Last Updated on December 7, 2021 by QCity Editorial Stuff
The recent assassination of JFK has brought to light the history between presidents Lincoln and Kennedy. Interestingly, both men had their lives cut short by an assassin’s bullet, but they were also very different in many ways. For example, Lincoln was older when he became president than Kennedy was when he died. Also Lincoln served as commander-in-chief for four years before he was assassinated while it only took one year for Kennedy to be killed after his inauguration. These are just a few comparisons between these two American presidents who share a tragic end.
No two Presidents were more similar in history than Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy, both assassinated before the end of their first terms in office. Though they may have had some policy differences, here are some things that set them apart.
Lincoln was born into poverty while Kennedy came from a wealthy family -Kennedy served as Attorney General before becoming President while Lincoln never held any other political office besides President -Kennedy’s presidency is widely regarded as one of the most successful presidential administrations ever while Lincoln’s has been seen by many historians to be one of the worst -Lincoln is known as the president who held the Union together, while Kennedy was more remembered for his stance against communism.
Comparison Between Lincoln And Kennedy
| Parameters Of Comparison | Lincoln | Kennedy |
| Republican | Lincoln was republican | Kennedy was democratic |
| Background | Wealthy background | Wealthy background |
| Born | Cabin | Mansion |
| Attended | Never attended college | Graduated from Harvard university |
| Children | Both have a similar number of children | Both have a similar number of children |
Who Is Abraham Lincoln?
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States and is considered one of America’s greatest leaders. He led our nation through its civil war, issued the Emancipation Proclamation to free all slaves in 1863, and held firm against Southern secession. His Gettysburg Address, which he delivered during this time as well, has become an iconic piece of American oratory. Even today his leadership inspires us to look to our better angels. Though he only served for four years before being assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theater on April 14th, 1865, his impact on history will live forever. Abraham Lincoln was true “the great emancipator.
Abraham Lincoln is a famous American president who has been featured in many different books and movies. He was born in 1809, in a small town called Hodgenville, Kentucky. His parents were Thomas and Nancy Lincoln. In the year 1816, his mother died from milk sickness which is an illness that comes from drinking contaminated milk or eating cheese made with unpasteurized milk. Four years later, his father married Sarah Bush Johnston with whom he had three more children: Sarah, Abraham’s half-sister; John D., also known as “Johny,” who died at age 10 after being kicked by a horse; and finally Thomas Jr., or “Tad.
Who Is John F. Kennedy?
John F. Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States who served from January 1961 until his assassination in November 1963. He is remembered for establishing the Peace Corps, creating new standards for equality by signing into law the civil rights act in 1964, and initiating direct presidential involvement in legislative affairs through his handling of domestic issues such as education reform, medical care, and labor-management relations.
John F. Kennedy was one of the most well-known presidents in American history; his presidency only lasted about three years but he made significant changes during those few years that still affect Americans today. The Peace Corps and NASA were just two of his achievements that helped shape modern America into what it is today – JFK also passed legislation regarding immigration reform and civil rights for African Americans, both things we take for granted but were rare in the 60s.
10 Differences Between Lincoln And Kennedy
Republican: Lincoln was a Republican and Kennedy was a Democrat.
Background: The two presidents did not have similar backgrounds; Lincoln came from humble beginnings, while Kennedy’s family was wealthy.
Foreign Affairs: When it comes to foreign affairs, there are few similarities between these two leaders; one reason is that they led different countries at different times.
Born: Lincoln was born in a log cabin and Kennedy was born in a mansion.
Attended: Lincoln never attended college, while Kennedy graduated from Harvard University.
Assassination: Though both were assassinated before their time, Lincoln’s assassination came first.
Children: Both presidents had the same number of children – four daughters and one son each.
Term: While they both served as president for three years, it took more than one term to get there – Lincoln had two terms while Kennedy only had one term.
War: The Civil War happened on Lincoln’s watch but not on Kennedy’s watch.
Inaugural Address: Lincoln’s inaugural address lasted less than 2,000 words while Kennedy’s inauguration speech spanned more than 4,000 words.
Interesting Statistics Or Facts Of Abraham Lincoln
1. Lincoln was the first president to be assassinated.
2. He had a pet goat named Nanny.
3. Lincoln’s favorite food was oysters and he ate them every day.
4. Lincoln almost died of smallpox in 1830 but recovered fully after receiving treatment from Dr. Phineas Gurley.
5. His mother, Nancy Hanks, died when she was 20 years old while giving birth to her ninth child.
6. He loved telling stories and jokes – he would often tell these at social gatherings or during his speeches.
Interesting Statistics Or Facts Of John F. Kennedy
1. John F. Kennedy was the youngest man elected president.
2. He is the only Catholic to be elected president.
3. JFK’s father, Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., had nine children with four women.
4. John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22nd, 1963 in Dallas, Texas while driving through Dealey Plaza in his presidential motorcade.
5. There are two theories about who killed JFK – it could have been Lee Harvey Oswald or a conspiracy involving multiple people.
6. The Warren Commission determined that Oswald acted alone and fired three shots from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository building overlooking Dealey Plaza.
Conclusion About The Differences Between Lincoln And Kennedy
Lincoln and Kennedy are very different. Lincoln was a great man who accomplished many things during his lifetime, while Kennedy had an untimely death that led to him being less well-known than other presidents. However, they both have their strengths which should be recognized .to learn from them as people. For instance, Lincoln’s patience made it possible for the United States of America to exist today; whereas Kennedy’s charisma helped give Americans hope after World War II ended. There are still lessons we can take away from these two men even though one is more famous or successful than the other because each person has something important to offer us all if we’re willing to listen closely enough.
The main difference between Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy is that they both had different ideas about how to handle the Civil War, but there are many other differences as well. For example, while President Lincoln was more conservative in his beliefs than JFK, he also believed it important for Congress to be involved with decisions affecting military policy. On the other hand, President Kennedy became more liberal during his presidency by supporting civil rights legislation and economic reform programs that were not seen as strong enough under Lincoln’s watchful eye. I think one of their biggest differences can be summed up in this quote from a speech by Winston Churchill: “I am an Englishman who worships him (Lincoln) because he saved us all.
References:
Resource 01: https://www.lincoln.com/
Resource 02: https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/john-f-kennedy/
