Assassination of John F. Kennedy 1963 2

Description

Assassination of John F. Kennedy, 1963, Photo; Licensed item; Original: 5740×4315; Photographer: Unknown; license required; Rights: 9 Bleek/zb Media. The assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, was a world-moving event with profound political, social, and historical impacts.
1. Political significance (USA and international)
The USA lost a charismatic, young president who stood for progress, civil rights, and a new foreign policy.
His successor Lyndon B. Johnson took over the presidency and continued many of Kennedy’s political goals, particularly the civil rights movement and social reforms (Great Society).
Internationally, the murder sparked shock and uncertainty, especially during the Cold War, as Kennedy was considered a strong opponent of the Soviet Union.
2. Impact on the Cold War
Kennedy had advocated for a controlled rapprochement between the USA and the Soviet Union (e.g., the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963). His death led to uncertainties about future US foreign policy.
In West Berlin, his assassination caused deep dismay, as many saw him as a symbol of the Western protector against the Soviet Union.
3. Social and media consequences
The murder became one of the first major global television events through the famous Zapruder video and the live media coverage.
It fostered numerous conspiracy theories, as official investigations (Warren Commission) were controversial and to this day, doubts persist about the sole perpetration of Lee Harvey Oswald.
4. Symbolic significance
Kennedy became an icon of hope and political change, his myth lives on in memory as a visionary leader who never realized his full potential (‘What if…?’).
His death marked the end of the optimistic era of the early 1960s and ushered in a politically turbulent time in the USA, characterized by the Vietnam War, protest movements, and social change.
Conclusion
Kennedy’s assassination was a world-historical shock that influenced the political landscape of the USA and the Cold War. His legacy lives on in his visions for peace, social justice, and international cooperation.