The real disservice done by the liberal press is the high rating John Kennedy ended up with. A womanizer, drug addict, and mafia tool, JFK was “removed” from power by high individuals in the CIA and incoming Johnson administration. They simply felt they had no other choice.
Not that the MSM is much interested.
Yes, Kennedy was one of our worst presidents, for many reasons. I would add the Bay of Pigs and the assassination of Diem to your short list. But the Camelot myth was so effective, it may never wear off completely.
As for President Bush, current numbers are probably affected by conservative disillusion as well as liberal hatred. Give it another year and it may look quite different, if the amnesty disaster is allowed to fade away without yet another attempt to revive it.
People think Kennedy was a great president for the same reason they think James Dean was a great actor -- based less on what he did than what we imagine he might have done. Lincoln's reputation has a similar halo effect,as he's remembered for the Civil War, which his side won, and not for Reconstruction, which was botched.
JFK stood up to Kurschiev; backed him down— and plotted to OFF Fidel. And in light of the demon666rats to follow those are sterling accomplishments.