New in PJ Media:
John F. Kennedy’s application essay for Harvard University has resurfaced, and it ain’t exactly Proust. The 17-year-old JFK, of course, did not yet have Ted Sorensen around to write ringing prose for him, so he had to make do on his own. The essay is fairly typical for a student of middling interest and ability and would be completely insignificant had its author not become president of the United States. Its circulation on social media over the last few days, however, became the occasion for a display of the casual racism that now permeates American society — real racism, that is, not the kind that the Left claims to see everywhere but that really doesn’t exist at all.
JFK sat down to knock out his admissions essay on April 23, 1935, when no doubt he would have preferred to be out on the lawn playing some touch football or seeing what the local girls were up to. He had to answer a simple question: “Why do you wish to come to Harvard?” The future president, never known as a great intellect, was able to muster all of five sentences for his answer, one of which was made up of the announcement that he actually had more than one reason for wanting to attend Harvard. “The reasons that I have for wishing to go to Harvard,” Kennedy wrote portentously, “are several.”
Anyone who has spent any time teaching high school recognizes that sentence as a space-filler, a time-waster that gives the appearance that the student is saying something, without actually providing any substance (Kamala Harris has carried this art into her celebrated political career, as her frequent word salads demonstrate). But then JFK righted his PT boat somewhat, continuing: “I feel that Harvard can give me a better background and a better liberal education than any other university.” Praising Harvard: good approach. He decided to keep on in the same vein: “I have always wanted to go there, as I have felt that it is not just another college, but is a university with something definite to offer.” But what now? How about the legacy angle? “Then too, I would like to go to the same college as my father. To be a ‘Harvard man’ is an enviable distinction, and one that I sincerely hope I shall attain.”
Far more interesting than JFK’s essay was the reaction to it, which included a tweet from the digital media platform Mashable weekend editor Chance Townsend: “If you want to see peak white mediocrity, here’s JFK’s Harvard admission essay.” Townsend later deleted this tweet, but the New York Post caught it, and it’s striking not because JFK’s essay isn’t mediocre — it most certainly is — but because of Townsend’s casual, offhand racism: Kennedy’s composition isn’t just “mediocrity,” it’s “white mediocrity,” as if to say that not only does it reflect Kennedy’s privilege, but his white privilege.
There is more. Read the rest here.
Kenneth J Johnson says
At severnteen you are supposed to be a genius???? Ken
mortimer says
One may be a genius at seventeen, but few 17-year-olds have published their achievements until much later when their ideas are more highly developed and perfectly expressed.
JFK was not a genius, but he was a very likable and socially adept man who looked good on TV. He was the first telegenic president.
I would call JFK ‘brilliant’ and ‘highly astute’, but not a genius.
gravenimage says
+1
Westman says
In my lifetime, there have only been two US Presidents who have captured a following beyond political issues, JFK and Donald Trump. Both strove for important national advances and both generated enemies within government, the public, and foreign nations, who had intent to stop or kill them.
JFK was blackmailed by the FBI head, sound familiar? If JFK had survived a first term and the media and Congress was as disrespectful as today, JFK would have been persecuted like Trump. Congress is jealous of two things in Presidents: Getting things done and public popularity.
JFK became a martyr, legacy fixed in time, ending any hope for his enemies to destroy the admiration of the public while he was alive. The later media did make certain we heard about Marilyn, Bay of Pigs, etc.
Now, 58 years later, some schmuck is throwing “white privilege” at a young boy, who in that era and his age, would have not understood the phrase. This is the same boy who got that Harvard Education, used it, read books, every major newspaper, learned how to work with others, became a Senator, and then POTUS.
Donald Trump’s rise to the Presidency was spectacular and unique because it was from outside the political grooming system which meant the People had chosen a President without system approval or the approval of political media – in direct opposition to them.
Actual Democracy is the last thing an embedded system wants. Trump is out of office and the corrupt system is still trying to destroy him. I can understand their fear that he could be on the 2024 ballot. They should be asking, “why are we such undesirables!” Eliminating the competition by nefarious means is the realm of thugs, cowards, and assassins.
It’s doubtful that the image of Government, Congress, and the media can be repaired for generations. They have sunk so low to destroy one man and are still trying to turn vices into virtues.
Wellington says
I would also place Ronald Reagan, Westman, in that category you named above. He was beloved by millions and his trouncing of Carter in 1980 (44 states) and Mondale in 1984 (49) serves as partial testimony to what a large following he had. He’s not called by many Ronaldus Magnus for nothing. And, as Alexander Bessmertnykh, Gorbachev’s foreign minister said, “Ronald Reagan’s defense spending and Strategic Defense Initiative accelerated the demise of the Soviet Union.”
