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- Previously on "Kennedy"...
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After seven months in Europe,
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Jack Kennedy
was now 22 years old.
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- Handsome, born to
an extremely wealthy family.
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What we really know
is a lot of pain.
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♪ ♪
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- One thing after another
sent him to the infirmary.
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- He's got this older brother,
Joe Jr.,
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who is considered the shining
star of the family.
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- Jack was an afterthought.
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- Was he going to pity himself,
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or was he going
to overcome it?
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- He was exposed
from a very early age
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to a really incredible array
of international experiences.
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- Using what he learned
in Europe as a guide,
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Jack began work on his thesis,
which he later expanded
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into a book
called "Why England Slept."
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It quickly sold 80,000 copies.
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♪ ♪
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- To lead us
to a fruitful America,
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from the state
of Massachusetts,
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John F. Kennedy!
[crowd cheering]
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- John F. Kennedy lived a life
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that would help define
an entire generation.
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♪ ♪
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- Together, we shall
save our planet,
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or, together, we shall perish
in its flames.
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- What was it about that guy?
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- Looks, style, empathy...
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he was incredibly charming.
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- Intellectual
and progressive.
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- He was the future.
He was next.
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♪ ♪
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- President for just
over 1,000 days,
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Kennedy navigated events
and crises
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that changed the world.
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- Kennedy is feeling
the pressure
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from the Civil Rights
activists.
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- This was a country
on nuclear war footing.
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♪ ♪
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- This could be
the last mistake
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that anybody makes politically.
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♪ ♪
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- He changed us in the process
of his own growth.
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- We choose to go to the moon
in this decade
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and do the other things,
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not because they are easy,
but because they are hard.
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♪ ♪
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- 60 years
after his assassination,
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we are still fascinated
by the triumphs
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00:02:03,043 --> 00:02:07,501
and flaws of the youngest
president ever elected.
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- I ask you to join us in all
the tomorrows yet to come,
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00:02:11,668 --> 00:02:14,960
in building America,
moving America,
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picking this country of ours up
and sending it into the '60s.
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♪ ♪
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- If Great Britain goes down,
the Axis powers
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will control the continents
of Europe and Asia
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and Africa and Australasia
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and the high seas.
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And they will be
in a position
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to bring enormous military
and naval resources
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against this hemisphere.
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There will be no bottlenecks
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in our determination
to aid Great Britain.
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No dictator will weaken
that determination.
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♪ ♪
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- In 1940, as Britain turned
to the United States
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for assistance,
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Jack Kennedy published a book
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about the lead-up
to World War II.
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As Germany's Luftwaffe
bombarded British cities
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during August 1940,
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Americans seeking to better
understand the war
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eagerly turned
to Kennedy's book.
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♪ ♪
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Letters flew
into Jack's mailbox
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with offers
from prestigious publishers
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and inquiries
about follow-up volumes.
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Now a best-selling author
at age 23,
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Jack had to decide
if he would continue writing
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or choose
another avenue altogether.
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♪ ♪
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By fall 1940, Jack had a plan
to return to school
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and build
on his Harvard education,
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but his plans stalled when
his health declined again.
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♪ ♪
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He checked into
the Lahey Clinic in Boston,
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with gastrointestinal problems
and back pain--
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00:05:00,668 --> 00:05:03,376
an issue that began
during his time at Harvard,
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where he ruptured a disk
in his spine
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while playing football.
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Physicians recommended
he find a place
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for quiet rehabilitation.
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That place, he decided,
would be the Golden State.
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Jack settled in California,
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auditing business,
political science,
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and economic classes
at Stanford University.
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Jack was a minor celebrity
at Stanford,
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not least of which was due
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to his father's
previous position
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as the American ambassador
to the United Kingdom.
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On his first day,
he wore casual shabby clothes
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while driving
the Buick convertible
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purchased
with his book earnings.
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With his "FDR for President"
button, unkempt hair,
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00:05:46,251 --> 00:05:48,210
confident
and carefree attitude,
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Jack made a splash
around campus.
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♪ ♪
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While he studied and
gallivanted around Stanford,
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he kept an eye
on the situation in Europe.
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Like many Americans his age,
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he was unsure
what the escalating conflict
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00:06:04,085 --> 00:06:05,793
meant for his future.
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♪ ♪
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As the war surged overseas,
Kennedy's older brother,
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the fervently anti-war
Joe Jr.,
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left law school to enlist
in the United States Navy.
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Jack decided to follow suit,
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putting aside
his academic pursuits
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as the United States' entrance
into the war
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seemed inevitable.
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- Jack was a man who wanted
to be at the center of action.
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- Quickly, he volunteered for
Army Officer Candidate School
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but was rejected due
to his poor health.
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- He failed the physical
because of his back pain.
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00:06:43,543 --> 00:06:45,376
So the Army said
to Jack Kennedy,
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well, thanks for
showing up, young man.
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We just don't need you.
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00:06:48,585 --> 00:06:50,376
- Jack was undeterred,
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00:06:50,543 --> 00:06:52,460
adopting
a strict health regimen
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to build his strength.
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- Ultimately, Jack
continues to push
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to get into the armed forces
in some way.
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00:07:01,418 --> 00:07:04,376
- In October 1941,
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00:07:04,501 --> 00:07:07,001
Jack was approved
for military service.
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He was assigned a post
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00:07:08,585 --> 00:07:10,376
at the Office
of Naval Intelligence
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in Washington, D.C.,
as a Navy Reserve officer.
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00:07:13,876 --> 00:07:15,210
♪ ♪
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The desk assignment
wasn't ideal,
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00:07:17,668 --> 00:07:21,043
but it was all he had for now.
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00:07:21,168 --> 00:07:24,876
[plane engines roaring]
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[ominous music]
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♪ ♪
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- Just after Jack finished
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00:07:50,626 --> 00:07:53,376
a game of football near
the Washington Monument,
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00:07:53,460 --> 00:07:55,376
news arrived
of the Japanese attack
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on Pearl Harbor--
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00:07:57,126 --> 00:08:01,001
a Naval base
on the island of Oahu, Hawaii.
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00:08:01,085 --> 00:08:03,210
The next day,
President Roosevelt
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officially announced
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that the United States
was at war with Japan.
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Hitler, allied with Japan,
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promptly declared war
on the United States.
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Two years
into the Second World War,
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00:08:17,085 --> 00:08:19,501
the United States
was now fully engaged
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in the conflict.
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- With confidence
in our armed forces,
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with the unbounding
determination
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of our people,
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we will gain
the inevitable triumph,
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so help us God.
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♪ ♪
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- Jack's busy schedule
at Navy Intelligence
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did not give him much time
to sleep,
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00:08:46,668 --> 00:08:50,168
especially after the U.S.
joined the war effort.
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Helping him get through the
long days was his new lover.
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- His sister
Kathleen introduced him
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to a beautiful young lady.
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00:09:01,001 --> 00:09:03,460
- Born in Copenhagen,
Denmark,
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journalist Inga Arvad
was an exotic figure
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00:09:07,251 --> 00:09:09,751
whom Jack saw
as an intellectual equal,
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00:09:09,918 --> 00:09:12,126
fascinated by her sharp mind
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00:09:12,210 --> 00:09:15,251
and captivating
Scandinavian looks.
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To the FBI, there was more
to Inga than met the eye.
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Shortly after the attack
on Pearl Harbor,
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00:09:22,835 --> 00:09:25,376
a reporter from
the "Washington Times-Herald"
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00:09:25,543 --> 00:09:28,460
found an image of Inga
in Hitler's box
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00:09:28,585 --> 00:09:31,876
during the 1936
Berlin Olympics.
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00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:35,710
Intelligence collected on her
indicated that as a reporter,
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00:09:35,835 --> 00:09:38,210
she met Hitler
on multiple occasions
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and attended the wedding
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00:09:39,918 --> 00:09:44,335
for high-ranking Nazi official
Hermann Goering.
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00:09:44,418 --> 00:09:47,543
Speculation on whether or not
Inga was a German spy
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00:09:47,710 --> 00:09:49,293
ran rampant.
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00:09:49,418 --> 00:09:51,543
She rejected all accusations,
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00:09:51,668 --> 00:09:55,293
and her relationship with Jack
didn't wane.
