Presidents of the United States make interesting people to analyze and critique. More often then not, they embody many qualities that people admire. For example, let us take the late President John F. Kennedy. What personality traits did he have, and how did they help him become the man that he was? Lets find out.
Highly Competitive
One of the most common personality traits found among presidents is a highly competitive nature. This makes sense, as any person who wants to become a president has to be constantly striving towards the top. As a result of wanting to be president, John F. Kennedy was known as being highly competitive. Whether this was a simple game or the presidency of the United States, John F. Kennedy always put his heart and soul in what he did.
Witty
Wit is normally undervalued when it comes to personality traits. However, wit allowed John F. Kennedy to both process and handle incoming world news while also making informed and intelligent decisions. Wit allowed John F. Kennedy to smooth over relations with individuals both within his own government and abroad. As a result of John F. Kennedy’s wit, he is often also seen as charismatic.
Charisma
Hand in hand with wit, John F. Kennedy is better known for his charisma. From an attractive face to a winning smile, John F. Kennedy was able to stand above others as a good-looking, intelligent person. Representing the first of a younger generation of presidents, John F. Kennedy was able to use his charisma to not only win the presidency, but also win over the hearts of many Americans. Those who worked with him every day remarked about his powerful personality and ability to light up the room.
Risk-Taking
It is often said that you will not get anywhere unless you are willing to take risks. The trick is knowing what risks to take and what risks to not take. The Cuban Missile Crisis helped solidify “risk taker” as a trait of John F. Kennedy. Along with a series of other risks taken both in his presidency and during his election, John F. Kennedy was not adverse to taking risks when it benefited himself and his country. More importantly however, John F. Kennedy knew when to not take risks, often leading to arguments among his own staff.