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Chapter One

The Early Years

On a cold spring day in Brookline, Massachusetts, a baby was born in the big frame house at 83 Beals Street. It was just a little after 3 p.m. on May 29, 1917, when John Fitzgerald Kennedy came into the world. Jack, as his parents nicknamed him, was the second child of Joseph and Rose Kennedy. The baby was born into a rich and well-known family. His father was a successful businessman. His mother was the daughter of the mayor of Boston.

From the very beginning, little Jack was thin and sickly. When he was three, he almost died of an illness called scarlet fever. For a month his parents prayed by his bedside. He got better, but for the rest of his life he was always suffering from one sickness or another. His family used to tease him and say that if a mosquito were to bite Jack, the mosquito would die.

A Growing Family

Over the years, the Kennedy family grew to include nine children -- four boys and five girls. The brood moved to a house with twelve rooms. Rose had to be very strict with her children so things wouldn't get out of control. Meals were served only at set times. If any children arrived late, they would not be able to have the food that had already been served. Rose also wanted the children to look neat and clean. Young freckle-faced Jack didn't like this. His thick hair tumbled messily across his forehead. He hardly ever tucked in his shirt. His friend Lem Billings remembered that, as a kid, Jack was "usually tardy, forgetful, and often ... sloppy."

Since Jack had so many brothers and sisters, his childhood was full of fun and activity. The Kennedys spent their summers at a home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, a small town by the ocean. They learned to love the sea. Joseph wanted his children to do well at everything. "We want winners around here," he would say. That was a lesson the children would remember as they grew up.

There was a lot of friendly competition in the family. Jack used to get in many fistfights with Joe Jr., his older brother. Joe Jr. was bigger and stronger and could beat up Jack, who was small for his age. Outside the family, though, the Kennedy children were very loyal to one another. Joe Jr. became Jack's coach and protector.

Jack didn't like being bossed around all the time, but secretly he admired his big brother.

At dinner the family would talk about politics and current events. Joe Jr. took part in mealtime debates with their father. From an early age he stood out as the young star in the family. He even said that one day he would become President. Jack, on the other hand, would rather play tricks than talk politics.

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Excerpted from John F. Kennedy: The Making of a Leader by Ritu Upadhyay, Time for Kids Editors
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