Polls collected over the last fifty years show the John F. Kennedy was the most popular president of the 20th century, so it’s no surprise that his assassination sent shockwaves through the nation. The ripple effects of the events on November 22, 1963 still resonate today, so in honor of the 50th anniversary of JFK’s death, here are five ways the presidency and the legal system has been impacted by his assassination.
Continued Protection – Before 1963, policymakers paid little attention to the president and his family after they left the White House. That all changed after JFK was assassinated, because there was still the possibility that Jackie Kennedy and the children were in danger. Although John’s death meant that Jackie and the children would eventually have to leave the White House, Congress wanted to make sure another tragedy didn’t befall the family.
In the weeks after the assassination, Congress passed a law that extended secret service protection for the Kennedy family for another two years. In 1965, Congress expanded the law so that former presidents, their wives, and their minor children would have protection for the remainder of their lives. In 1997, Congress reduced protection to 10 years after the president left office, but Barack Obama recently reversed the measure, and as it stands, former presidents and their families receive protection for the remainder of their lives.
Out With Convertibles, In With Limos – JFK was killed while he was riding in the back of a car with an open-air top. President Kennedy was a president for the people, but his desire to be closer to the public also contributed to his death.
Today, President Obama rides around with a lot more protection. Some of the security features on his limo, nicknamed “The Beast,” include:
- Thick bulletproof doors and windows that can withstand an IED.
- A night-vision operating system.
- Oxygen tanks.
- A blood bank stocked with units that match the president’s blood type.
Fewer Public Walks – President Kennedy was well known for his strolls around the capitol and Washington D.C., but secret service agents were reluctant to let presidents walk around so openly after JFK’s death. As weapon technology continues to improve, the possibility that the president is vulnerable on the White House lawn is a threat worth taking seriously. Barack Obama has made a few heavily guarded appearances on Pennsylvania Avenue since he took office, but Kennedy often took more strolls in a week than Obama has since he took office.
Less Glad-handing – Back in simpler times, presidents campaigned for votes by shaking hands and kissing babies. After the president was killed, actions were taken to prevent those with sinister motives from getting too close to the Chief of State. Public appearances were shifted to well-controlled environments, and less frequent, larger appearances took precedence over small, more frequent campaign stops.
Beefed Up Security – Increased presidential security is the theme throughout these five changes, but the secret service decided to beef up their presence in the wake of Kennedy’s assassination. In 1963, there were roughly 500 secret service agents, and about 350 of them were considered special agents. Today, there are about 6,700 secret service agents, and nearly half of them act as special agents for the president.
Related source: ABC News
