Comparative Analysis of Leadership Styles: Kennedy and Obama

This essay undertakes a comparative analysis of the leadership styles and techniques employed by John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama, two influential figures in American political history. The paper delves into their key leadership skills, such as transformational and servant leadership, examining how they inspired and motivated the American populace. It explores their significant achievements, including Kennedy's handling of critical situations and Obama's impact on economic stability and social progress. The essay highlights the contrasting approaches in their governance, from Kennedy's early challenges to Obama's long-term impact on American society. Furthermore, it discusses their lasting legacies and how their actions have shaped the US political landscape, emphasizing their contributions to civil rights, economic policies, and international relations. The conclusion underscores the commonalities in their leadership, particularly their focus on serving the nation and inspiring positive change. This comparative study provides valuable insights into their impact on American society.

Running head: COMPARISON BETWEEN JOHN F. KENNEDY AND BARACK OBAMA
COMPARISON BETWEEN JOHN F. KENNEDY AND BARACK OBAMA
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1COMPARISON BETWEEN JOHN F. KENNEDY AND BARACK OBAMA
Introduction
The American rhetoric of Presidents like Barack Obama and John Fitzgerald Kennedy
who both served the United States of America have been identified as the cornerstones of
America’s political history. The voices of both the leaders in their respective inaugural addresses
have been highly influential which even the younger generations could easily fathom (DuBrin,
2015). The paper will evaluate the compare and contrast of the leadership styles and techniques
of John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama by shedding light on the significant accomplishments of
the leaders. In addition to this, the paper will examine the effectiveness of both Kennedy and
Obama and the way they have been influential to the lives of others. Furthermore, it will focus
on the way these two leaders will be predominant in America’s political history and adapt their
leadership styles and techniques.
Discussion
Kennedy and Obama’s Key Leadership Skills
John F. Kennedy as a President has been significantly recognized for his immense
competence to handle issues which were perceived to be much more crucial to be handled by a
mortal man. John Kennedy thus proved this through his immense dedication and commitment as
a leader and the high level determination towards his role as a President (Barber, 2017). The 35th
US leader who had his presidency for the span of around 1000 days was well-competent of
posing challenges towards the influenced or subjective advice and assumptions of the dominant
experts (Brinkley, 2013). John Kennedy effectively exhibited his charismatic transformational
leadership styles from the initial phase of his Presidency (DuBrin, 2015).. Kennedy’s

2COMPARISON BETWEEN JOHN F. KENNEDY AND BARACK OBAMA
authoritative leadership trait can be perceived as an example whereby The New Frontier, as his
program was styled and attained considerable degree of achievement since during its first year.
Regardless to the varying opinions of the US populace which he encountered during the
government, Kennedy proficiently managed to rise above the average political leaders. The 35th
US President took into consideration, the needs and value of the nation during his speech on civil
rights and privileges (Sabato, 2013). He witnessed the way the turbulence segregation has been
developing among the marginal sections and attained greater degree of knowledge that for a
nation in order to be well-established must be united and acknowledge high level of integration
in various spheres.
At this juncture it is significant to observe the strong and immensely prominent
leadership skills of Barack Obama II, the 44th President of United States. On the very first note, it
has been recognized that both Obama and Kennedy has extensively embodied factors related to
‘transformation’ and ‘hope’ which were common themes during their campaigns (Obama, 2015).
Both these leaders exhibited high level of discontentment and disapproval with the recent
government and financial status of the US and further revealed potential threats and risks to the
populace (Skinner & Cheadle, 2016). Furthermore, drawing similarities of Obama’s leadership
styles with Kennedy it can be stated that both the political leaders have efficiently motivated the
youths to proactively participate in the election system. Kennedy had been recognized as one of
the first political leaders to make television as a significant impact on young voters and further
transformed the prolonged election campaigns as norm. Similarly Obama used various social
media platforms in order to inform as well as mobilize young supporters (Goldsmith, 2016).
However, despite all these factors of correspondence, there had been identified certain areas of
divergences whereby the speech provided by Kennedy revealed a rhetorical structure which led

