April 15, 2017

How the world would have changed if John F Kennedy had not
been assassinated
His is arguably the most famous presidential name in history: John F Kennedy, the man whose
assassination is forever marked on Americas memory. Conspiracy theories still exist about whether 46-
year-old JFKs killer Lee Harvey Oswald really did act alone when he pulled the trigger that day in Dallas.
But while the whispers have never gone away, neither has the speculation about how much the
35th president would have changed the world if he had survived the shooting on November 22, 1963.
So, as we approach what would have been his 100th birthday next month, we ask how might JFK have
acted if he had lived?

With charisma made for the age of television, he gave birth to a new style of leadership while breathing
life into the American dream for all sections of society. It was clear from his inaugural address on
January 20, 1961, that he would change the face of politics - inspiring future leaders such as Bill Clinton
and Barack Obama. Kennedy biographer Robert Dallek said he set the standard by making the most of
his youth, looks, charm and his visionary use of TV. Dallek said: I think the most important moment was
in that first television debate with Republican rival Richard Nixon, when Kennedy came across as
presidential; As someone who was poised, witty, charming, handsome and deserved to be president of
the United States.

After his death his flaws were largely forgotten and he was immortalized in a positive light in the hearts of
most Americans. Had he lived, he could have been brought down by his epic philandering kept secret
during his lifetime - or his ties to the mafia.

JFK had the problematic destiny of being born into a family active in the criminal underworld. His father,
stock market insider trader and bootlegger Joseph Kennedy, is said to have convinced the mafia to help
his son get to the White House.

Many have focused on the familys ties with Chicago mob boss Sam Giancana, a close Kennedy friend
and who was also an associate of Frank Sinatra. Sinatras daughter Tina said in 2009 her father asked
Giancana to pressure union members to vote for JFK. Historian Benjamin Nicholson said this helped
Kennedy win the key state of Illinois. Without the union vote JFK may have never got to the Oval Office.
After using his muscle to get the unions to back JFK, Giancana said Kennedy owed him. The mafia has
been accused of ordering his assassination because of the Kennedy administrations crackdown on
organized crime.

After the Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy may have lost faith in military advisers. In dealing with the Soviet
Union the President saw a need for diplomacy and began looking for common ground. There are
theories that if Kennedy had lived the United States relationship with Cuba could have evolved very
differently. Mr Dallek said: If he had lived, theres lots of speculation - with good reason - that he might
have achieved some kind of cordial relationship with Cuba. So the long history of Cuban-American
alienation would not have occurred.

Kennedy helped advance the cause of civil rights as black Americans fought for racial equality. In the
1960s, segregation was still normal in the southern states, with black people outlawed from sitting next to
whites on buses, for example. Just before his death, JFK told advisers he expected a tough re-election
campaign because his plans to reform civil rights still faced a lot of opposition in the United States.

Professor David Schneider said: Almost certainly JFK would not have been able to get the civil rights
and voting rights bills passed when he wanted to. The Southerners hated him and vice versa. He lacked,
and by a huge amount, the kinds of political skills possessed in abundance by Johnson (his successor).
Historian Winston Grady-Willis added: I believe the pace of civil rights in the south would have been
pretty much the same even if he hadnt died.

Arguably, if Kennedy had lived, so too, would 58,000 Americans and untold millions of Vietnamese, as
he was very concerned about the war. Dallek said: Theres reasonable speculation that he would have
gotten out of Vietnam. Or at least never have put those massive numbers of ground troops into Vietnam
that Lyndon Johnson did. JFK expert Jeff Greenfield added: He had always said to people that he
wanted to disengage but he couldnt do it until he was re-elected in 1964 - the politics wouldnt let him.
He would have been accused of being soft on communism. Ultimately, says Greenfield, I think we
would have been spared bigger war.

JFKs widow Jackie became almost as famous as her husband as she stoically mourned his death. While
she became an icon herself as First Lady, the reality may have been vastly different if he had survived.
Few think their marriage could have continued, especially after his affairs - some with famous and often
controversial women - came to light. It is believed he had an ongoing relationship with Marilyn Monroe,
and some say he would have divorced Jackie and moved the actress into the White House as First Lady
if he had lived. However, had the affair emerged, others think he would have been unable to survive the
scandal and been impeached.

It wasnt just Marilyn he failed to resist. Kennedy reportedly had affairs with prostitutes, a mobsters
girlfriend, White House interns and Washington socialites while in office. Discussing JFKs personal life,
author Jeffrey Greenfield said: I asked some people whether Kennedy could have survived this scandal.
They said, Of course not. The cultural climate of the US in [the early 1960s] compared to the 1990s was
just radically different. He added that the scenario would have been far more shocking than the Bill
Clinton scandal involving Monica Lewinsky.

Such was JFKs passion for space exploration that many believe a mission to Mars would be a much
nearer reality than it is almost 54 years after his death. Historian Benjamin Nicholson told The People:
Kennedys enthusiasm for space exploration really set the tone for his presidency, especially among the
younger generations. He had a can do mentality that was infectious. NASA would have benefitted far
more if he had remained alive. He was an astronauts president.

Before we start

What do you think: Would the world be any different if JFK hadnt been assassinated?

Reading/listening: Pay careful attention to the use of would, could, may, and might.

After reading/listening

Fill in the blanks with would, could, may, or might (or the negative form). Go back and check the
article if you are not sure.

1. It was clear from his inaugural address that he __________ change the face of politics.

2. Had he lived, he ______ have been brought down by his epic philandering kept secret during
his lifetime - or his ties to the mafia.

3. Without the union vote JFK ______ have never got to the Oval Office.
4. After the Cuban Missile Crisis, he ______ have lost faith in military advisers.

5. There are theories that Americas relationship with Cuba ______ have been vastly different if he
had lived.

6. Mr. Dallek said: If he had lived, theres lots of speculation that he _____ have achieved some
kind of cordial relationship with Cuba. So the long history of Cuban-American alienation ______
not have occurred.

7. Professor David Schneider said: Almost certainly JFK _________ have been able to get the civil
rights and voting rights bills passed.

8. Historian Winston Grady-Willis added: I believe the pace of civil rights in the south ______ have
been pretty much the same.

9. Arguably, if Kennedy had lived, so too, _____ 58,000 Americans and untold millions of
Vietnamese.

10. JFK expert Jeff Greenfield added: He had always said to people that he wanted to disengage
but he _______ do it until he was re-elected in 1964 - the politics _______ let him. He ______
have been accused of being soft on communism. Ultimately, says Greenfield, I think we ______
have been spared a bigger war.

11. While Jackie became an icon herself as First Lady, the reality _____ have been vastly different if
he had survived.

12. Few think their marriage ______ have continued.

13. It is believed he had an ongoing relationship with Marilyn Monroe, and some say he _______
have divorced Jackie and moved the actress into the White House as First Lady if he had lived.

14. However, had the affair emerged, others think he ______ have been unable to survive the
scandal and been impeached.

15. Author Jeffrey Greenfield said: I asked some people whether Kennedy _______ have survived
this scandal. They said, Of course not.

16. He added that the scenario ______ have been far more shocking than the Bill Clinton scandal
involving Monica Lewinsky.

17. Such was JFKs passion for space exploration that many believe a mission to Mars ______ be a
much nearer reality than it is, almost 54 years after his death.

18. NASA ______ have benefitted far more if he had remained alive. He was an astronauts
president.