In 2008 a promise of hope and change, especially for Americans, but also for all others went around the world. “Yes, We Can” was a synonym for the “American Dream”. It was first said by a candidate of the Democratic Party, who wanted to become the first African American president. But Obama was not the first politician, who wanted to follow the citizen’s wish for improvement of an old system and more humanity. Fourty six years before, another man told all Americans, that “We Can Do Better”. The meaning and choice of words is quite similar. Both talked about solidarity, a wind of change and equality of all people, because “We” means everybody without exceptions.
But is it only the slogan, which shows similarities of both or do they have more in common than this? And why is research and knowledge about it necessary?
In my opinion we should have a constant awareness and knowledge about failures and procedures in the past, also in foreign affairs, in view of their influence on our current and future situation. As the biggest economic and military power, the United States of America have had huge influence on Europe and the rest of the world.
To understand and analyse America’s policy, it is best to focus on its head of state, the president.
So, I concentrated on the current democratic president Barack Obama by comparing him to the former democratic president John F. Kennedy. Often Barack Obama is called the black Kennedy, as a person on whom hopes are focused like on Kennedy in the past. To analyse more deeply, biographies made by their companions and contemporary journalists are needed. Internet platforms and blogs give also interesting insights and points of criticism, which are partly sabotaged by public authorities or by the Kennedy Clan. By enquiry on the current president a very low amount of information about his private life and his background is officially known.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Principal part
2.1 CVs of both men
2.1.1 Kennedy’s Life
2.1.2 Obama’s Life
2.1.3 The comparison of both CVs
2.2. The different social backgrounds
2.2.1 Kennedy’s social background
2.2.2 Obama’s social background
2.2.3 Comparison of both social backgrounds
2.3.1 Historical Background of Kennedy
2.3.2 Historical Background of Barack Obama
2.3.3 Comparison of the historical backgrounds
2.4 Expectations on both politicians
2.5. The political careers
2.5.1 The political career of Kennedy
2.5.2 The political career of Obama
2.5.3 Comparison of both careers
3. Conclusion
Objective and Research Focus
The primary objective of this essay is to provide a comparative analysis of the political figures John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama, investigating the extent of their similarities and differences in terms of personal background, social upbringing, and political decision-making processes, while addressing the central question of whether their respective leadership styles truly reflect the "hope and change" narratives associated with their terms.
- Comparative analysis of the personal and academic biographies of Kennedy and Obama.
- Examination of the influence of social backgrounds and upbringing on leadership style.
- Investigation of historical contexts, including the Cold War and contemporary global conflicts.
- Analysis of public expectations and the role of political rhetoric in shaping voter perception.
- Evaluation of political crisis management, specifically contrasting the Cuban Missile Crisis with the Syrian Crisis.
Excerpts from the Book
2.2.3 Comparison of both social backgrounds
Immediately upon looking both men could not be more different. John F. Kennedy had never had financial problems and his parents, especially his mother, were very conservative compared to Barack Obama’s, which had an impulsively life. John F. Kennedy was highly influenced by his father, to whom John looked up. In contrast to Barack Obama was mostly educated by women like his mother and his grandmother, so that he had never identified with his father like Kennedy. But if you take a closer look, you can see some similarities. Like Barack Obama John F. Kennedy went to several schools in a short time and had to face with many foreign classmates. So both, Kennedy and Obama learned on their own ways how to cope with it and be popular by others. Also they did not have a good relationship to their mothers and missed love in parts of their childhood. Barack Obama found this love in his grandparents but Kennedy had never found it. Perhaps he had tried to compensate it with many love affairs. As a reason of their childhood they learned to be good actors. But they did in different ways. Kennedy played with his charm as a nice, well-read guy and Obama imitated trendy persons like Jimi Hendrix, smoked Joints and wore the newest mode. Both needed much attention and regard for their ego, because they had the pressure to be not love when you are not special. In addition the time period, somebody has lived in plays a decisive role in the development of a person’s character. Not only the experience of the Second World War but also to see how a revolution movement has succeeded, had more or less high impact on the thinking and acting of a person. What have John F. Kennedy or Barack Obama seen and how has the world changed since those days?
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the motivation behind comparing Barack Obama to John F. Kennedy, establishing the research goal of evaluating their shared slogans and public expectations.
2. Principal part: This section serves as the analytical core, dissecting the biographies, social backgrounds, historical contexts, and political careers of both presidents through a structured comparative approach.
3. Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the partial results, reflecting on whether the hopes associated with both figures resulted in actual change or if their leadership styles remain distinct.
Keywords
Barack Obama, John F. Kennedy, comparative study, US Presidency, political career, social background, Cold War, crisis management, political rhetoric, leadership styles, historical analysis, American politics, public expectations, biographical comparison, diplomacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this scientific essay?
The essay explores the similarities and differences between US Presidents Barack Obama and John F. Kennedy, specifically analyzing their biographical, social, and political profiles.
Which central thematic fields are covered in the work?
The analysis covers personal biographies (CVs), familial and social backgrounds, the historical environments that shaped them, public expectations, and their approaches to political crises.
What is the primary research question?
The work seeks to determine if the slogans of "hope and change" shared by both politicians are supported by actual similarities in their character, life experiences, and political results.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author uses a comparative biography method, contrasting specific criteria such as school career, upbringing, and crisis response to highlight parallels and divergences.
What specific content is covered in the main section?
The main part systematically reviews their lives, family structures, the historical events they witnessed, the expectations placed upon them by the public, and their management of specific crises like the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Syrian conflict.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
Key terms include American politics, leadership comparison, biographical analysis, political rhetoric, and international crisis management.
How does the author evaluate the "black Kennedy" label for Obama?
The author explores this label by identifying parallels in their ability to inspire, their charismatic communication, and their respective status as outsiders or members of marginalized groups during their rise to power.
What is the author's conclusion regarding their crisis management styles?
The author concludes that while Kennedy favored diplomatic solutions and avoidance of nuclear conflict, Obama’s approach to the Syrian crisis is perceived as more confrontational and less diplomatically nuanced in comparison.
- Citar trabajo
- Natascha Drews (Autor), 2013, A comparison of John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/264790
