14 Things You Didn't Know About JFK

Get to know the most elusive icon in American culture.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Today marks the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's assassination, and there's still much to be learned about the personal life of the iconic former president. At times Kennedy seems like a mythical icon, shrouded in a curtain of conspiracies and the overly romanticized and distorted Camelot/ Kennedy administration metaphor. 

Was Kennedy a truly great president as purported by mainstream media? Despite his political and philanthropic endeavors, like the startup of the Peace Corps, his engagement in civil rights, and his adept management of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy's personal flaws, like his dependency on drugs and his womanizing liaisons, remained hush-hush throughout much of his presidency. 

Maybe that's why Americans have remained fixated on JFK. Get to know the most elusive icon in American culture: 14 Things You Didn't Know About JFK.

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14. JFK had a gay best friend named Lem Billings.

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13. JFK might have survived his assassination if not for his brace.

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12. JFK's favorite record was the Broadway record of Camelot, inspiring the "Camelot" Kennedy legacy.

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11. There are some eerie similarities between JFK and Lincoln's deaths.

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10. JFK is the only president to win a Purple Heart and Pulitzer Prize.

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9. JFK had a doctor named Dr. Feelgood.

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8. JFK's famous quote was inspired by his high school's headmaster.

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7. JFK bought 1,200 Cuban cigars before declaring them illegal.

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6. JFK donated his entire salary to charity.

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5. JFK wasn't a good student in high school, but still attended Harvard.

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4. Jackie Kennedy kind of told Marilyn Monroe off.

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3. JFK was a prankster in high school.

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2. JKF made a fake James Bond movie.

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1. JFK was a huge James Bond fan.

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