JFK inherited Vietnam from Ike and Robert McNamera admited in his book a few years ago that they made a mistake accepting the briefs from Ike's people at face value. They pretty much challenged or disagreed with everything else that Ike and his cabinet did, but they accepted the "domino theory" regarding Communist expansion at face value.
The government's move toward civil rights actually began in the Truman Administration. It is just that the most progress and best leaders for civil rights (MLK) came during JFK's Administration.
What JFK did do was establish the Peace Corps, began a 30 year embargo of Cuba (stupid that it is still going) and jump start the space program like no other President since him.
I disagree. JFK was not a true civil rights president. Again, his brother was pushing him into becomming one, however he died before that happend. I beileve major progress didn't take effect untill LBJ. And the funny thing was how he got the bills pasted. LBJ would go to Congress with JFK's EXACT proposals and say "we need to ratify this in the name of our fallen President.....This is what he wanted". And they actually passed. Even after JFK repeated attemps while alive.
