#6 He Was The First Catholic President
When JFK made the decision to run for president in 1960, anti-Catholic prejudice was still widespread in everyday life in America. For many years, Catholics in politics were the target of defamation and mistrust. John F. Kennedy felt obligated to defend his religion by saying that he would not obey the pope.
The Episcopal Church, America’s successor to the Church of England, has historically been represented by nearly a quarter of presidents, including some of the country’s most notable figures including George Washington, James Madison, and Franklin Roosevelt.
Having eight presidents, including Jackson and Ronald Reagan, Presbyterians are the second-largest group. With four each, Unitarians and Baptists have the third-highest number of presidents among all religious groups.
In addition, four presidents, including Trump and Barack Obama before him, identified as Christians but did not belong to a particular church.
Kennedy was for sure a fascinating figure and many of these stories can help us to better understand his life and intentions. Although he only served as president for a brief period of time, his calls for world peace and justice motivated many people to take action and hope for a better future.
Do you know some other interesting facts about any of our presidents? Don’t hesitate and share them with us!
If you are interested in finding out more about John F. Kennedy, you should also read: Kennedy Assassination: 7 Tales From the Hospital Where He Died
