn't Say—and Didn't Know|url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mood-swings/201109/what-jackie-kennedy-didnt-say-and-didnt-know|website=Psychology Today|access-date=August 22, 2016|date=September 14, 2011|archive-date=March 31, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331040111/https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/mood-swings/201109/what-jackie-kennedy-didnt-say-and-didnt-know|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{external media| float = right| video1 = [https://www.c-span.org/video/?176034-1/an-unfinished-life-john-f-kennedy-1917-1963 Presentation by Robert Dallek on ''An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy, 1917-1963'', May 20, 2003], [[C-SPAN]]}} 
In 2002, [[Robert Dallek]] wrote an extensive history of Kennedy's health based on a collection of Kennedy-associated papers from 1955 to 1963, including X-rays and prescription records from Travell. According to Travell's records, during his presidential years Kennedy suffered from high fevers; stomach, colon, and prostate issues; abscesses; high cholesterol; and adrenal problems. Travell kept a "Medicine Administration Record", cataloging Kennedy's medications: <blockquote>injected and ingested corticosteroids for his adrenal insufficiency; procaine shots and ultrasound treatments and hot packs for his back; Lomotil, Metamucil, paregoric, phenobarbital, testosterone, and trasentine to control his diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, and weight loss; penicillin and other antibiotics for his urinary-tract infections and an abscess; and [[Tuinal]] to help him sleep.<ref name = "Dallek"/></blockquote>

===Affairs and friendships===
[[File:JFK and Marilyn Monroe 1962.jpg|thumb|Attorney General [[Robert F. Kennedy]], [[Marilyn Monroe]], and John F. Kennedy talk during the president's May 19, 1962, early birthday party, where Monroe publicly serenaded Kennedy with "[[Happy Birthday, Mr. President]]"]]

Kennedy was single in the 1940s while having relationships with Danish journalist [[Inga Arvad]]{{sfn|Dallek|2003|pp=83–85}} and actress [[Gene Tierney]].{{sfn|Osborne|2006|p=195}} During his time as a senator, he had an affair with [[Gunilla von Post]], who later wrote that the future president tried to end his marriage to be with her before having any children with his wife.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/jfk-love-letters-to-swedish-mistress-to-be-sold-at-auction/7ZN6EXIJSFDWFITDSABHEAO5L4/|title=JFK love letters to Swedish mistress to be sold at auction|first=William J.|last=Kole|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=May 5, 2021|access-date=May 8, 2021|archive-date=May 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507111147/https://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/jfk-love-letters-to-swedish-mistress-to-be-sold-at-auction/7ZN6EXIJSFDWFITDSABHEAO5L4/|url-status=live}}</ref> Kennedy was also reported to have had affairs with [[Marilyn Monroe]],{{sfn|Reeves|1993|pp=315–316}} [[Judith Exner|Judith Campbell]],{{sfn|Reeves|1993|p=289}} [[Mary Pinchot Meyer]],{{sfn|Dallek|2003|p=475}} [[Marlene Dietrich]],{{sfn|Dallek|2003|p=58}} White House intern [[Mimi Alford]],<ref name=nytimes_garrow>{{cite news|last=Garrow|first=David J.|title=Substance Over Sex In Kennedy Biography|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/28/books/books-of-the-times-substance-over-sex-in-kennedy-biography.html|access-date=January 20, 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 28, 2003|archive-date=January 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130103102155/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/28/books/books-of-the-times-substance-over-sex-in-kennedy-biography.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and his wife's [[press secretary]], [[Pamela Turnure]].{{sfn|Dallek|2003|pp=475, 476}}

The full extent of Kennedy's relationship with Monroe (who in 1962 famously sang "[[Happy Birthday, Mr. President]]" at Kennedy's birthday celebration at [[Madison Square Garden (1925)|Madison Square Garden]]) is not known, though it has been reported that they spent a weekend together in March 1962 while he was staying at [[Bing Crosby]]'s house.{{sfn|Leaming|2006|pp=379–380}} Furthermore, people at the White House switchboard noted that Monroe had called Kennedy during 1962.{{sfn|Dallek|2003|p=581}} J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI director, received reports about Kennedy's indiscretions.{{sfn|Dallek|2003|p=376}} These included an alleged East German spy, [[Ellen Rometsch]]. According to historian [[Michael Beschloss]], in July 1963, Hoover reportedly informed Robert Kennedy about the affair with a woman "suspected as a Soviet intelligence agent, someone linked to East German intelligence." Robert Kennedy reportedly took the matter sufficiently seriously to raise it with leading Democratic and Republican figures in Congress.<ref>''Booknotes'' interview with historian Michael Beschloss on ''[https://www.c-span.org/video/?19109-1/the-crisis-years-kennedy-khrushchev The Crisis Years: Kennedy and Khrushchev] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102210203/https://www.c-span.org/video/?19109-1/the-crisis-years-kennedy-khrushchev |date=November 2, 2021 }}'' (C-SPAN: June 21, 1991)</ref><ref>Taylor Branch, "[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-12-18-vw-756-story.html Kennedys and Hoover: How Their Battles Affected King] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102210202/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-12-18-vw-756-story.html |date=November 2, 2021 }}" ''Los Angeles Times'' (December 18, 1988)</ref> Former Secret Service agent Larry Newman recalled "morale problems" that the president's indiscretions engendered within the Secret Service.<ref>Larry Sabato, "[https://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2013/10/16/john-f-kennedys-final-days-reveal-a-man-who-craved-excitement/?sh=7c58c16e71a9 John F. Kennedy's Final Days Reveal A Man Who Craved Excitement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102210202/https://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2013/10/16/john-f-kennedys-final-days-reveal-a-man-who-craved-excitement/?sh=7c58c16e71a9 |date=November 2, 2021 }}" ''Forbes'' (October 16, 2013)</ref>

