[Savage Beast]

"the legacy of John F. Kennedy is his sheer ... beauty."

Maybe in your eye, Bill, but not in mine. You are not the only beholder who was beguiled by this rather unremarkable man, but what you mistook for "beauty" was in fact something else. William of Carmichael succeeded in identifying it where you failed:

"Why John Kennedy was a great president: He was telegenic."

Some obviously found Kennedy breathtakingly, irresistably attractive. I didn't. I also did not consider him handsome--or "beautiful".

[concerned about politics]

Some obviously found Kennedy breathtakingly, irresistably attractive. I didn't. I also did not consider him handsome--or "beautiful".

He was cleaner than most Democrats. He looked like he washed.

[Uff Da]

Some obviously found Kennedy breathtakingly, irresistably attractive. I didn't. I also did not consider him handsome--or "beautiful".

And I must say 'DITTO' !! I don't see anything 'beautiful' about any of the Kennedys...........

[PLK]

Some obviously found Kennedy breathtakingly, irresistably attractive. I didn't. I also did not consider him handsome--or "beautiful".

I could never get past that obnoxious accent (sorry east coast Freepers). However, one positive aspect of his election was the fact that he was the first Catholic elected. Unfortunately, that one teeny light did not signify the end to religious discrimination: witness the "Borking" of all current officeholders and candidates who are professed Christians.

[what's up]

He looked actually like a ugly, scrawny kid until his very last years when he finally put some meat on his bones...probably because he couldn't exercise due to his addisons.

[Rainmist]

JFK was attractive, but handsome and beautiful were words I used to describe his son John. I sure do miss that face.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Thank you for alerting me to Mr. Buckley's column. Mr. Buckley knows about telegenic. See the following, please. And thanks to the poster for posting this.

Here in Mr. Buckley's article is the way it really was. Legacy? What legacy? Cover your eyes and ears, Kennedy dupes! Incoming truth! Take cover!

Had there been no television Nixon would have won -- actually, he did win. So let me rephrase that. Nixon would have collected enough votes that the mob's Chicago would not have mattered. "Richard Nixon winning?!" some ask shocked. He won 570 to 17 electoral votes in 1972.

Kennedy was the first television president. He was telegenic. To wit, telegenic: "Having a physical appearance and exhibiting personal qualities that are deemed highly appealing to television viewers: 'Do we insist on a telegenic President?' (William F. Buckley, Jr.)" From an online dictionary.

It was known at the time. In fact, those who heard the debates on radio knew Nixon cleaned Kennedy's clock. But Kennedy "won" the TV debates against Nixon, his perspiration and his awkward moves.

So many of our problems began in Vienna in 1961 as a result of the disgraceful performance of the telegenic president's face-to-face with Khrushchev. NYT editor Scotty Reston was the first to know, besides Kennedy, yet he kept quiet for five years, I believe. I think it's fair to ask, Did Kennedy's addictions affect his duties?

Though it was kind of cute of Kennedy when he told Berliners, in German, that he was a doughnut.