Reply #8: That was my only point

[jobycom]

That JFK was a smart politician, and that he'd be trashed on DU now by the same people who trash Gore, Hillary, Bill, etc.

As for Nixon, JFK was an admirer of Nixon's until 1960, when they ran against each other. The campaign ended their friendship (And in my opinion pushed Nixon more right, and JFK more left).

And yes, he supported Civil Rights. As Thurgood Marshall said, he came into office with a general support of the idea, but no real commitment, but after having to deal with the issue, he became genuinely committed. Marshall compared this to LBJ and RFK. LBJ, according to Marshall, was sincere going in, and fully understood the issue (as many of LBJs own statements seem to prove). Marshall disliked RFK, saying he was an asshole, and phony on the issue. I'm not sure that's true, but RFK tried to push Marshall out of a federal appointment while he was AG, and Marshall seems to have not liked him after that.