Kennedy wasn’t the youngest president ever

Theodore Roosevelt, who took office in 1901 at the age of 42 years, 10 months, and 18 days, was the youngest president in American history. Following President William McKinley's murder, Roosevelt was thrown into the presidency. Theodore Roosevelt only surpassed the constitutional requirement that the White House occupant be at least 35 years old by seven years when he assumed office. When Roosevelt allegedly told his wife, "My darling, I am no longer a political accident," he was reelected in 1904.

It is frequently stated mistakenly that John F. Kennedy was the youngest president. Kennedy does have the record for being the youngest president elected, though, as Roosevelt was sworn in following an assassination (not a vote). When Kennedy took the oath of office, he was 43 years, 7 months, and 22 days old. At 46 years old, Bill Clinton was the third-youngest president.

At the age of 29, Kennedy successfully ran for the House of Representatives in 1946. The family's political standard-bearer, his older brother, had been thought to be killed in fighting during World War II. Before becoming president, Kennedy was elected three times to the House and twice to the U.S. Senate, giving him more national political experience than our two most recent presidents. Kennedy was occasionally prevented from attending Congress due to health issues.