Kennedy inspired affection and loyalty from the members of his team and his supporters.{{sfn|Barnes|2007|p=116}} According to Reeves, this included "the logistics of Kennedy's liaisons ... [which] required secrecy and devotion rare in the annals of the energetic service demanded by successful politicians."{{sfn|Reeves|1993|p=291}} Kennedy believed that his friendly relationship with members of the press would help protect him from public revelations about his sex life.{{sfn|Dallek|2003|p=478}}

=== Sports ===
[[File:President John F. Kennedy with the Boston Celtics (01) (A).jpg|thumb|President John F. Kennedy with the [[Boston Celtics]], January 1963]]

Kennedy was a fan of [[Major League Baseball]]'s [[Boston Red Sox]] and the [[National Basketball Association]]'s [[Boston Celtics]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Shaping Up America: JFK, Sports and the Call to Physical Fitness |url=https://www.jfklibrary.org/visit-museum/exhibits/past-exhibits/shaping-up-america-jfk-sports-and-the-call-to-physical-fitness |website=John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum |access-date=March 19, 2024 |archive-date=February 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213033135/https://www.jfklibrary.org/visit-museum/exhibits/past-exhibits/shaping-up-america-jfk-sports-and-the-call-to-physical-fitness |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Prince |first1=DeAntae |title=Satch Sanders Q&A: The NBA And the White House |url=https://www.si.com/nba/2017/01/20/nba-white-house-visit-satch-sanders-celtics-jfk-donald-trump |website=Sports Illustrated |access-date=March 19, 2024 |archive-date=March 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319212136/https://www.si.com/nba/2017/01/20/nba-white-house-visit-satch-sanders-celtics-jfk-donald-trump |url-status=live }}</ref> Growing up on Cape Cod, Kennedy and his siblings developed a lifelong passion for [[sailing]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Summertime Sailing |url=https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/jfkl-from-home/jfkl-from-home-puzzles/summertime-sailing |website=John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum |access-date=March 19, 2024 |archive-date=March 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319224056/https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/jfkl-from-home/jfkl-from-home-puzzles/summertime-sailing |url-status=live }}</ref> He also took up [[golf]]; playing  regularly at the [[Hyannisport Club]] in Massachusetts and the Palm Beach Country Club in Florida.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shaping Up America: JFK, Sports and the Call to Physical Fitness |url=https://www.jfklibrary.org/visit-museum/exhibits/past-exhibits/shaping-up-america-jfk-sports-and-the-call-to-physical-fitness |website=John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum |access-date=March 19, 2024 |archive-date=February 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213033135/https://www.jfklibrary.org/visit-museum/exhibits/past-exhibits/shaping-up-america-jfk-sports-and-the-call-to-physical-fitness |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Buccellato |first1=Robert |title=Images of America: Presidential Vacations in Florida |date=2021 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |page=98}}</ref>

=== Religion ===
Kennedy was the first [[Roman Catholic]] elected to the presidency.<ref>{{cite web |title=Life of John F. Kennedy |url=https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/life-of-john-f-kennedy#:~:text=In%20the%20general%20election%20on,John%20Jr.%2C%20was%20born. |website=John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum |access-date=March 21, 2024 |archive-date=March 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240321000448/https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/life-of-john-f-kennedy#:~:text=In%20the%20general%20election%20on,John%20Jr.%2C%20was%20born. |url-status=live }}</ref> During his childhood, he attended the [[St. Aidan's Church (Brookline, Massachusetts)|St. Aidan's Church]] in Brookline, Massachusetts, where he was [[Baptism|baptized]] on June 19, 1917.<ref>{{cite web |title=Saint Aidan's Church |url=https://www.nps.gov/places/saint-aidans-church.htm |website=National Park Service |access-date=20 March 2024 |archive-date=March 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240321000447/https://www.nps.gov/places/saint-aidans-church.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>