Question

value: 3

what action prompted president kennedy to focus on helping the poor?

a. he received letters from poor people asking for help.
b. he saw poor people on the news every night.
c. during his travels he saw many people were hungry and had very little to eat.
d. he grew up poor and wanted to help people like him.

Explanation:

Analyze Kennedy's background and experiences

John F. Kennedy grew up in a highly wealthy and privileged family, ruling out option d. During his 1960 presidential campaign, particularly while traveling through impoverished areas such as West Virginia, he witnessed firsthand the severe hunger, malnutrition, and systemic poverty affecting many Americans.

Evaluate the options

• Option a: While he received mail, letters were not the primary catalyst.
• Option b: Television news coverage of poverty was not his primary motivator.
• Option c: Direct exposure to poverty during his campaign travels deeply affected him and prompted his focus on anti-poverty initiatives.
• Option d: Historically incorrect, as Kennedy was born into a very wealthy family.

Answer:

• a. He received letters from poor people asking for help.
• b. He saw poor people on the news every night.
• c. During his travels he saw many people were hungry and had very little to eat. (Correct answer)
• d. He grew up poor and wanted to help people like him.