John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Jr.
John F. Kennedy Jr. greets invited guests at the HBO and Imagine Entertainment premiere held at Kennedy Space Center
Born	November 25, 1960(1960-11-25) Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
Died	July 16, 1999 (aged 38) Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Martha's Vineyard
Occupation	lawyer and journalist
Spouse	Carolyn Bessette
Children	none

John F. Kennedy, Jr. with his father, John F. Kennedy, at the White House in 1963.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Jr. (November 25, 1960 – July 16, 1999), often referred to as John F. Kennedy, Jr., JFK Jr., John Jr., John Kennedy or John-John, was an American lawyer, journalist, socialite and publisher. He was the son of President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and the younger brother of Caroline Kennedy (as well as the older brother of the deceased Patrick Bouvier Kennedy). He was known as "America's Son" for he was one of the few presidential children to actually be raised in the White House, and thus America watched him. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 308 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (715 × 1390 pixel, file size: 616 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... For other uses, see HBO (disambiguation). ... Imagine Entertainment is a film and television production company founded in 1986 by director Ron Howard and producer Brian Grazer. ... Merritt Island and Kennedy Space Center (shown in white). ... is the 329th day of the year (330th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Washington, D.C. (disambiguation). ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American... is the 197th day of the year (198th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... Map of Marthas Vineyard. ... For the fish called lawyer, see Burbot. ... For other uses, see Journalist (disambiguation). ... Carolyn Bessette Kennedy (January 7, 1966 – July 16, 1999), née Carolyn Jeanne Bessette, was the wife of John F. Kennedy, Jr. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 410 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (760 × 1111 pixel, file size: 955 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 410 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (760 × 1111 pixel, file size: 955 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... John Kennedy and JFK redirect here. ... For other uses, see White House (disambiguation). ... is the 329th day of the year (330th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 197th day of the year (198th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... For the fish called lawyer, see Burbot. ... For other uses, see Journalist (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A publisher is a person or entity which engages in the act of publishing. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      For other uses, see President of the United States (disambiguation). ... John Kennedy and JFK redirect here. ... Jacqueline Bouvier redirects here. ... Caroline Bouvier Kennedy Schlossberg (born November 27, 1957) is the daughter and only surviving child of U.S. President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline. ... For other persons named Patrick Kennedy, see Patrick Kennedy (disambiguation). ...

Early life

John F. Kennedy, Jr. under the Resolute Desk while his father was working.

Born 16 days after his father was elected to the presidency, John F. Kennedy, Jr., was in the public spotlight from infancy. He had lived for most of the first three years of his life in the White House and under the eye of the media who adored his antics. The nickname "John-John" came from a reporter mishearing his father calling him ("John" spoken twice in quick succession). Even as a boy, he was often photographed and still referred to publicly as "John-John", although Kennedy family members themselves did not use the nickname.^[1] His father was assassinated on November 22, 1963, three days before Kennedy, Jr.'s third birthday. The Resolute desk is the centerpiece of the White House Oval Office. ... For other uses, see White House (disambiguation). ... Kennedy Assassination redirects here. ... is the 326th day of the year (327th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 1963 (disambiguation). ...

The funeral procession actually took place on his birthday, November 25, 1963. While his father's flag-draped casket was being carried out from St. Matthew's Cathedral, young JFK, Jr. stepped forward, and in an emotional and iconic image of the 1960s gave his father a final salute.^[2] is the 329th day of the year (330th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 1963 (disambiguation). ... The Cathedral of St. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969. ...

John, Jr. grew up primarily on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City. After his father's death, his mother was married to Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis from 1968 until the latter's death in 1975, when John was 14 years old. The Upper East Side at Sunset The Upper East Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, USA, between Central Park and the East River. ... This article is about the borough of New York City. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... A business magnate, sometimes referred to as a mogul, tycoon, or industrialist is a person who controls a large portion of a particular industry and whose wealth derives primarily from this control. ... Aristotelis Sokratis (also Ari) Onassis (in Greek, Αριστοτέλης Ωνάσης) (January 20, 1900 – March 15, 1975) was the most famous shipping magnate of the 20th century. ...

