“The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.”—John F. Kennedy

JFK was a complicated man and president, but I love him and everything—at least as he has been amalgamated and promoted in contemporary American culture—about him. I was born in 1966, so missed the JFK experience, but as a child at the tail end of the baby boomers, the memory of him and his legacy permeates my own memories growing up in a super-lefty liberal household (also one begat by parents who got the hell out of the South).

Although as an adult, I have come to understand his complicated nature—that he came from extreme wealth and a politically problematic father and legacy, that he came into the presidency not as an advocate for civil rights, but was influenced by MLK and the civil rights movement to ultimately get on track for social justice, that he was nepotistic offering his brother Bobby his role in office (but ultimately he was also a great man that had also become “woke”), he was a womanizer, took heavy medication for his physical pains, etc.

But saints for me are human with human flaws, that can transcend them and do great things for the world and humanity, and JFK is one of those men. His presidency was short-lived, the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis were near-miss almost tragedies, but in the three-plus years of his presidency, he made great change and pivoted America and the world in the right direction (the ship of which we have for a long time been trying to keep steady). I love his integrity and his might, his power and humility, and his great presidency that changed the nation for the better. During the time of W., it was truly edifying to paint this amazing man, who was brilliant and honorable and served his country proud.