JOHN F. KENNEDY

Even with a high IQ of 159.8, John F. Kennedy was known for being a poor student, preferring games and sports during his childhood years. However, he proved to be otherwise and graduated from the prestigious Harvard school in 1940. Serving in the Navy, he garnered a Purple Heart in World War II for his heroic actions in the South Pacific. He was credited as the second-youngest US president in history and the first and only Catholic president.

During his tenure, Kennedy authorized the Bay of Pigs invasion, dealt with the Cuban Missile Crisis, created the Peace Corps, and passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He also wrote Profiles in Courage, which led him to win the 1957 Pulitzer Prize, and he remains the only US president to win the award. Many people don’t know that chronic health problems often accompanied his achievements, yet he continued to serve.