The 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's death in Dallas is a time when much attention is aptly focused on the abrupt and tragic end to his presidency.
But it's also a moment to consider the beginning of JFK's presidential story, since he redefined the art of campaigning for the White House.
Here are five ways Kennedy's influence is still being felt in presidential politics:
1. The Self-Selected Candidate
Kennedy ushered in an era of successful presidential candidates who weren't anointed by the party establishment — they chose to put themselves forward as presidential candidates. After Kennedy's 1960 run, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama all followed his model of elbowing aside other candidates with seemingly more claim to their party's nomination.
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