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00:09:55,418 --> 00:09:57,001
- So she was on the FBI list.
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00:09:57,085 --> 00:09:58,710
J. Edgar Hoover was after her.
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00:09:58,835 --> 00:10:01,043
- Spying on their every move,
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00:10:01,126 --> 00:10:03,085
Hoover wiretapped
their bedroom,
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00:10:03,210 --> 00:10:06,085
even recording
their sexual encounters.
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00:10:06,210 --> 00:10:07,876
♪ ♪
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Inga and Jack
had fallen in love.
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00:10:11,126 --> 00:10:14,501
Kennedy was obsessed
with Inga.
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00:10:14,585 --> 00:10:16,418
But she knew
if he chased a career
197
00:10:16,543 --> 00:10:18,001
in the political limelight,
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00:10:18,126 --> 00:10:19,793
her murky background
would make
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00:10:19,918 --> 00:10:22,418
a long-term relationship
impossible.
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00:10:22,543 --> 00:10:24,376
♪ ♪
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00:10:39,960 --> 00:10:42,710
- Plan your life
as you want it.
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00:10:42,793 --> 00:10:45,626
Go up the steps of fame.
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00:10:45,751 --> 00:10:48,210
But pause now and then
and make sure
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00:10:48,293 --> 00:10:50,543
that you are accompanied
by happiness.
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00:10:50,710 --> 00:10:52,710
♪ ♪
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00:10:52,835 --> 00:10:56,293
Love my dear, Binga.
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00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:02,918
♪ ♪
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00:11:03,085 --> 00:11:07,293
- As war raged across Europe
and the Pacific in 1942,
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00:11:07,418 --> 00:11:10,918
Jack grew restless and wanted
to participate more directly
210
00:11:11,043 --> 00:11:13,710
in the U.S. military effort.
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00:11:13,793 --> 00:11:16,918
Finally, in late July 1942,
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00:11:17,085 --> 00:11:20,585
he was approved to register
at Officer Training School.
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00:11:20,751 --> 00:11:22,210
- He attends
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00:11:22,293 --> 00:11:25,085
the Naval Reserve Officers
Training School
215
00:11:25,251 --> 00:11:28,376
at Northwestern University
in Chicago.
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00:11:28,501 --> 00:11:30,835
- His time had come.
217
00:11:30,918 --> 00:11:34,126
Jack had poor health,
enormous physical pain,
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00:11:34,251 --> 00:11:35,793
and a fragile body,
219
00:11:35,876 --> 00:11:38,751
but he had
grueling persistence.
220
00:11:38,876 --> 00:11:41,876
Because of his love for
sailing, boats, and the ocean,
221
00:11:42,043 --> 00:11:44,626
Jack took a liking
to PT boats--
222
00:11:44,751 --> 00:11:49,085
agile vessels
used in the Pacific theater.
223
00:11:49,210 --> 00:11:53,126
- These small boats are some
of the Navy's newest weapons.
224
00:11:53,251 --> 00:11:57,168
It is essentially
an 80-foot-long speedboat.
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00:11:57,293 --> 00:11:58,210
♪ ♪
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00:11:58,335 --> 00:11:59,585
- They were noted
227
00:11:59,710 --> 00:12:01,210
for their ability
to sneak up on
228
00:12:01,335 --> 00:12:04,960
and attack large vessels
with torpedoes.
229
00:12:05,085 --> 00:12:06,918
Jack was so successful
230
00:12:07,043 --> 00:12:09,335
in the completion
of his boat-training course
231
00:12:09,501 --> 00:12:12,585
that he was offered
a position as an instructor.
232
00:12:12,751 --> 00:12:14,835
It would require him
to stay stateside
233
00:12:14,918 --> 00:12:16,835
for another six months.
234
00:12:16,918 --> 00:12:18,710
Jack was infuriated.
235
00:12:18,876 --> 00:12:21,085
He wanted to fight.
236
00:12:21,251 --> 00:12:23,793
With help
from his maternal grandfather,
237
00:12:23,918 --> 00:12:27,293
former Boston mayor
John "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald,
238
00:12:27,418 --> 00:12:28,835
Jack arranged a meeting
239
00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:31,335
with Massachusetts senator
David Walsh,
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00:12:31,418 --> 00:12:34,376
chairman of the Senate
Naval Affairs Committee.
241
00:12:34,543 --> 00:12:39,210
The goal was to prove himself
willing and able to fight.
242
00:12:39,293 --> 00:12:42,001
He made an impression
on the senator.
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00:12:42,085 --> 00:12:44,043
♪ ♪
244
00:12:44,168 --> 00:12:45,876
After months of struggling
245
00:12:46,001 --> 00:12:48,376
for an active position
in the Navy,
246
00:12:48,501 --> 00:12:52,876
the time had come, whether he
was physically ready or not.
247
00:12:52,918 --> 00:12:54,668
- He went through town,
248
00:12:54,751 --> 00:12:57,001
and just a few minutes ago,
he was here.
249
00:12:57,126 --> 00:13:00,751
And then he's going
on active sea duty.
250
00:13:00,835 --> 00:13:02,876
Only, you know, his back--
251
00:13:03,001 --> 00:13:06,210
he looks like a limping monkey
from behind.
252
00:13:06,376 --> 00:13:08,751
He can't walk at all.
253
00:13:08,918 --> 00:13:12,710
That's ridiculous--sending
him off to sea duty.
254
00:13:12,876 --> 00:13:15,001
♪ ♪
255
00:13:15,085 --> 00:13:17,835
- On March 6, 1943,
256
00:13:18,001 --> 00:13:20,293
Lieutenant Junior Grade
Jack Kennedy
257
00:13:20,418 --> 00:13:23,710
stepped aboard a troop carrier
in San Francisco.
258
00:13:23,876 --> 00:13:26,376
The destination was Tulagi,
259
00:13:26,501 --> 00:13:28,168
part of the Solomon Islands,
260
00:13:28,293 --> 00:13:32,710
some 1,100 miles
northeast of Australia.
261
00:13:32,793 --> 00:13:36,210
He was headed straight
into the heart of war.
262
00:13:36,335 --> 00:13:43,085
♪ ♪
263
00:13:54,835 --> 00:13:57,335
16 months after Pearl Harbor,
264
00:13:57,418 --> 00:14:00,460
the United States was locked
in a fierce naval campaign
265
00:14:00,585 --> 00:14:02,501
against Japanese forces.
266
00:14:02,626 --> 00:14:05,001
♪ ♪
267
00:14:05,126 --> 00:14:07,001
Using their powerful navy,
268
00:14:07,085 --> 00:14:09,376
Japan steamrolled
through the Pacific,
269
00:14:09,460 --> 00:14:12,710
crushing any obstacle
that stood in their way.
270
00:14:12,835 --> 00:14:17,626
♪ ♪
271
00:14:17,751 --> 00:14:21,293
- Kennedy takes command
of PT-109
272
00:14:21,418 --> 00:14:24,835
on April 23, 1943.
273
00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:26,751
♪ ♪
274
00:14:26,835 --> 00:14:29,710
- It was 80 feet long
and weighed 40 tons.
275
00:14:29,835 --> 00:14:31,543
- They're made out of wood.
276
00:14:31,668 --> 00:14:33,710
They are powered by engines
277
00:14:33,835 --> 00:14:36,710
that run on high-octane fuel.
278
00:14:36,835 --> 00:14:40,085
There's no armor at all
and is very dangerous duty.
279
00:14:40,251 --> 00:14:43,835
I mean, one well-placed hit
from a Japanese ship,
280
00:14:44,001 --> 00:14:46,085
and the ship is going up
in an explosion.
281
00:14:46,210 --> 00:14:47,418
♪ ♪
282
00:14:47,585 --> 00:14:49,210
- The PT boat bases,
283
00:14:49,293 --> 00:14:51,876
like the one on Tulagi
where Jack was stationed,
284
00:14:52,001 --> 00:14:56,043
were built quickly,
leaving much to be desired.
285
00:14:56,168 --> 00:14:59,710
- The Solomon Islands are deep
in the South Pacific.
286
00:14:59,835 --> 00:15:03,043
These are
jungle-covered islands.
