John F. Kennedy is known as one of our most exciting presidents, and one that brought new breath and energy to the country. Newtown Historical Society, in conjunction with the C.H. Booth Library, will examine Kennedy's administration in a program on Monday, April 9, at 7:30 pm, in the meeting room of the library, 25 Main Street (Route 25), presented by Penny O'Connell.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was a most charismatic leader, youthful, energetic, full of ideas, and an excellent speaker. Narrowly elected when the Cold War was at its height, he set out to make his mark on the country immediately. Faced with an opportunity to invade Cuba to overthrow Fidel Castro and install a leader more friendly to United States' interests, President Kennedy went with the American imperialist effort, but after its failure seemed to realize his mistake and backed off from further action.

Later in his administration he was faced with the Soviet installation of missiles in Cuba. In perhaps the strongest foreign policy action of his presidency, Kennedy faced down the Soviets invoking the Monroe Doctrine and national security, putting the nation's military on high alert. It was the closest hot war threat of the entire Cold War, and Kennedy's stance forced the USSR to back down and remove its missiles.

One of the most appealing of the Kennedy policies was the establishment of the Peace Corps.

Appealing to the idealism of America's youth, the program was embraced enthusiastically by the country. With a long history of personal involvement, as opposed to simply sending aid dollars to foreign countries, the program became a virtual symbol of American interest in and support for undeveloped countries.

In spite of Kennedy's 13 years of service in the House and Senate, he had the reputation of inexperience, and political and other mistakes were evident. But JFK was a quick learner, and rarely did he repeat his mistakes. After an important summit meeting with Nikita Khrushchev at which Kennedy himself felt he had given in to bullying, he strengthened the policy that the United States would continue to support West Germany and NATO. With the tragic assassination during his ill-fated trip to Dallas, Kennedy's presidential reputation had to depend on the achievements of his first 1,025 days; for those who conduct such polls, JFK seems to have done well.

Penny O'Connell is a graduate of Skidmore, and is a retired high school teacher of ancient, European and American history. She has lectured widely on historical and art history subjects, including at UConn's continuing education program. She is passionate about the mysteries of our historical past and is pleased to share her enthusiasm with others.

All Newtown Historical Society programs are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served following the program. For further information call the society at 203-426-5937, or visit newtownhistory.org.

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