John F. Kennedy (1917–1963), president of the United States from 1961 to 1963. In 1961 he approved the Bay of Pigs operation, an invasion of Cuba by US-backed Cuban exiles with the aim of ousting the communistregime of Fidel Castro (1927 - ). Most of the exiles were killed or taken prisoner and the operation was a disaster. Kennedy's presidency ended with his assassination on November 22, 1963. —SHSBC Binder 26 Approved Glossary