287
00:15:03,126 --> 00:15:07,085
There's heat, humidity, bugs,
288
00:15:07,251 --> 00:15:09,335
thunderstorms, rainstorms.
289
00:15:09,460 --> 00:15:11,210
♪ ♪
290
00:15:11,335 --> 00:15:14,376
- Diseases like malaria
and dengue fever ran rampant
291
00:15:14,543 --> 00:15:17,376
through the hastily erected
structures.
292
00:15:17,543 --> 00:15:20,751
Rats and cockroaches
were part of daily life.
293
00:15:20,876 --> 00:15:22,460
Making matters worse,
294
00:15:22,585 --> 00:15:25,543
food supplies--
mostly canned food--
295
00:15:25,710 --> 00:15:28,543
were inadequately allocated
to troops in the area,
296
00:15:28,668 --> 00:15:30,251
and the soldiers
297
00:15:30,376 --> 00:15:33,085
were constantly threatened
with malnutrition.
298
00:15:33,251 --> 00:15:35,210
Difficult though it was,
299
00:15:35,293 --> 00:15:37,710
Jack's PT boat and its crew
300
00:15:37,793 --> 00:15:40,335
became his home
away from home.
301
00:15:40,460 --> 00:15:43,710
- PT-109 had been operating
for a number of months
302
00:15:43,876 --> 00:15:45,710
under different
commanding officers,
303
00:15:45,835 --> 00:15:47,376
different crew members.
304
00:15:47,501 --> 00:15:49,293
♪ ♪
305
00:15:49,418 --> 00:15:51,418
The commanding officers
from the boat
306
00:15:51,585 --> 00:15:53,626
had already transferred
to other positions
307
00:15:53,751 --> 00:15:55,835
or moved back stateside.
308
00:15:55,918 --> 00:15:58,293
So Kennedy
is kind of rebuilding the crew.
309
00:15:58,418 --> 00:16:00,418
And by August, you know,
they've been together
310
00:16:00,585 --> 00:16:02,043
for a few months.
311
00:16:02,168 --> 00:16:05,043
So this is a very small,
cohesive group,
312
00:16:05,210 --> 00:16:07,168
unlike a bigger ship.
313
00:16:07,251 --> 00:16:09,376
I mean, they have to depend
on each other
314
00:16:09,543 --> 00:16:10,626
for life and death.
315
00:16:10,793 --> 00:16:14,210
♪ ♪
316
00:16:14,293 --> 00:16:16,460
- During his first months
at Tulagi,
317
00:16:16,585 --> 00:16:19,543
they saw little action.
318
00:16:19,668 --> 00:16:21,210
Kennedy had ample time
319
00:16:21,335 --> 00:16:23,543
to send his mother flowers
for Mother's Day,
320
00:16:23,626 --> 00:16:26,460
write letters home,
and read his copy
321
00:16:26,585 --> 00:16:31,376
of Tolstoy's 19th-century
epic novel "War and Peace."
322
00:16:31,460 --> 00:16:37,251
♪ ♪
323
00:16:39,210 --> 00:16:41,043
At the end of July,
324
00:16:41,210 --> 00:16:43,876
intelligence reports arrived
at Jack's PT base,
325
00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:46,793
indicating
that five Japanese destroyers
326
00:16:46,918 --> 00:16:48,418
were scheduled to move
327
00:16:48,543 --> 00:16:51,418
on the night
of August 1st and 2nd.
328
00:16:51,543 --> 00:16:53,876
The destroyers
were expected to sail
329
00:16:54,001 --> 00:16:55,751
through the Blackett Strait,
330
00:16:55,876 --> 00:16:59,876
supplying provisions to
and moving Japanese troops.
331
00:17:00,001 --> 00:17:01,376
♪ ♪
332
00:17:01,543 --> 00:17:04,585
- The Japanese
are trying to resupply
333
00:17:04,751 --> 00:17:06,460
their island garrisons
334
00:17:06,585 --> 00:17:09,668
with these nighttime runs
called the Tokyo Express,
335
00:17:09,751 --> 00:17:12,960
delivering supplies and troops
under the cover of darkness.
336
00:17:13,085 --> 00:17:14,168
♪ ♪
337
00:17:14,293 --> 00:17:16,251
- So Kennedy was assigned
338
00:17:16,376 --> 00:17:18,960
to one of four groups that
were going to be positioned
339
00:17:19,085 --> 00:17:21,251
to try and intercept
these destroyers.
340
00:17:21,376 --> 00:17:22,210
♪ ♪
341
00:17:22,335 --> 00:17:25,376
This is a major, major mission.
342
00:17:25,460 --> 00:17:29,251
- This is a, you know,
very dangerous place to be.
343
00:17:29,376 --> 00:17:30,168
♪ ♪
344
00:17:34,335 --> 00:17:35,543
♪ ♪
345
00:17:35,668 --> 00:17:37,293
- On August 1st,
346
00:17:37,418 --> 00:17:41,418
15 PT boats,
including Jack's PT-109,
347
00:17:41,585 --> 00:17:43,626
set off toward
the Blackett Strait
348
00:17:43,751 --> 00:17:45,876
at 6:30 p.m.
349
00:17:46,001 --> 00:17:49,710
Including himself, there
were 13 men on Jack's boat.
350
00:17:49,876 --> 00:17:53,043
♪ ♪
351
00:17:53,126 --> 00:17:56,626
In near darkness,
PT-109 became separated
352
00:17:56,751 --> 00:17:58,585
from the other PT boats.
353
00:17:58,751 --> 00:18:01,501
Jack shut down two
of the boat's three engines
354
00:18:01,626 --> 00:18:04,001
to conserve fuel.
355
00:18:04,168 --> 00:18:06,085
It would also help
the boat remain hidden
356
00:18:06,210 --> 00:18:07,918
from the Japanese air patrols
357
00:18:08,043 --> 00:18:12,168
looking for the phosphorescent
glow left by boat wakes.
358
00:18:12,293 --> 00:18:16,001
- The enemy they're really
worried about is above.
359
00:18:16,085 --> 00:18:18,251
And if they make a wake,
360
00:18:18,376 --> 00:18:20,960
not only are the aircraft
going to see them,
361
00:18:21,085 --> 00:18:24,543
if there's enemy ships about,
they will also see them.
362
00:18:24,710 --> 00:18:28,210
- Oftentimes,
if the PT boats were deployed
363
00:18:28,335 --> 00:18:31,710
and they were waiting
for Japanese ships to arrive,
364
00:18:31,835 --> 00:18:33,210
they would be idling,
365
00:18:33,335 --> 00:18:35,376
meaning they
would be operating
366
00:18:35,501 --> 00:18:37,710
at one engine
instead of three,
367
00:18:37,835 --> 00:18:40,710
very low speed, you know,
almost idling in place.
368
00:18:40,835 --> 00:18:42,543
♪ ♪
369
00:18:42,710 --> 00:18:44,751
- PT-109 idled.
370
00:18:44,876 --> 00:18:46,168
♪ ♪
371
00:18:46,293 --> 00:18:48,210
Under the moonless sky,
372
00:18:48,335 --> 00:18:50,668
the crew noticed movement on
the water
373
00:18:50,751 --> 00:18:54,043
in the pre-dawn hours
of August 2nd.
374
00:18:54,126 --> 00:18:56,210
Jack and his men
struggled to identify
375
00:18:56,293 --> 00:18:58,210
the shape in the darkness.
376
00:18:58,251 --> 00:18:59,418
♪ ♪
377
00:18:59,585 --> 00:19:01,335
As the wake grew closer,
378
00:19:01,460 --> 00:19:04,835
the outline
of a massive ship emerged.
379
00:19:04,918 --> 00:19:06,585
Moving towards them
380
00:19:06,710 --> 00:19:10,626
was the towering
Japanese destroyer "Amagiri."
381
00:19:10,751 --> 00:19:15,376
- And she is speeding
directly towards PT-109.
382
00:19:15,501 --> 00:19:17,210
Kennedy tries to turn,
383
00:19:17,376 --> 00:19:19,376
but there's really no time.
384
00:19:19,543 --> 00:19:22,251
♪ ♪
385
00:19:22,418 --> 00:19:25,376
- The "Amagiri" collided
violently with Jack's boat.
