Person Record

Metadata

Name

Kennedy, John F.

Titles & honors

Joined the U.S. Navy in 1941. Awarded Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroism in 1943. Entered the 80th Congress in January 1947, at the age of 29. Elected as the 35th President of the United States. Presidential term: January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963.

Born

May 29, 1917

Birthplace

Brookline, MA

Deceased

Nov. 22, 1963

Deceased where

Dallas, TX

Occupation

Legislator, politician. First U.S. President to concern himself with mental retardation.

Education

In 1940, Kennedy graduated cum laude from Harvard College with a Bachelor of Arts in government, concentrating on international affairs.

Notes

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, commonly referred to by his initials JFK, was an American politician who served as the 35th President of the United States from January 1961 until his assassination in November 1963.

Born: May 29, 1917, Brookline, MA
Assassinated: November 22, 1963, Dallas, TX

President Kennedy, at the age of 42, was the youngest elected President of the United States. He said at his inauguration that each torch had been passed to another generation, a generation committed to representing those who were unrepresented, the disenfranchised and the powerless. President Kennedy became the first head of state to concern himself with the challenges facing people with mental retardation. He stated shortly after he took office, "Can you imagine that 2% of our children live with mental retardation who could be saved if we had the programs and the recognition of the needs...And those of us who have seen children live in the shadows know that a country as rich as ours can't possibly justify this neglect. I have announced my intentions to appoint a panel of outstanding scientists, doctors and others to prescribe a program of action in the field of mental retardation. This condition strikes those least able to speak for themselves."

With his urging, Congress passed a bill with large majorities, which established the National Institute of Child Helath and Human Development at the N.I.H. (National Institutes of Health) focusing on the health of mothers and babies. Efforts to implement the President's recommendations were embodied in far reaching pieces of legislation. The first, Public Law 88-156, was the Maternal and Child Helath Mental Retardation Planning Admendments of 1963. These were aimed at the state planning to determine actions needed to combat mental retardation and personnel needs. Seven days later, Public Law 88-164, the Mental Retardation Facilities and Community Mental Health Construction Act of 1963 was enacted. This act authorized the construction of University Affiliated Facilities (UAFs) which would conduct reserach, provide services and conduct clinical training. Community clinics and services began to replace the isolation that people with mental retardation had so long suffered in state institutions. And most importantly with outside support, people with mental retardation began to start back to their homes and families.

Children

John F. Kennedy, Jr., Caroline Kennedy, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy

Spouse

Jacqueline Kennedy

Othernames

John Fitzgerald Kennedy or JFK

Related Records

1953.8.10 - Bills to Aid Retarded Pending in Congress
This article from Our Children's Voice Vol. V - Issue No. 2, published by the Association for the Help of Retarded Children, Inc. in June 1953, discusses pending legislation, which includes amendments to the Social Security Act, bills involving tax expemptions for families supporting mental retardates, and the National Services for Disabled Persons Amendments of 1953.

Record Type: Documents
1961.1.1 - Kennedy and AHRC Billboard
Man and young boy standing in front of large advertisement for Kennedy, "Join AHRC help the retarded". Exact date and location unknown.

Record Type: Photographs
1961.8.2 - Our Children's Voice Vol. XIV - Issue No. 2
Our Children's Voice was a newsletter published by the Association for the Help of Retarded Children, Inc., intended to highlight Chapter activities, fundraising events, and other organizational developments. Feature articles within this newsletter include; Metabolic Error is Pinpointed in Mongolism, NARC Poster Children Illustrate Importance of Early PKU Testing and Treatment, Expanded Services for Mentally Retarded, Research Institute Implem...

Record Type: Books, Publications, & Media
1962.2.1 - President Calls for Broad Drive on Mental Retardation
This article from Our Children's Voice Vol. XV No. 1, published by the New York State Association for the Help of Retarded Children, Inc. in January 1962 announces President Kennedy's national plan for intensive research into mental retardation, and the creation of the President's Panel on Mental Retardation.

Record Type: Documents
1962.6.1 - President's Panel Reports on Mental Retardation: Report Favors Research
This article from Our Children's Voice Vol. XV No. 4, published by the New York State Association for the Help of Retarded Children, Inc. in December 1962 details the major suggestions reported by the President's Panel.

Record Type: Documents
1962.6.2 - A National Plan to Combat Mental Retardation
A pamphlet discussing the need for a panel of leaders to develop a national coordination program of research and services and to find new approaches to the solution of the many basic problems in the field of I/DD. Published in 1962.

Record Type: Books, Publications, & Media
1962.8.3 - Our Children's Voice Vol. XV - Issue No. 1
Our Children's Voice was a newsletter published by the Association for the Help of Retarded Children, Inc., intended to highlight Chapter activities, fundraising events, and other organizational developments. Feature articles within this newsletter include; President Calls for Broad Drive on Mental Retardation, Mandate Community Mental Health Boards!, Retarded Children's Week, Annual Convention Charts Association Course, Regional Vocational Re...