Education

John F. Kennedy, Jr. attended The Collegiate School in New York City for the third through tenth grades, and later graduated from the Phillips Academy. Despite a less-than-average academic record, John F. Kennedy, Jr. was accepted into Harvard University, from where his father and sister graduated. Kennedy matriculated at Brown University, graduating in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in history. At Brown, Kennedy was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. In 1989, he earned a J.D. degree from the New York University School of Law. He failed the New York bar exam twice before passing on the third try. Special accommodations were arranged for him on his third try, wherein he took the examination alone (as the sole examinee) in a private room, accompanied by a proctor. Collegiate School is a private school for boys in New York City and lays claim to being the oldest school in the United States. ... Phillips Academy (also known as Phillips Andover or P.A. or simply Andover) is a co-educational University preparatory school for boarding and day students in grades 9-12. ... Brown University is a private university located in Providence, Rhode Island. ... A bachelors degree is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course or major that generally lasts for three, four, or in some cases and countries, five or six years. ... Phi Kappa Psi (ΦΚΨ, Phi Psi) is a U.S. national college fraternity. ... J.D. redirects here. ... Vanderbilt Courtyard The New York University School of Law (NYU Law) is the law school of New York University. ... This article is about the state. ...

Career

He spoke at the 1988 Democratic National Convention in Atlanta. He was an assistant district attorney in Manhattan from 1989 to 1993. In 1995, he founded George, a glossy politics-as-lifestyle monthly which sometimes took editorial aim even at members of his own family. After Kennedy's death, the magazine was bought out by Hachette Filipacchi Magazines^[3] and continued for over a year. With falling advertising sales,^[3] the magazine folded in early 2001.^[4] The 1988 National Convention of the U.S. Democratic Party was held at The Omni in Atlanta, Georgia from July 18–21, 1988 to select a candidate for the 1988 United States presidential election. ... This article is about the state capital of Georgia. ... A district attorney is, in some U.S. jurisdictions, the title of the local public official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminals. ... Cover of inaugural issue of George George was a glossy politics-as-lifestyle monthly magazine co- founded by John F. Kennedy, Jr. ...

Marriage

Through the 1980s until his death, Kennedy was an often-seen and much-photographed personality in Manhattan. He married Carolyn Bessette on September 21, 1996 on Cumberland Island in Georgia The 1980s was the decade spanning from 1980 to 1989, also called The Eighties. The decade saw social, economic and general upheaval as wealth, production and western culture migrated to new industrializing economies. ... Carolyn Bessette Kennedy (January 7, 1966 – July 16, 1999), née Carolyn Jeanne Bessette, was the wife of John F. Kennedy, Jr. ... is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Cumberland Island is one of the Sea Islands. ...

Death

On July 16, 1999, at the age of 38, John F. Kennedy Jr. was killed along with his wife and his sister-in-law, Lauren Bessette, when the aircraft he was piloting crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. Kennedy was piloting a Piper Saratoga II HP from Essex County Airport in New Jersey to Martha's Vineyard. Kennedy and his wife were traveling to the wedding of cousin Rory Kennedy in Hyannis, Massachusetts, which was then postponed. Lauren was to have been dropped off at Martha's Vineyard en route. is the 197th day of the year (198th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... Lauren Gail Bessette (November 5, 1964 – July 16, 1999) was the daughter of William J. Bessette and his wife, née Ann Messina. ... A 1966 model Piper PA-32-260 Cherokee Six at Smiths Falls Ontario Airport June 2005 Piper PA-32R Turbo Saratoga, manufactured in 2000 The Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six is a series of six or seven seat, high-performance aircraft, manufactured in the United States by Piper Aircraft. ... Essex County Airport (IATA: CDW, ICAO: KCDW, FAA LID: CDW) is a public airport located two miles (3 km) north of the central business district (CBD) of Caldwell, a borough located in northwestern Essex County, New Jersey. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Map of Marthas Vineyard. ... Rory Elizabeth Katherine Kennedy (born December 12, 1968) is the youngest of the eleven children of Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Skakel Kennedy. ... Hyannis Harbor, Hyannis Statue of Iyannough, in downtown Hyannis. ...

