NOVEMBER 22, 1963 The day two shots shape the future of America

What would’ve happened if Kennedy hadn’t been shot on November 22, 1963? Would the world really be a better place? Many Americans think so. Would there have been no escalation of the Vietnam conflict? Did a political reformer die on this day? JFK expert Andreas Etges believes that the president’s death was what led to a transformation in American society. “Only after his murder did political opinion shift,” says Etges. “People began thinking critically and asking, ‘What’s going wrong in our country?’ That led to more openness toward reforms.” The historian is sure that Kennedy’s second term would have been a huge disappointment. The sobering reality of his short presidency confirms it: Although at first Kennedy sparks a spirit of optimism, he ultimately does not achieve much during his 1,036 days in office. His foreign policy promises peace, but during his term he also oversees the largest arms buildup campaign the U.S. has ever experienced in peacetime. His involvement in Vietnam has also been viewed critically. Many historians think he enabled the Vietnam War by strengthening U.S. military presence in Southeast Asia. Domestically things were not much better. Two- thirds of his proposals for reform are mercilessly blocked by Congress. Only after his death are some of them implemented. That’s why Etges is convinced that it was Kennedy’s death that actually resulted in the world becoming a better place— and that’s the real reason November 22, 1963, is counted among the most important days in the history of the world.