John F. Kennedy35th President of the United States of America

While Kennedy was serving in World War II as commander of the PT109, his boat was hit by a Japanese destroyer and his crew was stranded in the Solomon Islands. Lieutenant John F. Kennedy carved this Coconut shell with a message and gave it to two natives to deliver to the PT base at Rendova so he and his crew would be rescued. He later had the coconut shell encased in wood and plastic and used it as a paperweight on his desk in the Oval Office.Message carved on coconut shell reads "NAURO ISL…COMMANDER…NATIVE KNOWS POS'IT…HE CAN PILOT…11 ALIVE…NEED SMALL BOAT…KENNEDY".

Soon after being elected senator, John F. Kennedy, at 36 years of age, married 24 year-old Jacqueline Bouvier, a writer with the Washington Times-Herald.

Inaugural AddressJanuary 20, 1961

Inaugural Ball

Robert F. Kennedy

In 1960, Kennedy managed brother John’s presidential campaign. When JFK was elected, Kennedy was made U.S. Attorney General and became one of JFK’s closest cabinet advisors.

Kennedy Children

Caroline and

John, Jr.

Aug. 9, 1963: President John F. Kennedy mounts the steps of Otis Air Force Base Hospital in Massachusetts to tell his wife Jacqueline that their baby son Patrick had died two days after he was born. (Associated Press)