JFK perhaps was the first President who was sympathetic to racial discriminiation; yet, to take a large stand on the issue was very umpopular.
Though born rich and white upper class, Kennedy was a intellectual white liberal who felt blacks deserved equal rights but that it would not be for generations.
In 1960, him and his brother Robert, helped release Martin Luther King jr from jail. During the bus riots, Kennedy urged the freedom riders not to ride in the South because it would lead to rights.
Revisionist historians now say JFK was slow on civil rights. But they ignore the overwhelming fear of desegregation and how the south HATED blacks.
Kennedy understood that, and knew it was going to be difficult and felt that men like martin Luther made the process more difficult than easy.
However, Kennedy felt that the strategy to civil rights was the law. Since it was illegal to desegregate, he put his brother, Attorney General Robert Kennedy in charge of protecting the freedom riders. JFK himself was too busy dealing with the Cold War and Russia.
JFK, one MUST note, was at odds with all republicans and most southern democrats, who felt he was too liberal with minorities.
However, JFK took a stand when he sent national guard troops to enforce the law when black students were prohibited from entering schools.
It was in 1963, that Kennedy finally decided enough was enough and announced the Civil Rights Act.
However, the republicans and democrats made sure the bill was entangled in congress.
It wasnt till his unfortunate death in November of 1963 that sympathy and guilt allowed Lyndon Johnson to sign Kennedy's bill.
Although Johnson is credited with signing the bill, it was Kennedy, with his brother, who created the bill.
Civil Rights is a large part of JFK's legacy. His caution to the civil rights movement was a driven by a very angry white populous.
However, one of the victories that emerged out of his unfortunate passing was the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.