386
00:19:25,501 --> 00:19:27,210
♪ ♪
387
00:19:27,293 --> 00:19:30,501
The Japanese destroyer
sliced through PT-109,
388
00:19:30,626 --> 00:19:33,793
causing fuel to explode
into a raging fire
389
00:19:33,918 --> 00:19:36,376
more than 100 feet tall.
390
00:19:36,418 --> 00:19:39,126
Two of Jack's men
were killed instantly,
391
00:19:39,251 --> 00:19:41,126
and the remainder
scrambled to escape
392
00:19:41,251 --> 00:19:42,543
the flaming wreckage.
393
00:19:42,668 --> 00:19:44,418
♪ ♪
394
00:19:44,585 --> 00:19:48,960
- Kennedy himself is thrown
against the bulkhead.
395
00:19:49,085 --> 00:19:52,168
He reinjures
his already bad back.
396
00:19:52,293 --> 00:19:55,335
- The Japanese destroyer
doesn't even slow down.
397
00:19:55,460 --> 00:19:57,251
They just want to get
out of there.
398
00:19:57,418 --> 00:20:00,126
So they just power
right through and keep going.
399
00:20:00,251 --> 00:20:03,001
And the gasoline spreads out
over the ocean,
400
00:20:03,085 --> 00:20:04,585
and it's on fire.
401
00:20:04,710 --> 00:20:06,543
[explosion]
402
00:20:06,626 --> 00:20:09,710
- Amidst the chaos, Jack
dove into the dark waters
403
00:20:09,793 --> 00:20:14,543
to save badly burned
sailor Patrick McMahon.
404
00:20:14,710 --> 00:20:18,585
- That guy was just
a common sailor.
405
00:20:18,751 --> 00:20:20,418
He saved his life.
406
00:20:20,543 --> 00:20:23,626
So that's the things
407
00:20:23,793 --> 00:20:27,793
that really made me admire
him most, I think--his courage.
408
00:20:27,918 --> 00:20:29,251
♪ ♪
409
00:20:29,418 --> 00:20:31,710
- Paddling in cold water
for hours,
410
00:20:31,876 --> 00:20:34,710
Jack ordered his most
severely injured crewmen
411
00:20:34,793 --> 00:20:39,501
to cling to a small plank that
had splintered from the boat.
412
00:20:39,585 --> 00:20:41,376
- Some of them
had swallowed gasoline.
413
00:20:41,460 --> 00:20:43,251
Some of them were burned.
414
00:20:43,418 --> 00:20:45,626
Some of them had been crushed
against the boat.
415
00:20:45,751 --> 00:20:49,210
But McMahon was the worst off.
He had been severely burned.
416
00:20:49,335 --> 00:20:54,668
♪ ♪
417
00:20:54,751 --> 00:20:57,543
- At daybreak
the next morning,
418
00:20:57,668 --> 00:21:01,460
this small group is still
clinging to this wreckage.
419
00:21:01,585 --> 00:21:03,085
They are in open waters,
420
00:21:03,251 --> 00:21:06,043
and then the wreckage
starts to sink.
421
00:21:06,126 --> 00:21:08,585
♪ ♪
422
00:21:08,751 --> 00:21:10,543
- Surrounded
by Japanese soldiers
423
00:21:10,710 --> 00:21:12,335
on the neighboring islands,
424
00:21:12,460 --> 00:21:15,376
they were
in a terrifying situation.
425
00:21:15,501 --> 00:21:17,543
While floating in the Pacific,
426
00:21:17,710 --> 00:21:20,918
Jack and his crew were faced
with an enormous decision--
427
00:21:21,085 --> 00:21:24,543
continue fighting or surrender
to hostile forces.
428
00:21:24,626 --> 00:21:25,835
♪ ♪
429
00:21:25,918 --> 00:21:28,251
Jack said,
there's nothing in a book
430
00:21:28,376 --> 00:21:30,460
about a situation like this.
431
00:21:30,585 --> 00:21:32,585
I have nothing to lose.
432
00:21:32,751 --> 00:21:35,668
They decided to continue on.
433
00:21:35,793 --> 00:21:40,376
- Kennedy had a flare gun,
which he could have used,
434
00:21:40,460 --> 00:21:42,710
but to illustrate
the danger they were in,
435
00:21:42,835 --> 00:21:45,335
you know, to shoot off
a very light
436
00:21:45,418 --> 00:21:47,710
will also tell the enemy
you're there.
437
00:21:47,835 --> 00:21:50,210
They were just as afraid
of being captured
438
00:21:50,335 --> 00:21:53,376
or killed by the enemy
as not being rescued.
439
00:21:53,543 --> 00:21:57,043
So Kennedy chose not
to shoot off a flare
440
00:21:57,126 --> 00:21:59,543
to signal a rescue
at that point.
441
00:21:59,668 --> 00:22:01,793
♪ ♪
442
00:22:01,876 --> 00:22:04,376
- Kennedy spots
a distant island,
443
00:22:04,543 --> 00:22:07,626
and he decides
the best course of action
444
00:22:07,710 --> 00:22:09,876
is for his group
to swim to that island.
445
00:22:10,001 --> 00:22:11,585
♪ ♪
446
00:22:11,710 --> 00:22:13,585
- Jack tied a knot
to the wounded
447
00:22:13,751 --> 00:22:15,918
Patrick "Pappy" McMahon's
life jacket
448
00:22:16,085 --> 00:22:19,251
and put the other end
between his teeth.
449
00:22:19,418 --> 00:22:21,376
- It was described
by one of the witnesses
450
00:22:21,543 --> 00:22:23,543
as if he had done it all
the time in his life.
451
00:22:23,710 --> 00:22:25,626
He just got a knife out
and cut the strap,
452
00:22:25,793 --> 00:22:30,210
put the strap
of the life jacket in his mouth
453
00:22:30,335 --> 00:22:33,793
and pulled Pappy on his back,
his bad back.
454
00:22:33,918 --> 00:22:35,376
♪ ♪
455
00:22:35,501 --> 00:22:38,376
- Jack began
the 3 1/2-mile journey
456
00:22:38,460 --> 00:22:41,585
through shark-infested waters.
457
00:22:41,751 --> 00:22:43,876
Listening to Kennedy's
labored breathing,
458
00:22:44,001 --> 00:22:46,751
McMahon didn't know
if they could make it.
459
00:22:46,876 --> 00:22:50,376
Kennedy replied,
it can be done.
460
00:22:50,543 --> 00:22:53,626
- We can do this.
We can do this.
461
00:22:53,751 --> 00:22:56,085
Well, that's what you want,
isn't it--
462
00:22:56,251 --> 00:22:58,043
a skipper that says,
we can do this?
463
00:22:58,210 --> 00:23:01,376
♪ ♪
464
00:23:01,501 --> 00:23:03,501
- After an arduous journey,
465
00:23:03,626 --> 00:23:06,210
Kennedy, McMahon,
and the surviving crew
466
00:23:06,335 --> 00:23:08,376
finally made it to shore.
467
00:23:08,501 --> 00:23:10,835
- When they arrive
on the beach,
468
00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:14,960
Kennedy literally collapses
in exhaustion.
469
00:23:15,085 --> 00:23:16,876
- By this time,
470
00:23:17,001 --> 00:23:19,876
Jack and his crew
were presumed dead,
471
00:23:20,001 --> 00:23:23,251
when a report stated that
neither the ship nor the crew
472
00:23:23,376 --> 00:23:26,418
were found
at the collision site.
473
00:23:26,543 --> 00:23:29,376
- They are in survival mode
at this point.
474
00:23:29,543 --> 00:23:32,418
They need to somehow get
word to the Americans
475
00:23:32,585 --> 00:23:35,335
that they're alive
and where they're at
476
00:23:35,460 --> 00:23:36,835
because they're
in Japanese-held territory.
477
00:23:41,043 --> 00:23:42,835
- On August 2, 1943,
478
00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:46,293
Jack and his men had been sunk
by a Japanese destroyer
479
00:23:46,418 --> 00:23:48,543
and lost two
of their crew members.
480
00:23:48,668 --> 00:23:51,585
Now they were stranded
on a small island
481
00:23:51,751 --> 00:23:55,126
roughly the size
of a football field.