Kennedy had 310 hours of flight experience (the FAA requires 250 hours to qualify for a commercial pilot's license), including 45 hours of night flying and 36 hours in the high-performance Piper Saratoga. He had completed about half of an instrument training course. The National Transportation Safety Board investigation found no evidence of mechanical malfunction and determined that the probable cause was "the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a descent over water at night, which was a result of spatial disorientation. Factors in the accident were haze, and the dark night." The report noted that spatial disorientation as a result of continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions is a common cause of fatal airplane accidents. Instrument Rating refers to the qualifications that a pilot must have in order to fly under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). ... The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent organization responsible for investigation of accidents involving aviation, highway, marine, pipelines and railroads in the United States. ... Spatial disorientation is a condition in which an aircraft pilots perception of direction (proprioception) does not agree with reality. ... Visual flight rules (VFR) are a set of aviation regulations under which a pilot may operate an aircraft in weather conditions sufficient to allow the pilot, by visual reference to the environment outside the cockpit, to control the aircrafts attitude, navigate, and maintain safe separation from obstacles such as...

According to literature found in most FAA-approved flight training books, a pilot's inability to see the horizon can lead to spatial disorientation. The inner ear may give the pilot the impression that the plane is turning when it isn't. It takes many hours of instrument training for a pilot to be able to fly in IFR conditions, conditions that most likely existed when Kennedy was flying on his route to Martha's Vineyard. Over the water at night there are few lights, and those lights that existed were most likely obscured by the haze, resulting in the boundary between sky and water on the horizon becoming difficult to determine. A pilot who allows his plane to bank into a turn while under the mistaken impression that it is still flying parallel to the ground may do so at first because he is not able to see either the horizon in the distance or some land underneath him because of clouds, fog or darkness over un-featured terrain such as ocean. Such a pilot might not realize his position even though instruments (indicators) in the plane on the panel (dashboard) show the actual position, and may enter into what is informally referred to by pilots as a graveyard spiral. It has been suggested that Air traffic control#Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) be merged into this article or section. ...

Mr. Kennedy's aircraft was equipped with an autopilot device which almost certainly would have taken over and brought the aircraft back to straight and level flight if it had been switched on at any time before the last moments of the flight. Radar tracking data indicate that Mr. Kennedy most likely used the autopilot during the majority of his fateful flight. One of Mr. Kennedy's flight instructors noted his competence using the autopilot of the accident airplane. The NTSB determined that the autopilot was not on at the time of the crash. Also on board the plane was a GPS-based navigation system that is IFR-certified for terminal, en route and approach control, with moving map display, extensive database, and was interfaced with the autopilot. In fact, the autopilot system was capable of being controlled by either GPS or VOR signals. Mr. Kennedy's first flight log often noted his use of GPS equipment and his training with its operation, as well as extensive training with VOR signals. The NTSB found that the power switch of the GPS unit was in the on position at the time of the crash.

Mr. Kennedy was very familiar with the route flown that evening. He had flown it over 35 times, often at night, and had landed several times at Martha's Vineyard Airport during IFR (instrument flight rules) conditions. More than half of these trips were flown without a CFI (certified flight instructor) aboard. However, during the two months prior to the crash, Mr. Kennedy almost always flew with a CFI aboard. There were two reasons for this. First, he had injured his ankle and needed assistance with the rudder pedals, with which use is vital during takeoff and landing. Second, he was working on an instrument rating and needed flight hours during IFR conditions, which requires an instructor aboard.

While pilots gave conflicting versions of the meteorological conditions en route, the tower ATC manager at Martha's Vineyard stated that "The visibility, present weather, and sky condition at the approximate time of the accident was probably a little better than what was being reported. I say this because I remember aircraft on visual approaches saying they had the airport in sight between 10 and 12 miles out. I do recall being able to see those aircraft and I do remember seeing the stars out that night."

During the memorial service on July 23, 1999, Kennedy's uncle, Massachusetts Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy, said, "We dared to think that this John Kennedy would live to comb gray hair, with his beloved Carolyn by his side. But, like his father, he had every gift but length of years." And of his nephew's marriage, he invoked what had been said of his brother's Presidency: both lasted 1,000 days. Then U.S. President Bill Clinton attended the service and ordered that the flag at the White House be lowered to half-staff in honor of John F. Kennedy, Jr. is the 204th day of the year (205th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      Further information: Politics of the United States#Organization of American political parties The Democratic... For other persons named Ted Kennedy, see Ted Kennedy (disambiguation). ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      For other uses, see President of the United States (disambiguation). ... William Jefferson Bill Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III[1] on August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ... For other uses, see White House (disambiguation). ...

