Father and Sons - Joseph P. Kennedy holds sons Joseph Patrick Junior (left) and two year old future president John Fitzgerald Kennedy, in 1919.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born in Brookline, Mass., May 29, 1917, the great-grandson of Irish immigrants. His father, the son of a saloon keeper, had graduated from Harvard and at age 25 became the youngest bank president in the U.S. He was a highly skilled investor and money handler and made a fortune. In 1914 Joe Kennedy had married Rose Fitzgerald, the daughter of John "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald, a colorful Boston politician. Young Jack Kennedy was the second child in a family that would eventually have nine children. Joe Jr., Jack, Rosemary, Kathleen, Eunice, Patricia, Robert, Jean, and Edward (Teddy).

Pals - and rivals - Joseph Patrick (left) and John Fitzgerald. Fiercely loyal and fiercely competitive, they sometimes even brawled as boys. Joe was a natural athlete and had many talents, but was also a bit more serious. Young Jack Kennedy was a sickly child but fun loving and well liked. Despite his illnesses, Jack liked to compete in sports, the competitive spirit largely encouraged by his father.

With The Girls - Rosemary, Kathleen and Eunice in 1925.

Playing policeman. At about age five, Jack decided he would become a cop.

In the water at Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, the family's summer home.

On The Team - The Dexter school football team in Brookline, Massachusetts, featuring Jack Kennedy at about age ten (seated on ground, front right) and older brother Joe (behind, third from left).

A bright-eyed, handsome boy - JFK at age eleven.

Growing up - And all dressed up, at the family's vacation home, Palm Beach, Florida.

1931 Family Portrait at Hyannis Port. Left to Right: Bobby, Jack, Eunice, Jean, Joseph Sr., Rose with Pat in front of her, Kathleen, Joe junior, and Rosemary.

At Choate, an exclusive prep school in Connecticut. The Muckers, a group that delighted in practical jokes and bucking the school's traditions, featuring JFK on right, 1934. Their antics nearly got Jack expelled. Right - Choate Graduate, class of 1935, surprisingly voted "Most Likely to Succeed." As a final joke on the school, Jack rigged the election.

1937 - Feeding the pigeons in Venice during his first tour of Europe. Right - with little friend at the Hague.

With Kathleen at Palm Beach.

Young JFK signed portrait.

JFK Photo History
Early Years | War Hero | Politician | President

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