482
00:23:55,251 --> 00:23:56,876
- It's only 100 yards wide,
483
00:23:57,001 --> 00:23:58,960
but it was enough to get
out of the water and hide.
484
00:23:59,085 --> 00:24:00,835
So they all make it there,
485
00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:03,710
and soon after they get there,
a Japanese barge goes by.
486
00:24:03,793 --> 00:24:06,835
So they know that was close.
487
00:24:06,960 --> 00:24:08,543
But there's no food.
There's no water there.
488
00:24:08,668 --> 00:24:10,626
There's just trees.
489
00:24:10,751 --> 00:24:12,793
And Kennedy knows
they can't stay there.
490
00:24:12,876 --> 00:24:14,376
♪ ♪
491
00:24:14,460 --> 00:24:16,793
- Armed with a lantern
in one hand,
492
00:24:16,918 --> 00:24:20,751
Jack swam two miles alone
to the Ferguson Passage--
493
00:24:20,876 --> 00:24:24,418
an area American boats
often pass through.
494
00:24:24,543 --> 00:24:27,043
- Kennedy
thinks he can swim out
495
00:24:27,168 --> 00:24:30,668
and flag down
one of the PT boats.
496
00:24:30,793 --> 00:24:35,335
This proves unsuccessful
and utterly tiring.
497
00:24:35,460 --> 00:24:37,126
♪ ♪
498
00:24:37,251 --> 00:24:40,085
- When he made it back
to his men the next afternoon,
499
00:24:40,251 --> 00:24:44,001
Jack led his crew
in swimming nearly four miles
500
00:24:44,126 --> 00:24:45,918
to nearby Olasana Island
501
00:24:46,043 --> 00:24:48,793
in hopes
of finding food, water,
502
00:24:48,876 --> 00:24:51,626
and fellow American PT crews.
503
00:24:55,376 --> 00:24:57,293
They found nothing.
504
00:24:57,418 --> 00:25:00,043
But Jack was undeterred.
505
00:25:00,210 --> 00:25:02,460
- The morale of the crew
is very important,
506
00:25:02,585 --> 00:25:04,210
and Kennedy knew that.
507
00:25:04,335 --> 00:25:06,918
They needed to know somebody's
trying to do something.
508
00:25:07,043 --> 00:25:09,418
One of us has to try
and always be doing something
509
00:25:09,585 --> 00:25:13,210
to improve their situation
so they don't give up.
510
00:25:13,293 --> 00:25:15,793
- The next day, Jack brought
a new measure of hope
511
00:25:15,918 --> 00:25:17,918
to his injured
and starving crew
512
00:25:18,085 --> 00:25:21,710
when he found a nearby island
with old Japanese provisions,
513
00:25:21,793 --> 00:25:26,376
including crackers
and a supply of fresh water.
514
00:25:26,501 --> 00:25:28,626
Amazingly, on the same day,
515
00:25:28,751 --> 00:25:31,501
Jack encountered
two Melanesian natives--
516
00:25:31,626 --> 00:25:35,043
Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana.
517
00:25:35,210 --> 00:25:38,043
They were part of a network
called "coastwatchers,"
518
00:25:38,210 --> 00:25:40,835
providing intelligence
on Japanese movements
519
00:25:40,960 --> 00:25:44,460
to the Australian
Allied forces.
520
00:25:44,585 --> 00:25:47,876
Jack inscribed an SOS message
on a coconut
521
00:25:48,001 --> 00:25:50,960
for the coastwatchers to relay
back to their commander,
522
00:25:51,085 --> 00:25:54,293
an Australian
named Arthur Evans.
523
00:25:54,418 --> 00:25:58,501
- He wants them to take it
to the American PT boat base
524
00:25:58,585 --> 00:26:00,376
on the island of Rendova.
525
00:26:00,543 --> 00:26:02,876
- At night, by canoe...
526
00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:05,043
[chuckles]
Through enemy water.
527
00:26:05,210 --> 00:26:08,376
I mean, this is a tremendous
thing to ask of these people.
528
00:26:08,460 --> 00:26:11,043
- The next day,
the natives return
529
00:26:11,168 --> 00:26:12,960
with supplies and food
530
00:26:13,085 --> 00:26:16,585
and the note
from the coastwatcher,
531
00:26:16,710 --> 00:26:19,543
asking that Kennedy
meet Evans in person.
532
00:26:19,668 --> 00:26:21,793
Kennedy at this point knows
533
00:26:21,918 --> 00:26:25,293
that, you know,
this gives him a chance.
534
00:26:25,418 --> 00:26:27,001
- Jack set off
with the natives
535
00:26:27,085 --> 00:26:30,876
to a nearby PT boat base
on Gomu Island.
536
00:26:31,043 --> 00:26:33,043
- Kennedy really didn't want
to leave his men,
537
00:26:33,168 --> 00:26:34,710
but he got
in the canoe anyway,
538
00:26:34,835 --> 00:26:36,460
and he hid
under these palm fronds
539
00:26:36,585 --> 00:26:38,335
in the bottom of the canoe.
540
00:26:38,460 --> 00:26:40,210
While they're paddling
across the bay
541
00:26:40,335 --> 00:26:42,085
towards Gomu Island,
542
00:26:42,168 --> 00:26:45,001
a Japanese plane flies down
and scouts them.
543
00:26:45,126 --> 00:26:48,210
The two natives
give them the wave.
544
00:26:48,335 --> 00:26:50,043
And the pilot left them alone,
545
00:26:50,126 --> 00:26:53,043
but Kennedy is hiding
under this palm frond,
546
00:26:53,210 --> 00:26:54,460
hoping he wasn't seen.
547
00:26:54,585 --> 00:26:55,960
They arrive at Gomu Island,
548
00:26:56,085 --> 00:26:58,168
and Kennedy hops
out of the canoe and...
549
00:26:58,251 --> 00:27:00,126
- Two PT boats come by.
550
00:27:00,251 --> 00:27:02,793
They pick up Kennedy.
551
00:27:02,918 --> 00:27:05,835
- Jack led the two boats
back to Olasana Island
552
00:27:05,918 --> 00:27:08,001
to rescue his crew.
553
00:27:08,168 --> 00:27:11,376
♪ ♪
554
00:27:11,460 --> 00:27:14,835
- And by the morning
of August 8th,
555
00:27:14,918 --> 00:27:18,585
they are back
at the American PT boat base,
556
00:27:18,751 --> 00:27:23,043
ending the ordeal
of the PT-109 sailors.
557
00:27:23,168 --> 00:27:25,210
♪ ♪
558
00:27:25,376 --> 00:27:27,876
- Jack was now a war hero.
559
00:27:28,001 --> 00:27:30,126
Bravery and leadership
earned him
560
00:27:30,251 --> 00:27:33,876
a Navy Marine Corps medal
and a Purple Heart.
561
00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:36,126
Jack later said,
the real heroes
562
00:27:36,251 --> 00:27:40,710
are not the men who return
but those who stay out there--
563
00:27:40,835 --> 00:27:44,210
two of my men included.
564
00:27:44,293 --> 00:27:48,043
- Well, there was a lot
of favorable attention
565
00:27:48,251 --> 00:27:49,543
that he received
566
00:27:49,585 --> 00:27:51,918
but none more important
than that
567
00:27:52,085 --> 00:27:54,960
from the men who were
on the PT-109 with him.
568
00:27:55,085 --> 00:27:57,668
They testified
to his gallantry.
569
00:27:57,793 --> 00:28:00,751
They testified to what
he had actually accomplished
570
00:28:00,876 --> 00:28:03,251
at great risk to himself.
571
00:28:03,418 --> 00:28:05,626
- I think it was
a genuine record
572
00:28:05,793 --> 00:28:08,001
of truly selfless
heroic behavior.
573
00:28:08,085 --> 00:28:09,876
I think there's
no other way, really,
574
00:28:10,001 --> 00:28:11,793
accurately to describe it.
575
00:28:11,918 --> 00:28:14,751
- After the rescue of PT-109,
576
00:28:14,918 --> 00:28:16,543
Jack was promoted
to full lieutenant
577
00:28:16,710 --> 00:28:18,876
in October 1943
578
00:28:19,001 --> 00:28:21,251
and would stay
in the South Pacific.
