November 22^nd marked the 50^th anniversary of the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Pine Crest remembered our 35^th President with a presentation about his life, death, and legacy. Three distinguished guests came to our school to offer their perspective on Kennedy’s presidency.

Mel Cottone, one of Kennedy’s closest advisors, described the President as a funny and intelligent man that the American population adored. He described JFK as a sort of “American rockstar” that everyone felt they could relate.

Kennedy’s death is known as one of the greatest tragedies that the American political system has ever seen- an event where everyone can remember exactly where they were and what they were doing at that precise moment. Furthermore, Kennedy was not only mourned in the United States, but his impact was also felt in other countries around the world. Dr. David Kilroy, a professor at Nova Southeastern University, was born in Ireland after the fateful day in 1963, but recalls a childhood where the Irish citizens frequently mourned and remembered the first Irish Catholic President of the United States.

One of the presentations focused on the events leading up to the assassination, including the changing of certain details that could have have prevented the fateful shooting in Dallas. Cottone disputed many conspiracy theories surrounding the former President’s death.  One of these radical ideas included the claim that the FBI might have planned to kill Kennedy, since the head of the agency neglected to warn the President of Lee Harvey Oswald, the assassin who later killed JFK.

Although students did not experience the tragedy first hand, PC’s presentation helped us to remember his legacy and success as President of the United States.