Record Type: Books, Publications, & Media
1962.8.4 - Our Children's Voice Vol. XV - Issue No. 2
Our Children's Voice was a newsletter published by the New York State Association for Retarded Children, Inc., intended to highlight Chapter activities, fundraising events, and other organizational developments. Feature articles within this newsletter include; Governor Rockerfeller Recommends 5-Yr Plan for Retarded, State Widens Aid for Retarded, 400,000 Infants to be Screened for PKU, Office of Mental Retardation Progress Report, and Legislat...

Record Type: Books, Publications, & Media
1963.2.6 - Senate Backs Aid to Mentally Retarded by Vote of 72-1
This article from Our Children's Voice Vol. XVI No. 2, published by the New York State Association for the Help of Retarded Children, Inc. in August 1963 details the passing of S 1576, a bill that would encourage research in the field of mental retardation.

Record Type: Documents
1963.2.7 - President Signs Retardation Bills
This article from Our Children's Voice Vol. XVI No. 3, published by the New York State Association for the Help of Retarded Children, Inc. in December 1963 details the bills signed by President Kennedy, which included aid to build Community Mental health Centers.

Record Type: Documents
1963.6.4 - President Submits Radical New Retardation Plans
This article from Our Children's Voice Vol. XVI No. 1, published by the New York State Association for the Help of Retarded Children, Inc. in April 1963 announces the President's plans for programs and funding for the Institute for Basic Research in Mental Retardation.

Record Type: Documents
1963.6.5 - Mental Retardation: A National Plan for a National Problem
A book discussing causes, treatments, services, education and needed areas of action. Published in 1963 by the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, for The President's Panel on Mental Retardation.

Record Type: Books, Publications, & Media
1963.8.3 - Our Children's Voice Vol. XVI - Issue No. 3
Our Children's Voice was a newsletter published by the New York State Association for Retarded Children, Inc., intended to highlight Chapter activities, fundraising events, and other organizational developments. Feature articles within this newsletter include; President Signs Retardation Bills, Joint Legislative Committee Maps Program, A Message from the President, Mandate Day Training Classes - Delegates Unanimously Agree, Rose Kennedy Tells ...

Record Type: Books, Publications, & Media
1964.2.6 - New Approaches to Mental Retardation and Mental Illness
A paper discussing new legislation representing a new emphasis and approach based on prevention and therapeutic, restorative and rehabilitative services. Published by the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in 1964.

Record Type: Documents
1964.5.5 - Benevolent Society For Retarded Children's 14th Annual Luncheon Program
Spiral bound book of the program contents of the 14th Annual Luncheon at the New York Hilton Hotel.

Record Type: Documents
1964.7.11 - Government Finds Jobs for Retarded
This article from Our Children's Voice Vol. XVII No. 3, published by the New York State Association for the Help of Retarded Children, Inc. in December 1964 details the government employment program initiated by late President Kennedy.

Record Type: Documents
1964.8.1 - Our Children's Voice Vol. XVII - Issue No. 1
Our Children's Voice was a newsletter published by the New York State Association for Retarded Children, Inc., intended to highlight Chapter activities, fundraising events, and other organizational developments. Feature articles within this newsletter include; Mandate for PKU Testing Passed, NY State Implements Planning for Mental Retardation, Research Institute for Mental Retardation, Provisions of PKU Bill, Appropriations Implement New Menta...

Record Type: Books, Publications, & Media
1965.8.1 - Our Children's Voice Vol. XVIII - Issue No. 1
Our Children's Voice was a newsletter published by the New York State Association for Retarded Children, Inc., intended to highlight Chapter activities, fundraising events, and other organizational developments. Feature articles within this newsletter include; "Not Without Hope", $138M Construction for Seven New State Schools to Relieve Overcrowding, Ground Broken for Research Institute for Mental Retardation, Association Testifies on Budget, ...

Record Type: Books, Publications, & Media
1986.2.1 - President's Committee on Mental Retardation: A Historical Review 1966 - 1985
A historical account of the accomplishments in the field of mental retardation and the activities that have taken place under the leadership of the President's Committee on Mental Retardation. Published in 1986. Assembled by Fred J. Krause, former Executive Director PCMR and PCMR Committee Members.

Record Type: Books, Publications, & Media
1994.7.3 - Presidental Address 1994: New Frontiers in Mental Retardation
Discusses residential integration, community inclusion, employment integration and educational inclusion as well as the challenges of promotion the diffusion of these topics across the states and supporting a vigorous and relevent research agenda. Published in Mental Retardation, December 1994.

Record Type: Books, Publications, & Media
2011.1.1 - The Arc - Summary of Key Findings and a Call to Action
A report on family and individual needs for disability supports. Published by The Arc US in June 2011.

Record Type: Books, Publications, & Media