Fifty years after his assassination, former President John F. Kennedy continues to influence and inspire Americans, a new poll shows.
Nova Southeastern University commissioned Mason-Dixon to conduct a poll on what Americans think about Kennedy. The poll was released on Tuesday.
Though he was president only a brief time, about 1,000 days, President Kennedy set a standard for many important levels by which modern leaders are measured, insisted George Hanbury, the president of Nova Southeastern University. JFKs ability to inspire and encourage Americans to public service makes him particularly relevant in todays world of political rancor and divisiveness. This poll offers fascinating insights into how his leadership style would still appeal to modern voters.
While 33 percent of those surveyed say JFK had no influence in their lives, a majority -- 54 percent -- insist he remains influential. More than a quarter -- 28 percent -- of those surveyed say Kennedy inspired them to give back to their community while 13 percent say JFK helped inspire them to serve the public. Five percent say Kennedy inspired them to follow politics, while 8 percent say he made them proud to be an American.
The poll finds Americans are divided on what Kennedys most important legacy was. A quarter of those surveyed -- 25 percent -- say Kennedys most important legacy was cooling down the possibilities of nuclear war through his handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis and supporting the nuclear test ban treaty. Kennedys support of space exploration, including his call for landing an American on the moon by 1970, is seen as his most important legacy by 20 percent. Slightly fewer of those surveyed -- 19 percent -- say JFKs most important legacy was helping peoples lives by improving the economy and his efforts to improve civil rights. JFKs commitment to public service, including launching the Peace Corps, is seen as his chief legacy by 13 percent, while 7 percent say it was his opposition to Communism.
Asked about how Kennedys traits could help today, more than two-fifths -- 41 percent -- of those surveyed want todays political leaders to have JFKs ability to rally public support to make policy changes while 28 percent want current politicians to have a bold agenda like Kennedy. JFKs sense of humor is cited as needed by 13 percent of those surveyed while 7 percent want todays leaders to have his communication skills and 2 percent want todays leaders to have his charisma.
Americans are divided on which presidents were the most like JFK in terms of inspiring them, with 36 percent saying Ronald Reagan and 32 percent saying Bill Clinton. Republicans overwhelmingly said Reagan with 71 percent pointing to him as the president most like JFK, while 65 percent of Democrats said Clinton was the most like Kennedy. Only 15 percent think Barack Obama was the most like JFK while 2 percent say George W. Bush and 1 percent say George H.W. Bush.
The poll also shows almost a majority of those surveyed -- 46 percent -- think Kennedy was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald as part of a conspiracy while 25 percent think Oswald acted alone. While 12 percent think the Mafia was behind the assassination, 2 percent think a foreign government was behind it and 1 percent think the federal government was responsible.
The poll of 800 registered voters was taken from Oct. 28-Nov. 1 and had a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com.