579
00:28:21,376 --> 00:28:25,793
He served on another PT boat
until he was finally sent home
580
00:28:25,918 --> 00:28:30,085
on December 14, 1943
under doctor's orders.
581
00:28:30,251 --> 00:28:31,793
♪ ♪
582
00:28:31,918 --> 00:28:35,543
Arriving stateside
in early January 1944
583
00:28:35,710 --> 00:28:37,460
with an injured back,
584
00:28:37,543 --> 00:28:39,335
Jack was severely underweight
585
00:28:39,460 --> 00:28:42,626
and had symptoms
of malaria and jaundice
586
00:28:42,751 --> 00:28:45,668
from months away at war.
587
00:28:45,835 --> 00:28:48,043
But the change
that would most affect him
588
00:28:48,168 --> 00:28:51,376
was his newfound understanding
of the world.
589
00:28:51,543 --> 00:28:53,043
♪ ♪
590
00:28:53,126 --> 00:28:55,543
- It was the killing
that he saw,
591
00:28:55,668 --> 00:28:59,251
and it really made
him sensitive
592
00:28:59,418 --> 00:29:03,418
to what is at risk when
the United States goes to war.
593
00:29:03,585 --> 00:29:07,251
He writes very graphic letters
back to his parents
594
00:29:07,418 --> 00:29:10,793
about this one particular
Japanese soldier
595
00:29:10,918 --> 00:29:13,960
who's in the water
and causing problems
596
00:29:14,126 --> 00:29:16,960
until an American stands up
with his rifle
597
00:29:17,085 --> 00:29:19,293
and blows his head off.
598
00:29:19,418 --> 00:29:21,543
- Kennedy comes home
a different man
599
00:29:21,710 --> 00:29:23,251
in a lot of ways--
600
00:29:23,335 --> 00:29:25,335
someone who's been forced
to grow up, I think,
601
00:29:25,418 --> 00:29:28,668
in a lot of ways and see
the hard side of life
602
00:29:28,835 --> 00:29:30,960
that I think he had
never, ever encountered
603
00:29:31,085 --> 00:29:32,876
as a rather privileged
young man
604
00:29:33,043 --> 00:29:35,876
in the Boston area before.
605
00:29:35,960 --> 00:29:37,918
- I think that in many ways,
606
00:29:38,085 --> 00:29:40,626
World War II was maturing for
a whole generation, of course.
607
00:29:40,751 --> 00:29:42,626
But for John
in particular,
608
00:29:42,751 --> 00:29:46,460
I think he came back with
a sense of responsibility.
609
00:29:46,585 --> 00:29:48,710
♪ ♪
610
00:29:48,751 --> 00:29:51,168
- Jack's time in the war
would impact
611
00:29:51,293 --> 00:29:54,460
how he would lead
the rest of his life.
612
00:29:54,543 --> 00:29:55,210
♪ ♪
613
00:29:59,460 --> 00:30:01,001
- By the summer of 1944,
614
00:30:01,126 --> 00:30:03,585
Jack was back home
in Massachusetts,
615
00:30:03,751 --> 00:30:07,168
but his older brother,
Joe Jr., was still deployed,
616
00:30:07,251 --> 00:30:10,001
flying B-24 Liberator planes
617
00:30:10,126 --> 00:30:12,710
on missions
over the English Channel
618
00:30:12,835 --> 00:30:14,210
and the North Sea.
619
00:30:14,293 --> 00:30:18,376
♪ ♪
620
00:30:18,460 --> 00:30:20,085
On August 12th,
621
00:30:20,251 --> 00:30:23,376
he volunteered for a dangerous
top-secret mission--
622
00:30:23,543 --> 00:30:25,418
Operation Aphrodite--
623
00:30:25,585 --> 00:30:29,626
tasked with destroying
German V-2 rocket sites.
624
00:30:29,710 --> 00:30:35,460
♪ ♪
625
00:30:35,585 --> 00:30:37,168
His aircraft was loaded
626
00:30:37,293 --> 00:30:39,543
with over 20,000 pounds
of explosives
627
00:30:39,626 --> 00:30:43,335
when he took off, flying
over the English Channel
628
00:30:43,460 --> 00:30:45,210
toward his target.
629
00:30:45,293 --> 00:30:52,168
♪ ♪
630
00:30:52,293 --> 00:30:55,210
On the afternoon
of August 13th,
631
00:30:55,335 --> 00:30:58,376
during an idyllic Sunday
at Hyannis Port,
632
00:30:58,501 --> 00:31:01,793
Joe Kennedy appeared
before his family.
633
00:31:01,918 --> 00:31:04,585
The Kennedy patriarch was pale
634
00:31:04,751 --> 00:31:06,876
and paralyzed with disbelief
635
00:31:06,960 --> 00:31:09,793
as he delivered
the horrible news.
636
00:31:09,918 --> 00:31:12,376
The mission had gone awry,
637
00:31:12,501 --> 00:31:15,918
and Joe Jr.'s plane
had exploded in midair,
638
00:31:16,085 --> 00:31:18,376
killing him instantly.
639
00:31:18,460 --> 00:31:20,876
♪ ♪
640
00:31:20,960 --> 00:31:23,585
- Joe Jr.
could have come home.
641
00:31:23,751 --> 00:31:26,335
And yet he volunteers
642
00:31:26,460 --> 00:31:29,876
for what is almost
a suicide mission.
643
00:31:30,001 --> 00:31:32,668
Joe Jr.'s death
644
00:31:32,793 --> 00:31:35,376
is a knife
645
00:31:35,501 --> 00:31:38,876
into the heart
of the Kennedy family.
646
00:31:39,001 --> 00:31:40,543
They never recover.
647
00:31:40,626 --> 00:31:42,335
♪ ♪
648
00:31:42,418 --> 00:31:46,876
- Jack was overcome
with shock and emotion.
649
00:31:47,001 --> 00:31:50,210
He had seen firsthand
the devastation of war.
650
00:31:50,335 --> 00:31:53,543
Now it had taken his brother.
651
00:31:53,626 --> 00:31:58,168
♪ ♪
652
00:31:58,293 --> 00:32:02,960
- We found this essentially
aimless young man
653
00:32:03,126 --> 00:32:07,085
who'd returned from
a really rough war experience,
654
00:32:07,251 --> 00:32:09,126
both in terms
of losing his brother
655
00:32:09,251 --> 00:32:12,085
and almost losing his life,
656
00:32:12,251 --> 00:32:14,918
without any idea
what he wanted to do.
657
00:32:15,085 --> 00:32:17,001
- Unsure
of his immediate future
658
00:32:17,126 --> 00:32:20,043
and conferring
with his father, Joe Sr.,
659
00:32:20,210 --> 00:32:23,293
Jack decided to pursue
journalism in the interim.
660
00:32:23,418 --> 00:32:26,543
Joe Sr. felt it was a good way
to keep Jack busy
661
00:32:26,668 --> 00:32:29,126
and in the public eye.
662
00:32:29,251 --> 00:32:31,876
Kennedy began working
for Hearst Newspapers.
663
00:32:32,043 --> 00:32:34,001
Hearst was owned and operated
664
00:32:34,085 --> 00:32:36,460
by media mogul
William Randolph Hearst,
665
00:32:36,585 --> 00:32:38,876
a good friend
of Joe Kennedy Sr.
666
00:32:39,043 --> 00:32:40,376
♪ ♪
667
00:32:40,501 --> 00:32:42,001
- So to this city
668
00:32:42,168 --> 00:32:44,126
on the shores of the ocean
named for peace
669
00:32:44,251 --> 00:32:48,668
came 1,300 representatives
of the 46 United Nations.
670
00:32:48,793 --> 00:32:50,210
- He was sent to California
671
00:32:50,293 --> 00:32:53,043
to cover
the San Francisco Conference--
672
00:32:53,210 --> 00:32:55,543
a conference
that laid the foundation
673
00:32:55,668 --> 00:32:57,960
of the United Nations.
674
00:32:58,085 --> 00:33:00,710
Kennedy was less than
impressed by the conference
675
00:33:00,835 --> 00:33:02,335
and felt that until the world
676
00:33:02,460 --> 00:33:04,918
faced the brutal reality
of war,
677
00:33:05,043 --> 00:33:07,710
no organization
could effectively resolve
678
00:33:07,835 --> 00:33:09,210
the world's conflicts.
