JFK's "The Soft American" (1960)

Reading and commentary on President-Elect John F. Kennedy's "The Soft American" by Historical Kinesiologist and Physical Education Teacher Ron Jones, MS. Originally published by Sports Illustrated, December 26, 1960. For more info on historical fitness and PE, visit: www.TheLeanBerets.com

[@donaldnorris8495]

I credit JFK for my lifelong interest in physical exercise. 69 years old. Walk six to eight miles a day. He was very inspiring.

[@TheLeanBerets]

Tremendous!

[@suzettelilly9462]

Yes--JFK was the best. I'm 70 and still very fit because I loved JFK and we had The President's Council for Fitness in School. It was fun. And you rarely saw folks overweight back then. Now there is a lot of very overweight people which is very bad for heath. JFK was so inspiring.

[@alexandarvoncarsteinzarovi3723]

Jack Fitzgerald Kennedy martyr and prophet, Requiescat in pace Civis Primi! I too suffered weigh and hight problems, after I turned 16 I started takin long walks, helped my back, legs and arms,

[@MsMicrosoftGuy]

Is there a pdf link for this article? Having a hard time finding one

[@TheLeanBerets]

Here you go: theleanberets.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/1960-JFK-The-Soft-American-SI-VAULT.pdf

[@lataviacoombs5123]

Thank you for doing this, lord knows I didn't want to read this three pages tonight :'(

[@voxtemporis4503]

Mandatory P. E. almost ruined my life. Abolish mandatory P.E.

[@TheLeanBerets]

Then you did not have quality PE. Consider the source. Without proper PE, we are dead.

[@plutersplanet2557]

Stay fit. Stay alive.

[@voxtemporis4503]

@TheLeanBerets: nobody cares what you think.

[@voxtemporis4503]

What young American did not want to be rejected by Selective Service?

[@voxtemporis4503]

Abolish TheLeanBerets.