Interesting Facts About John F. Kennedy

Crazy facts about John F. Kennedy most people never knew the last one changed American history forever number one

He wore a back brace almost every day behind his confident public image John F

Kennedy suffered from severe back problems for much of his life years of injuries including damage from World War two left him in constant pain

To stand and walk comfortably he often wore a rigid back brace some historians believe that during the assassination in Dallas

The brace may have prevented him from falling forward after the first shot leaving him exposed to the fatal second shot number

Two he gave away his presidential salary as president JFK earned about

$100,000 a year an enormous amount at the time coming from the wealthy Kennedy family

He didn't need the money instead. He donated his presidential salary to various charities veterans organizations and public causes

He followed the same practice during his years in Congress in the Senate number three

He was never supposed to be the Kennedy in politics the Kennedy family originally expected John's older brother

Joseph Kennedy jr. To become president someday Joseph was considered the family's rising star

But when he was killed during a dangerous military mission in World War two the family's hopes shifted to John that tragic event

Completely changed the course of American history number four. He saved his crew during World War two in

1943 Kennedy's patrol boat PT

1009 was cut in half by a Japanese destroyer in the Pacific Ocean despite being injured himself

Kennedy helped lead his surviving crew to safety at one point

He swam for hours while pulling an injured sailor through the water by holding the strap of the man's life jacket with his teeth his

Bravery earned him military honors and helped build the heroic image that later fueled his political career number five

He was an incredible speed reader Kennedy trained himself to read at an astonishing speed

Reportedly reaching more than 1,000 words per minute this allowed him to quickly absorb intelligence reports

Newspapers and government briefings during some of the most dangerous moments of the Cold War including the Cuban Missile Crisis

Before I reveal the last three make sure to follow for more fascinating history stories number six

He won a Pulitzer Prize few presidents can claim to be award-winning authors in

1957 Kennedy won the Pulitzer Prize for his book profiles and courage which highlighted American

Politicians who risked their careers to stand up for their beliefs

He remains the only US president to have received a Pulitzer Prize number seven

He secretly battled serious health problems to the public Kennedy appeared young athletic and energetic in reality

He suffered from numerous health issues including chronic back pain

Digestive disorders and Addison's disease a potentially life-threatening condition affecting the adrenal glands much of this was carefully hidden from the public during his presidency

Number eight he narrowly escaped death before becoming president long before the White House

Kennedy survived several medical emergencies and wartime dangers that could have ended his life many

Historians have pointed out that if even one of those moments had gone differently John F

Kennedy would never have become president and some of the most important events of the

1960s might have unfolded very differently more than 60 years after his death JFK remains one of the most fascinating and mysterious

Presidents in American history which facts surprised you the most