John F. Kennedy vs Abraham Lincoln: Difference and Comparison

Both Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy had been the presidents of the United States, and both had been subjected to the assassination.

Both their assassination is much discussed even today, and these two figures are quite important in history as they share some shocking similarities. They have a difference of a century in between.

Key Takeaways

1. John F. Kennedy served as the 35th president of the United States, while Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president.
2. Lincoln played a crucial role in ending slavery, while Kennedy focused on civil rights and space exploration.
3. Both presidents were assassinated in office, Lincoln in 1865 and Kennedy in 1963.

John F. Kennedy vs Abraham Lincoln

John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln were two American presidents who were assassinated while in office. Lincoln served from 1861 to 1865, while Kennedy served from 1961 to 1963. They lived in different times and faced different challenges but are compared due to their deaths.

The 35th President position of the United States was earned by John F. Kennedy. He was very concerned with civil rights.

He was assassinated while continuing his 3rd year as President. He was a Catholic by religion, and he faced a war against Vietnam. 

Abraham Lincoln is known for the part he played to stop the dirty politics of slavery in the United States. He is the 16th President of the country and worked hard to make the United States a better and safer place for everyone. 

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	John F. Kennedy	Abraham Lincoln
Birthdate	He was born on 29 May 1917.	He was born on 12 February 1809.
Birthplace	His place of birth is Brookline, Massachusetts, United States.	He was born in Larue County, Kentucky, United States.
Elected in Congress	He was appointed in Congress in 1946.	He was chosen to be in Congress in 1846.
Became president in	He came to be the United States’s President in 1960.	He has attained the place of President in 1860.
Death	He died on 22 November 1963.	He died on 15 April 1865.
Family background	He was born in a rich family.	He was born in a poor family.

What is John F. Kennedy?

John Fitzgerald Kennedy took birth on May 29 1917, in Brookline, Massachusetts. He is related to the prominent Kennedy family. Most often, he gets suggested with his initials – JFK.

He was a strong politician of America, and later on, he served in the position of the United State’s President.

He was the 35th president, and he started his duties in 1961 and continued his responsibilities until he died in 1963. He was assassinated, and the shot hit him at the back of his head.

He served as the President while America was facing the height of the Cold War.

Before starting his career in politics with Congress, he was a journalist. He got the position of a special correspondent in the Hearst Newspapers. In his political life, he kept advocating for civil rights.

What is Abraham Lincoln?

Abraham Lincoln was born into a poor family on February 12, 1809. Being born in poverty, he faced several challenges in life and gradually worked towards the peak and established himself as the 16th president of the United States.

He was USA’s president when the country was going through the Civil War. 

His leadership successfully led most of the Confederate forces to surrender. However, just a few days after that, he was shot on the back of his head by an assassin named John Wilkes Booth.

Four of the United States Presidents have been assassinated in total, and Lincoln was the first among them.

Abraham Lincoln is remembered in history for dedicating his life order to stop the custom of slavery in the United States. For this reason, he is regarded as the “Great Emancipator”. His contributions during the war were commendable too.

During the Black Hawk War, Lincoln had been a part of the army for a brief period. However, he had no experience in being a general. Yet, he took a crucial position in the war.

For days and nights, he stayed in the War Department to come up with strategies to stop enemies. He even got into conflict with the generals during this process.

Main Differences Between John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln

1. John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln were people who lived a century apart. John F. Kennedy came to this world on 29 May 1917, and Abraham Lincoln came to the world on 12 February 1809.
2. The birthplace of John F. Kennedy in Brookline, Massachusetts, United States, but the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln is Larue County, Kentucky, United States.
3. Both earned the designation of President of the United States. John F. Kennedy received the position of President in 1960, whereas Abraham Lincoln earned the position of President in 1860.
4. Again both died in the same way, they were assassinated, but they died in different years with almost a 100 years gap. John F. Kennedy died on 22 November 1963, while Abraham Lincoln died on 15 April 1865.
5. John F. Kennedy was a person from the 20th century, but Abraham Lincoln belonged a century ago, in the 19th century.

References

1. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=fkB_E9GM0XoC&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=Abraham+Lincoln+&ots=HZPF_cGfPp&sig=RIqeHK8lqxeZ3jpet2MXzjDLz0E
2. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=VLraAwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR5&dq=John+f+Kennedy+&ots=sXJkonedhT&sig=9PqrUK6dzTbFN9OBryPhf5szKgA

Last Updated : 13 July, 2023