U.S. Presidents Who Served Less Than Four Years-- Part 5: Kennedy and Arthur

JOHN F. KENNEDY  (January 1961-November 22, 1963)

Arguably, the best-known president on this list, John F. Kennedy served as the 35th president.  At age 43, he was the youngest person ever elected.  His biggest challenge was the Cold War with the Soviet Union and faced crisis after crisis, including the building of the Berlin Wall and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

In addition to the international crises, he was in poor health, despite  maintaining an image of youthful vigor.  He served for two years and ten months and was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR  (September 1881-March 1885)

When President James A. Garfield was assassinated on his way to New England in 1881, Vice President  Chester A. Arthur became president.  Initially unpopular, he gained points with the American public by introducing the Pendleton  Civil Service Act, that held  federal employment would be based on merit instead of  political party affiliations.

Suffering fro  a kidney-related disease, the 21st president  managed to finish his partial term of three years and five months before moving to New York City and dying the following year.

--CootPres