Essay On John F Kennedy Camelot

📌Category: Government, President of the United States
📌Words: 769
📌Pages: 3
📌Published: 18 June 2022

The death of the last Kennedy was also the death of the American Camelot. After President Kennedy’s assassination, his wife and the former first lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, related her husband's presidency to the Arthurian Camelot. Then in doing so, called it the American Camelot. The word Camelot is an Arthurian legend, referring back to the time of King Arthur. Its definition is “a place associated with glittering romance and optimism.” the Camelot of legend, never existed, except in the minds of those who needed such a perfect place. that is why this myth is so powerful. Camelot was nothing more than a reflection of the garden of Eden. Such a beautiful and perfect place, that people believe there could be such a place today.

Jacqueline chose this name for her husband's presidency, not only because of his fondness for the hit Broadway musical about the legendary court of King Arthur. Also because she described her husband's presidency as similar to king Arthurs's reign. Although John F. Kennedy and his presidency never truly reflected King Arthur or the Arthurian Camelot. The Camelot of King Arthur and his round table was referred to as “ a place and time of idyllic happiness.” After John's death, Jacqueline Kennedy was talking with a journalist and described her husband's presidency as a period of hope and optimism, therefore, relating it to the Camelot. “There will be great presidents again, but there will never be another Camelot”- Jacquline Kennedy.  John F. Kennedy being president, and the eldest son of his parents, portrayed King Arthur in the American Camelot but despite that, he was no King Arthur. King Arthur was a virtuous king and a pure and mighty warrior of great health.

While John F. Kennedy may have seemed to have a healthy lifestyle, he did not. In a newsreel during World War 2, John F. Kennedy played football on the lawn of the Whitehouse and appeared to do so with ease. However, no one knew the large doses of medications that allowed him to do so. Just to get through the day Kennedy took “steroids for his Addisons disease, pain killers for his back, antispasmodics for his colitis, antibiotics for his urinary tract infection, and antihistamines for his allergies.” Another difference between the two was, that King Arthur was a peacemaker and a significant ruler. While John F. Kennedy was inspirational to many, he also almost plunged the world into a nuclear war. The other “Characters” in our American Camelot are members of the Kennedy family.

 Kennedy's wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, was characterized as Queen Guinevere. Arthurs beloved Queen of strength and beauty. The second eldest brother Bobby or Robert was described as Lancelot, defender of the helpless and, it is said, furtively in love with the queen. Then there was the youngest brother Teddy, formally known as Edward Kennedy. It was he who would ultimately become this Camelot's Galahad. However, he was nowhere near a man of great virtue. It was Edward Kennedy's death that would end the American Camelot.

Johns's assassination the following year, and his second eldest brother, Roberts killing in 1968, left Ted with the burden but also the privilege of carrying on the Kennedy family legacy. Edward Kennedy, the youngest brother in the Kennedy family, Unlike his brothers, lived out his natural life. Like his father and brothers before him, Ted graduated from Harvard College and pursued a political career, as a U.S. senator from Massachusetts, until his death. Although, he didn't have the part of President, like his eldest brother John F. Kennedy. He still played an important role in political office and made an impact on many people's lives. Like Galahad in Idylls of the King, “The Holy Grail,” Ted was on a search for his holy grail of - Universal health care. Although Ted never succeeded in his journey for Universal Health care, he sure made his efforts as part of the senate. Ted Kennedy's nickname, the Lion of the senate shows us a picture of how he took charge and in other words pounced on the issues he needed to solve.

Like sir Galahad, Ted was a strong problem solver and may have changed the face of America. with The death of Sen. Edward Kennedy came not only the end of a political dynasty but also the end of the American Camelot. Ted, was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2008 and was not assumed to live long afterward. However, he still had the strength to carry on. With his last public address, Ted made sure he and his brothers would be remembered for years to come.  In the end, Edward Kennedy came closer to the legend of the Camelot than any of his brothers ever did. Even today, the Kennedy family is well known, and the term “Camelot” is still used when referring to John F. Kennedys presidency. Ultimately, the supposed Camelot of the Kennedys is ever so just a myth but is still believed by so many today.

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