“Why should man's first flight to the moon be a matter of national competition? Why should the United States and the Soviet Union, in preparing for such expeditions, become involved in immense duplications of research, construction and expenditure?”

American politician, 35th president of the United States

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, known as JFK, was an American politician and the 35th president of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was 43 when elected, the youngest elected president, and the first Roman Catholic to hold the office. Before the presidency, Kennedy served Massachusetts in both houses of Congress as a Democrat. He is remembered for his brief presidency and for the public voice that accompanied it, especially on national life, civic duty, and the responsibilities of leadership.