Dem President JFK emphasized physical fitness. There was actually a song about Washington Chicken Fat.
JFK followed up Eisenhower's 1956 public concerns about fitness of America's youths. That didn't get the media attention that JFK's program of guidelines did.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TAKES ON PHYSICAL FITNESS
Was in a DC high school at the time when the 45 min once a week gym class changed from teaching sports to 2 class of 1.5 hrs per week stressing physical fitness using the guidelines.
Chin ups, rope climb, sit-ups, push ups and running to achieve levels of guidelines. Our baseball coach went one step further. Last class of the week was what he called Ranger work outs...running laps around the gym dropping at his whistle for push-ups, whistle get up and run laps...then paired us off for piggyback 4 or 5 laps. Jr year I started bulking up so I was paired with Ray at 275 lbs..damn could barely get up to a trot that SOB, back breaker but didn't quit. Time to switch he couldn't carry me at 175 lbs. Ray later eas joking there was no way he could do any high jump, tripped and broke his ankle.
Our JR-ROTC took up modified Marine challenge of 50 mile hike in 20 hrs or less...we did 25 miles under 8 hrs...twice, once to Mt Vernon, then to the yet to be completed Dulles Airport. During drill screwups and wise guys got to jog a lap with M1 at high port.
I remember that! Both JFK and Bobby Kennedy promoted walking. They made 40 miles in one day.