679
00:33:09,335 --> 00:33:11,710
♪ ♪
680
00:33:11,835 --> 00:33:13,376
While in San Francisco,
681
00:33:13,501 --> 00:33:16,376
he saw the streets
explode with celebration
682
00:33:16,543 --> 00:33:19,001
when a news flash came
from Europe.
683
00:33:19,126 --> 00:33:21,376
Hitler had been defeated.
684
00:33:21,460 --> 00:33:24,710
- General Eisenhower informs me
685
00:33:24,793 --> 00:33:27,585
that the forces of Germany
have surrendered
686
00:33:27,710 --> 00:33:29,876
to the United Nations.
687
00:33:30,085 --> 00:33:33,543
The flags of freedom
fly all over Europe.
688
00:33:33,626 --> 00:33:36,751
♪ ♪
689
00:33:36,918 --> 00:33:39,085
- During the summer of 1945,
690
00:33:39,251 --> 00:33:42,001
Kennedy raced off to Europe
on assignment.
691
00:33:42,085 --> 00:33:43,543
♪ ♪
692
00:33:43,751 --> 00:33:45,210
He was tasked with covering
693
00:33:45,335 --> 00:33:47,876
the British General election
in London
694
00:33:47,960 --> 00:33:51,418
and the final meeting between
World War II Allied leaders
695
00:33:51,585 --> 00:33:53,293
in Potsdam, Germany.
696
00:33:53,418 --> 00:33:55,043
During his time in London,
697
00:33:55,168 --> 00:33:57,501
Kennedy worked fervently
as a journalist,
698
00:33:57,585 --> 00:34:00,210
even correctly predicting
that his hero,
699
00:34:00,335 --> 00:34:02,543
Prime Minister
Winston Churchill,
700
00:34:02,668 --> 00:34:05,543
would be ousted
from his position.
701
00:34:17,376 --> 00:34:20,126
- He went
to the Potsdam Conference,
702
00:34:20,251 --> 00:34:21,876
where Truman
and Churchill and Stalin
703
00:34:22,043 --> 00:34:23,460
were going to discuss
704
00:34:23,626 --> 00:34:26,710
the shape
of the post-war world.
705
00:34:26,793 --> 00:34:28,918
♪ ♪
706
00:34:29,043 --> 00:34:31,876
His experience
in terms of his travels
707
00:34:32,001 --> 00:34:34,168
and seeing just what
was at stake
708
00:34:34,251 --> 00:34:36,668
in terms
of this long-term struggle
709
00:34:36,793 --> 00:34:38,376
that he clearly recognized
710
00:34:38,501 --> 00:34:40,585
between the forces of freedom
711
00:34:40,668 --> 00:34:43,376
and the forces
of authoritarianism
712
00:34:43,543 --> 00:34:47,210
and how people would live
in the future,
713
00:34:47,335 --> 00:34:49,418
and he always had his eyes on,
714
00:34:49,585 --> 00:34:52,543
you know, what is
the most powerful thing
715
00:34:52,710 --> 00:34:55,418
that I can do to make
a difference?
716
00:34:55,543 --> 00:34:57,168
♪ ♪
717
00:34:57,293 --> 00:34:59,251
- Kennedy embarked
on a three-day tour
718
00:34:59,376 --> 00:35:02,210
of the war-torn
Nazi landscape,
719
00:35:02,293 --> 00:35:05,335
seeing a string
of battered ports and cities
720
00:35:05,418 --> 00:35:08,085
and Hitler's Eagle's Nest.
721
00:35:08,168 --> 00:35:10,376
Observing the ruins of Berlin,
722
00:35:10,501 --> 00:35:12,876
Kennedy sensed it would become
a centerpiece
723
00:35:13,001 --> 00:35:17,710
in the battle between
Soviet communism and the West.
724
00:35:17,876 --> 00:35:20,376
His experiences in Europe
taught him the value
725
00:35:20,501 --> 00:35:22,710
of strong political leaders
726
00:35:22,793 --> 00:35:26,251
in ensuring ongoing peace.
727
00:35:26,418 --> 00:35:28,793
- Well, he knew that politics
was the world.
728
00:35:28,918 --> 00:35:30,585
He learned that politics
729
00:35:30,751 --> 00:35:33,751
wasn't about somebody running
for city council.
730
00:35:33,876 --> 00:35:36,668
Politics meant, are we going
to avoid another war or not?
731
00:35:36,751 --> 00:35:38,293
♪ ♪
732
00:35:38,376 --> 00:35:40,293
- And had been, in a sense,
preparing himself,
733
00:35:40,418 --> 00:35:42,335
not least of all
through international travel
734
00:35:42,460 --> 00:35:44,210
and international exposure,
735
00:35:44,293 --> 00:35:47,210
for some kind of career
as a statesman,
736
00:35:47,335 --> 00:35:49,043
not just as a political leader
737
00:35:49,168 --> 00:35:51,001
but as a person
who would play his role
738
00:35:51,085 --> 00:35:52,751
on the international stage.
739
00:35:52,876 --> 00:35:54,460
♪ ♪
740
00:35:54,585 --> 00:35:56,543
- Upon returning
to the United States,
741
00:35:56,668 --> 00:35:58,876
Kennedy was offered a position
with the Navy,
742
00:35:59,001 --> 00:36:01,835
but he politely rejected it.
743
00:36:01,918 --> 00:36:03,918
He had other plans.
744
00:36:04,043 --> 00:36:06,293
♪ ♪
745
00:36:10,460 --> 00:36:11,501
- From the neighborhoods
of Brookline, Massachusetts,
746
00:36:11,626 --> 00:36:13,668
to the halls
of Harvard University
747
00:36:13,793 --> 00:36:15,710
to the Solomon Islands,
748
00:36:15,835 --> 00:36:18,793
Kennedy's life had been
leading to Washington, D.C.
749
00:36:18,918 --> 00:36:20,668
♪ ♪
750
00:36:20,751 --> 00:36:24,251
His wartime experiences
and his stint as a journalist,
751
00:36:24,376 --> 00:36:26,668
coupled with his extraordinary
opportunities
752
00:36:26,835 --> 00:36:28,335
to travel the world
753
00:36:28,418 --> 00:36:30,876
and observe foreign affairs
in person,
754
00:36:31,043 --> 00:36:33,251
made a career in politics
755
00:36:33,376 --> 00:36:36,710
seem like the best avenue
toward making his mark.
756
00:36:45,418 --> 00:36:47,210
- Kennedy came from a family
757
00:36:47,376 --> 00:36:50,418
where public service mattered.
758
00:36:50,543 --> 00:36:53,210
Part of life was doing
something for the country.
759
00:36:53,293 --> 00:36:55,210
And there was also
an attraction to it--
760
00:36:55,376 --> 00:36:57,210
the power that came with that,
761
00:36:57,335 --> 00:36:59,335
the ability
to influence events.
762
00:37:08,626 --> 00:37:09,876
♪ ♪
763
00:37:10,001 --> 00:37:11,376
- As a political newcomer,
764
00:37:11,460 --> 00:37:14,460
it was time
for an opening gambit.
765
00:37:14,585 --> 00:37:16,376
Kennedy decided to run
766
00:37:16,460 --> 00:37:18,918
for the United States
House of Representatives
767
00:37:19,001 --> 00:37:22,251
in the 1946 elections.
768
00:37:22,376 --> 00:37:25,210
He ran
for Boston's 11th district.
769
00:37:25,418 --> 00:37:27,418
The 29-year-old Kennedy
770
00:37:27,543 --> 00:37:30,043
announced his campaign
for the House
771
00:37:30,168 --> 00:37:32,210
at the luxurious
Parker House Hotel
772
00:37:32,335 --> 00:37:34,251
in downtown Boston.
773
00:37:50,835 --> 00:37:52,543
♪ ♪
774
00:37:52,710 --> 00:37:55,543
Kennedy was not afraid
to plunge into every aspect
775
00:37:55,668 --> 00:37:57,876
of his congressional crusade,
776
00:37:57,918 --> 00:38:00,710
appearing
at numerous campaign events.
