His negligence put paid to his presidential hopes and Kennedy, then in his mid-30s, called his own actions “indefensible”.
But in the 40 years after the tragedy, Kennedy did more than anyone else to promote the civil rights, health and economic wellbeing of American people. President Barack Obama called him the “greatest senator of our time”.
Another politician went through his own baptism of fire a little earlier. John Profumo was Britain’s War Secretary in 1963 when it emerged he had been embroiled in an affair with Christine Keeler, a callgirl also enjoying the attentions of a Soviet attache.
Within days of Profumo’s inevitable resignation and fall from grace, he presented himself at a London East End refuge centre. He stayed there for 40 years raising funds, expanding youth training and helping with the washing up.

See the full article from “Melbourne Herald Sun”



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