On his own, Reagan went from the containment doctrine to a pure win doctrine and it worked. He also lowered the top income tax rate from 70% to 28% and yet doubled the inflow of income taxes in eight years and with the richest 1% paying 17% of the total in 1981 and 26% of the total by 1989. All part of the reason why Reagan himself had a very large following. I miss him.
Westman says
I agree with everything you’ve written here, Wellington.
Those were my leftist days and didn’t realize how beneficial he was until the second term. The nuclear treaty with Soviets and the fall of the Berlin Wall were stellar events that brought me around to conservatism.
Reagan had a unique way of speaking like a beloved father figure. His policies may have urinated on a few leftist sacred cows but they kept smiling. The media and politicians knew if they tried persecuting him the public would turn on them.
I think he inspired some of Margaret Thatcher’s policies.
mortimer says
Don’t forget the brilliant PR man Rockin’ Ronnie! My all time favorite president. He helped to destroy the Soviet Union through diplomacy and bluffing.
somehistory says
His first sentence in the essay may have been a “filler,” but it set up the essay; it showed the reader just what was to be discussed by the writer; it demonstrated the reason for the essay.
Had he written, I want to go to Harvard because, or Harvard is the best university, it would not have been the same. So, JFK, as a teenager, not yet fully grown, did what students are instructed to do: set up your essay, show what is the reason for writing in the first sentence or two. Then, state and explain your facts.
There are so many, many people of light skin tone, “White,” who speak and write about White privilege, when that could be said to be the reason they are being published, given a speaking platform, being interviewed…They don’t have talent, intelligence, or ability. Must be White privilege.
John F. Kennedy was a kid who grew up to be famous and well-liked…a difficult combination, then and now. And those people who aren’t liked, and are somewhat famous, and more on the side of infamous, just can’t let him rest in peace. Because: Envy is a destructive force.
john says
Wealthy family, politically connected privilege, not white privilege. Diversity/affirmative action will never affect the Kennedys, or the Bushes, or the Clintons, or the Obamas, or the Jesse Jackson family. They will still get into Harvard and Yale and Princeton, and Stanford, etc. (Generous monetary donations also helps.)
Diversity/affirmative action will/does disenfranchise more qualified white/asian applicants without wealth or political connections in favor of less qualified applicants solely based on skin color or ethnicity. This discrimination not only exists in undergraduate institutions, but professional schools as well.
gravenimage says
JFK’s Harvard Entrance Essay Resurfaces, Is Branded ‘Peak White Mediocrity’
…………………………………
Yes, not an amazing piece of prose, in either vision or execution.
But I’m sure there have been many worse essays, from prospective students of all ethnicities.
Whatever your politics, I imagine that JFK can be seen as having more than risen to the occasion both during WWII and in the White House.
But this isn’t enough.
Note that Chance Townsend himself has produced such gems as these:
“In addition, the value of Twitter as a news source increases for media outlets that have a high number of journalists that use Twitter.”
“Japanese researchers reveal plans for massive artificial-gravity buildings on moon
If you want to retire in one, make sure to live another 100 years.”
“While we like the idea of owning the digital content we purchase, Sony’s recent notice is a reminder that we own the movies we buy…until we don’t.”
“On Thursday, four Arizona Republicans duked it out in a gubernatorial debate that can only be described as clowns trying to out-clown each other on live TV.”
And he’s supposed to be a professional journalist. I’m not terribly impressed.
Brenrod says
“it’s striking not because JFK’s essay isn’t mediocre — it most certainly is — ‘“
It is the answer to a question that is short and to the point. The question does not require a long winded , pretentious and self serving essay as folks assume.
Chance comment is simply the flip side of those who use the phrase “mediocre affirmative action black”.
wpm says
How many 17 year old kids male or female ,no matter their background would write a “very serious” essay about the college they want to attend? At age 17 the average person does not have the experience or wisdom to put into words on paper what they hope to accomplish in life or are even sure what they want. Why to this day that golden boy Obama college records are seal from the public that no “journalist” in the MSM questions this to this day ,they have to go back over 85 years to question a 17 year old JFK essay wrote over 20 years before he went into politics ?Was JFK born into a rich family yes that had a much higher privilege then the majority of whites blacks and anyone else yes . Being born into a very rich family in its self is not a crime .Being born into a very rich family no matter what your color is does not equal being born into a white family as far as privilege goes. There are many poor white families that face the same problems as poor black families as far as education, housing ,medical care ,employment ect today in 2022.If you have money why would you not want what is best for your children?
gravenimage says
wpm, I started university when I was 17, and wrote my application essay when I was 16. I believe it was somewhat better than this. I addressed the importance of a university education to myself personally and to society, and specifically cited contributions from Berkeley alumni.
That being said, I’m certainly not claiming that I have been JFK’s equal, let alone superior, in many ways. It would be foolish to do so.
And unless a person does something particularly noteworthy–for good or ill–I seldom judge a person’s legacy by what they did when they were still in high school.