Profiles in Courage

President Kennedy goes on national television to support racial integration of southern universities, and expands the argument nationwide with an appeal to conscience and what is right. Kennedy had won a 1% victory in 1960 only with the support of segregationist white Democrats, and was himself a distrusted minority for many (the belief that the Pope could tell the President what to do was, in 1960-1963, similar to the President Obama "birther" belief today). Was Kennedy courageous on Civil Rights? Courageous enough? That is a difficult and complex question...

you can download the poster at bottom of page...

Examples Profiles in Courage on Television Defining Courage

Case Study: Edmund G. Ross Case Study: John Quincy Adams Audiobook On Religion, 1960

“Profiles in Courage is a 1957 Pulitzer Prize-winning volume [by then United States Senator John F. Kennedy] of short biographies describing acts of bravery and integrity by eight United States Senators throughout the Senate's history. The book profiles senators who crossed party lines and/or defied the opinion of their constituents to do what they felt was right and suffered severe criticism and losses in popularity because of their actions.” - Wikipedia

“The Profile in Courage Award is a private award given to recognize displays of courage similar to those John F. Kennedy described in his book Profiles in Courage. It is given to individuals (often elected officials) who, by acting in accord with their conscience, risked their careers or lives by pursuing a larger vision of the national, state or local interest in opposition to popular opinion or pressure from constituents or other local interests.” - Wikipedia