At President Clinton's orders, warships of the United States Navy assisted in the search for the downed plane. With the permission of Secretary of Defense William Cohen, a memorial service for the three victims was held aboard the Navy ship USS Briscoe. The cremated remains of Kennedy, his wife and sister-in-law were then scattered from the ship off the coast of Martha's Vineyard. USN redirects here. ... William Sebastian Cohen (1940- ) is an author and American politician from the U.S. state of Maine. ... USS Briscoe (DD-977), named for Rear Admiral Robert Pearce Briscoe USN, was a Spruance class destroyer built by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries at Pascagoula in Mississippi. ...

A wrongful death lawsuit brought by the Bessette family against the Kennedy estate concluded with an undisclosed out of court settlement.^[5] The settlement avoided the publicity of a public trial, as the accident facts pointed to pilot error.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

John F. Kennedy, Jr.

The Cable News Network, commonly known as CNN, is a major cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 203rd day of the year (204th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 202nd day of the year (203rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Kennedy Curse
• Kennedy family
• John F. Kennedy assassination
• Robert F. Kennedy assassination
• Sensory illusions in aviation
• Spatial disorientation
• Bárány chair
• The Day the Music Died, and Roger Peterson (pilot)
• Flash Airlines Flight 604
• Air India Flight 855

The Kennedy Curse refers to a series of unfortunate events that have happened to the famed Kennedy family. ... The Irish Catholic political dynasty, John, Robert, and Edward Kennedy The Kennedy family is a prominent Irish-American family in American politics and government descending from the marriage of Joseph P. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. ... Kennedy Assassination redirects here. ... Robert Kennedy The assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, a United States Senator and brother of assassinated President John F. Kennedy, took place shortly after midnight on June 5, 1968. ... Because human senses are adapted for use in the ground, navigating by sensory input alone during flight can be dangerous. ... Spatial disorientation is a condition in which an aircraft pilots perception of direction (proprioception) does not agree with reality. ... The Bárány chair, named for the Austrian phyiologist Robert Bárány, is a device used for aerospace physiology training, particularly for student pilots. ... Monument at Crash Site, September 16, 2003. ... Roger Arthur Peterson (May 24, 1937 - February 3, 1959) was pilot of the ill-fated plane in which crash claimed the lives of Rock and Roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. The Big Bopper Richardson. ... Flash Airlines Flight 604 was a charter flight operated by Egyptian charter company Flash Airlines. ... Air India Flight 855 was a flight that crashed on 1 January 1978. ...

External links

• John F. Kennedy, Jr. website
• Jfk Jr books,etc
• John F. Kennedy, Jr. at the Internet Movie Database
• National Transportation Safety Board investigation final report
• Web of conspiracy surrounds JFK Jr.'s death
• JFK Jr's political donations
• CNN.com In-depth coverage of JFK Jr's death
• Kennedy's body, airplane wreckage found
• John F. Kennedy, Jr. at the Notable Names Database
• Regarding JFK Jr.'s burial at sea
• JFK II & The Assassination of JFK, Jr.
• If William Shakespear was still alive, we all know what he would call this tragedy: Unfortunate Son

v • d • e John F. Kennedy Life Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109 · Motor Torpedo Boat PT-59 · Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana Politics Electoral history · Presidential election, 1960 · New Frontier · Inaugural address · Kennedy Doctrine · Alliance for Progress · Bay of Pigs Invasion · Cuban Missile Crisis · Partial Test Ban Treaty · Kennedy and Latin America Events Happy Birthday, Mr. President · Assassination · Reaction · State funeral Legacy Memorial · Library · In popular culture · Ich bin ein Berliner · Profile in Courage Award Books authored Why England Slept · Profiles in Courage Family Kennedy family · Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy (spouse) · Caroline Bouvier Kennedy (daughter) · John F. Kennedy, Jr. (son) · Patrick Bouvier Kennedy (son) · Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. (father) · Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy (mother)