Kennedy's bold decision to commit the United States to landing a man on the moon before the end of the decade became one of his most enduring legacies. On July 20, 1969, just months after Kennedy's assassination, the Apollo 11 mission achieved this goal, with astronaut Neil Armstrong becoming the first human to set foot on the lunar surface.
Kennedy's presidency was also marked by advancements in civil rights, as he supported the cause of equality for all Americans, regardless of race. He proposed and fought for legislation that eventually became the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Kennedy's legacy as a progressive leader was cut short by his assassination in November 1963. Despite his brief time in office, his leadership during the turbulent times of the Cold War and his commitment to civil rights continue to resonate with Americans to this day.
When Kennedy took office,
he was handed the task of leading a country through the Cold War. In doing so, Kennedy took a hard line on many issues, responding directly to Soviet aggression in Cuba and Berlin. Luckily, in both instances, the Soviet Union backed off, but the American people remained worried about the outbreak of nuclear war.
As both superpowers raced to send larger satellites farther into space, the United States under President Kennedy's leadership set up the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Its mission was to direct an American space program to compete with that of the Soviets.
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