JFK

Kennedy was good for America.

"This Administration intends to be candid about its errors; for as a wise man once said: 'An error does not become a mistake until you refuse to correct it.' We intend to accept full responsibility for our errors; and we expect you to point them out when we miss them."

John F. Kennedy
New York City, April 27, 1961

Clearly Kennedy made some very serious errors. They aren't much focused upon today. What would be the point? Kennedy did that himself; he pointed out the elephant in the room, admitted his errors, and sought to correct them... I submit that kind of humility is beneficial and is much missed in modern U.S. politics.

Also, consider the Cuban Missile Crisis (a/k/a October Crisis). Kennedy's speeches makeit very clear that he never saw himself as a "War-President". I submit that, if he had, the Cuban Missile Crisis would have had a much different ending...

Looking at the candidates running for President today, I am struck by the conclusion that not one of them can hold a candle to Kennedy