777
00:38:00,876 --> 00:38:03,251
He kept his campaign
tight-knit,
778
00:38:03,418 --> 00:38:06,085
enlisting the help
of friends and family,
779
00:38:06,210 --> 00:38:07,876
remembering people's names
780
00:38:08,043 --> 00:38:10,751
and taking advantage
of every introduction.
781
00:38:10,918 --> 00:38:15,626
- Kennedy's natural mode was
not an extrovert back slapper.
782
00:38:15,751 --> 00:38:18,418
That was not how he interacted
with people.
783
00:38:18,543 --> 00:38:21,043
And that was never
how he served as a politician.
784
00:38:21,168 --> 00:38:24,876
But when he decided to run
for this seat, he went for it.
785
00:38:25,001 --> 00:38:26,501
♪ ♪
786
00:38:26,626 --> 00:38:29,043
- Kennedy began
rallying his supporters,
787
00:38:29,126 --> 00:38:31,126
focusing on local issues,
788
00:38:31,251 --> 00:38:34,460
like housing, health,
and labor.
789
00:38:34,626 --> 00:38:37,001
- He did not run
his initial campaign
790
00:38:37,126 --> 00:38:40,210
with a real heavy focus
on international affairs,
791
00:38:40,335 --> 00:38:41,918
because I think
he sort of deduced
792
00:38:42,043 --> 00:38:43,751
that it was pocketbook issues
793
00:38:43,835 --> 00:38:45,585
that were probably
most important
794
00:38:45,710 --> 00:38:47,376
to the people of Massachusetts
795
00:38:47,543 --> 00:38:49,543
and the district
that he was hoping to serve.
796
00:38:49,668 --> 00:38:51,335
It was not a shoo-in.
797
00:38:51,418 --> 00:38:53,918
There was
a ten-person primary,
798
00:38:54,043 --> 00:38:56,543
including, you know,
former mayors from the district
799
00:38:56,668 --> 00:38:59,043
and people who are
much better known than Kennedy.
800
00:38:59,168 --> 00:39:02,335
- He's the only war veteran
running for that seat.
801
00:39:02,460 --> 00:39:03,918
Hard to believe, isn't it?
802
00:39:04,043 --> 00:39:06,626
All the other politicians
had avoided the war.
803
00:39:06,751 --> 00:39:08,626
- Kennedy understood
the only way
804
00:39:08,751 --> 00:39:11,335
for a newcomer
to campaign effectively
805
00:39:11,418 --> 00:39:14,626
would be to introduce himself
and speak personally
806
00:39:14,751 --> 00:39:17,668
to potential voters
and volunteers.
807
00:39:17,793 --> 00:39:20,460
Undaunted,
he put on a back brace
808
00:39:20,626 --> 00:39:22,960
and canvassed
the neighborhoods of Boston,
809
00:39:23,085 --> 00:39:26,126
knocking on door after door.
810
00:39:26,251 --> 00:39:30,001
- When he first
knocked on my door...
811
00:39:30,126 --> 00:39:32,710
I lived in a three-decker
812
00:39:32,835 --> 00:39:36,043
in the Bunker Hill section
of Charlestown.
813
00:39:36,126 --> 00:39:37,585
And this young veteran,
814
00:39:37,710 --> 00:39:39,710
this decorated veteran
815
00:39:39,876 --> 00:39:42,751
was putting
an organization together
816
00:39:42,918 --> 00:39:45,168
of other veterans
817
00:39:45,293 --> 00:39:48,668
to help him get elected
to Congress.
818
00:39:48,793 --> 00:39:50,501
♪ ♪
819
00:39:50,626 --> 00:39:53,918
- It didn't take long
for his popularity to rise,
820
00:39:54,043 --> 00:39:56,126
especially with women.
821
00:39:56,251 --> 00:39:59,835
- And women, by the mid-century
mark in the 20th century,
822
00:39:59,918 --> 00:40:02,210
had the majority
of the electorate
823
00:40:02,335 --> 00:40:03,543
here in Massachusetts.
824
00:40:03,668 --> 00:40:05,626
They were about 51%.
825
00:40:05,751 --> 00:40:09,001
And so this was the great
untapped political resource
826
00:40:09,085 --> 00:40:10,418
in Massachusetts politics.
827
00:40:10,543 --> 00:40:13,376
So Kennedy immediately
targeted them.
828
00:40:13,543 --> 00:40:16,793
- I went with him
to hear him speak
829
00:40:16,918 --> 00:40:19,710
to a group
of Gold Star mothers,
830
00:40:19,876 --> 00:40:22,876
all who had lost a son
or a daughter
831
00:40:23,001 --> 00:40:25,210
in World War II.
832
00:40:25,376 --> 00:40:28,251
He said, I think I know
how you feel...
833
00:40:28,376 --> 00:40:30,043
♪ ♪
834
00:40:30,210 --> 00:40:34,376
Because my mother
is a Gold Star mother, too.
835
00:40:34,543 --> 00:40:38,710
But I never witnessed
such a reaction.
836
00:40:38,793 --> 00:40:41,001
They all leave their seats.
837
00:40:41,085 --> 00:40:44,835
And I can hear them
saying that he reminded them...
838
00:40:44,918 --> 00:40:48,501
of their own John
or Joe or Pat,
839
00:40:48,626 --> 00:40:52,043
the loved one they had lost.
840
00:40:52,168 --> 00:40:56,126
- He went to church basements
and ice cream socials,
841
00:40:56,293 --> 00:40:59,335
and he just worked harder
than his opponents did.
842
00:40:59,460 --> 00:41:01,585
I mean,
he literally outworked them.
843
00:41:16,085 --> 00:41:20,293
- He could be a fellow who
just sort of sits on things,
844
00:41:20,418 --> 00:41:22,168
who lets his staff,
845
00:41:22,293 --> 00:41:25,293
who lets his father's friends
do all the heavy lifting,
846
00:41:25,418 --> 00:41:27,876
but that is not his style.
847
00:41:27,960 --> 00:41:32,460
- The one thing about Kennedys
is they will get up
848
00:41:32,585 --> 00:41:34,710
an hour before everybody else,
849
00:41:34,835 --> 00:41:38,710
and they will go to bed an hour
later than everybody else.
850
00:41:38,835 --> 00:41:42,085
And if everybody else
does three stops a day,
851
00:41:42,251 --> 00:41:43,376
they'll do five.
852
00:41:43,501 --> 00:41:45,585
♪ ♪
853
00:41:45,751 --> 00:41:48,293
- He knew, I think,
in his heart
854
00:41:48,418 --> 00:41:51,001
that he was destined
for greater things.
855
00:41:51,126 --> 00:41:53,793
He realized
that if he applied himself,
856
00:41:53,918 --> 00:41:55,376
great things would follow.
857
00:41:55,501 --> 00:41:57,918
♪ ♪
858
00:41:58,085 --> 00:42:00,335
- Next on "Kennedy"..
859
00:42:00,460 --> 00:42:02,210
- Well, politics is
about opportunity
860
00:42:02,293 --> 00:42:03,710
and seizing the moment.
861
00:42:03,835 --> 00:42:05,460
Kennedy saw this as his moment.
862
00:42:05,585 --> 00:42:07,376
- He was looking to forge
a political identity.
863
00:42:07,585 --> 00:42:09,085
- His father had money,
864
00:42:09,210 --> 00:42:11,793
but money
doesn't always win campaigns.
865
00:42:11,876 --> 00:42:14,460
You have to work really hard.
866
00:42:14,585 --> 00:42:18,043
- But Kennedy oftentimes
had trouble walking.
867
00:42:18,168 --> 00:42:20,710
- Jack can barely stand,
868
00:42:20,793 --> 00:42:24,751
and he campaigns
from morning to night.
869
00:42:24,876 --> 00:42:27,876
- Jackie was this amazing
figure in his life.
870
00:42:28,085 --> 00:42:30,626
You know, this looks
like a royal wedding.
871
00:42:30,751 --> 00:42:35,460
- Jack's promiscuity
is learned as a young man.
872
00:42:35,585 --> 00:42:37,335
- She knew
what she was getting into.
873
00:42:37,418 --> 00:42:39,918
♪ ♪
64327
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