I think JFK is remember so lovingly because he was assassinated in the 60's, when so many of the politicians and newscasters and other makers of public opinion were old enough to be interested in politics. He was so charismatic that they loved him and were broken up when he was shot. My parents can remember the exact moment they heard the news, and still get teary about it.
That said, my grandparents would spend hours talking about how wonderful FDR was, and how he piloted the country through awful times and gave people hope. He was an icon to them, beloved.
History will be the judge of who is remembered most fondly/as the better president - but only after those who have lived through the events and are still biased about them have died.
Right now, it's the best thing Kerry could do to be compared to JFK because it will give people something positive to hang on him, when a lot of people are voting for him simply because he's not Bush. It's a smart political move and really has nothing to do with how JFK or FDR will be remembered historically. Although I would like to finish by commenting that building one president's image up does not require detracting from another president.
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Date: 2004-08-04 02:13 pm (UTC)That said, my grandparents would spend hours talking about how wonderful FDR was, and how he piloted the country through awful times and gave people hope. He was an icon to them, beloved.
History will be the judge of who is remembered most fondly/as the better president - but only after those who have lived through the events and are still biased about them have died.
Right now, it's the best thing Kerry could do to be compared to JFK because it will give people something positive to hang on him, when a lot of people are voting for him simply because he's not Bush. It's a smart political move and really has nothing to do with how JFK or FDR will be remembered historically. Although I would like to finish by commenting that building one president's image up does not require detracting from another president.