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Curated by Project Syndicate

The JFK Legacy

9 commentaries

President John F. Kennedy had barely served a thousand days in office when he was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, 50 years ago. Read Project Syndicate’s experts on how JFK’s evolving legacy continues to influence American life, politics, and foreign policy.

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  1. JFK’s Women Problem

    JFK’s Women Problem

    Nov 18, 2013 Naomi Wolf explains why JFK's reputation among American women has declined.

  2. The Kennedy Temptation

    The Kennedy Temptation

    Nov 7, 2013 Ian Buruma on the dark side of American idealism.

  3. JFK Reconsidered

    JFK Reconsidered

    Oct 31, 2013 Joseph S. Nye, Jr. looks at the real John F. Kennedy.

  4. Profiles in Peacemaking

    Profiles in Peacemaking

    Jun 27, 2013 Jeffrey D. Sachs on the lessons Barack Obama can learn from John F. Kennedy.

  5. Risking It All

    Risking It All

    Mar 7, 2013 Martin Rees on how and why nuclear deterrence worked.

  6. The Cuban Missile Crisis at 50

    The Cuban Missile Crisis at 50

    Oct 8, 2012 Joseph S. Nye, Jr. on how close the world was to nuclear war in 1962.

  1. buruma220_Chip SomodevillaGetty Images_trumpjournalists Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

    Truth or Trumpian Consequences

    Ian Buruma warns American liberals not to double down on ideological posturing in response to fear of authoritarianism.
  2. gambetta4_NurPhotoGettyImages_hezbollah_pager_attack NurPhoto/Getty Images

    Impostors at War

    Diego Gambetta & Thomas Hegghammer explain why impersonation can be as serious a threat as enemy weapons systems.
  3. strain34_Nic AntayaGetty Images_trumpsupporters Nic Antaya/Getty Images

    Populism Never Lasts

    Michael R. Strain draws on history to assess the durability of Donald Trump's brand of politics.
  4. zizek40_Aref TammawiGettyImages_aljolani_mosque Aref Tammawi/Getty Images

    What Did We Miss in Syria?

    Slavoj Žižek

    Recent developments that look like triumphs of religious fundamentalism represent not a return of religion in politics, but simply the return of the political as such. If they look foreign to Western eyes, that is because the West no longer stands for anything Westerners are willing to fight and die for.

    thinks the prosperous West no longer understands what genuine political struggle looks like.
  5. hafenbradl1_Ivan RomanoGetty Images_europewindfarm Ivan Romano/Getty Images

    Public Guarantees Would Boost European Green Industry

    Doris Hafenbradl explains how EU policymakers can use government funds to crowd in private capital for cleantech firms.
  6. op_anheier15_HANNIBAL HANSCHKEPOOLAFP via Getty Images_merkel Hannibal Hanschke/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

    Angela Merkel’s World of Yesterday

    Helmut K. Anheier

    Readers seeking a self-critical analysis of the former German chancellor’s 16-year tenure will be disappointed by her long-awaited memoir, as she offers neither a mea culpa nor even an acknowledgment of her missteps. Still, the book provides a rare glimpse into the mind of a remarkable politician.

    highlights how and why the former German chancellor’s legacy has soured in the three years since she left power.
  7. nixonsaintil4_Anya BerkutGettyImages_ai_learning Anya Berkut/Getty Images

    Closing the AI Skills Gap in 2025

    Justina Nixon-Saintil explains what can be done to equip the workforce for an era of rapid technological change.
  8. ochieng2_Li YahuiXinhua via Getty Images_chinaafricahealth Li Yahui/Xinhua via Getty Images

    Investing in Global Health Enhances US National Security

    Walter O. Ochieng & Tom Achoki urge the incoming Trump administration to build on the success of Operation Warp Speed.
  9. norrlof8_DELIL SOULEIMANAFP via Getty Images_USsyria Delil Souleiman/AFP via Getty Images

    The Scramble for Syria

    Carla Norrlöf explains how America and its allies should respond to the demise of the country's longstanding dictatorship.

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