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to action but a very insignificant section of people identified that a major section of his speech
has been derived from following an ancient Greek structure for persuasion and further leading to
action (Katz, Barris & Jain, 2013). However, Barack Obama on the other hand aimed to shed
light on factors related to equity and struggle in order to establish such ideas in the history of the
nation.
Influential perspective of Kennedy and Obama’s Governance
The initial years of errors in judgement specifically in the Bay of Pigs fiasco apparently
reinforced the apprehension which a significant section of voters developed towards Kennedy’s
political inexperience that further led him to take unconstructive decisions during times of
tensions and challenges (DuBrin, 2015). However, such an impression gradually transformed in
the fall of 1962 whereby his extensive proficient governance and leadership skills led the nation
to experience certain notable achievements in the confrontation over Cuba that further led to the
development in the US economic status (DuBrin, 2015). Furthermore, the persistent critical
conflicting situations finally resulted in a partial nuclear test ban treaty as well as the effort of
civil rights and authorities along with the sporadic constrained intervention of the federal
government has gradually condensing the power of Southern segregationists. However, on the
other hand Obama has significantly acquired a great degree of recognition and prominence as a
president in the US political history (Katz, Barris & Jain, 2013). Moreover, it is important to
posit that Obama’s enduring impact on the lives of the Americans have transformed to be one of
the major factors in terms of the crises that failed to have its occurrence. Obama’s statesmanship
has further observed that despite US been progressing unsteadily on the edge of economic
catastrophe, the US could efficiently circumvent the abyss of the second Great Depression in
2009 (Goldsmith, 2016). Furthermore, even though the emergence of certain critical areas of

4COMPARISON BETWEEN JOHN F. KENNEDY AND BARACK OBAMA
extensively aggressive military action, the US effectively curtailed on its troop commitments
rather than launching additional wars (Daft, 2014). In addition to this, Obama’s job approval
evaluation in polls of the US people during the second term of his governance culminating at
about 60% during his concluding phase in the office (Obama, 2015).
John Kennedy and Obama’s legacy being dominant in US political history
Skinner & Cheadle, (2016) have noted that Obama’s statesmanship and legacy will
significantly been taken into consideration as he successfully has championed various segments
of the US legal system which were both symbolically as well as substantively been important
such as the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, that is the economic legislation which aided to evaluate
the stimulus that had its initiation in his predecessor George W Bush’s governance along with
the Affordable Care Act and consumer protection system (Daft, 2014). Obama’s legacy and
governance further deserve historical acknowledge because of various things which had its
occurrence (Goldsmith, 2016). For example, the LGBTQ Americans during Obama’s term have
been identified as one of the major achievements and outcome of the assertive president’s
effective as well as progressive statesmanship on the domestic front (Obama, 2015). At this
juncture, similar degree of recognition and prominence of President Kennedy must further be
shed light on whereby it has been observed that the 35th US President had experienced a
significant rate of recognition and status in the last Gallup Poll that had taken place prior to his
assassination in the year 1963 (Brinkley, 2013). Kennedy had been noted to have acquired
around 60% job approval evaluation. However, his unexpected demise did not cause any kind of
decline to the prominence and reputation which he had attained in his 2 years of Presidency
(Bodroghkozy, 2013). On the other hand, Kennedy’s violent assault dispossessed the President
of the encountering any forms of allegations from the dissatisfied section of voters (Skinner &

5COMPARISON BETWEEN JOHN F. KENNEDY AND BARACK OBAMA
Cheadle, 2016). Furthermore, Kennedy’s progress towards civil rights had not only aided him in
his span of serving but further had led him to obtain greater degree of positive evaluations related
to his administrative role in facilitating the nascent civil rights movement. It has further been
posited by Barber, (2017) that Kennedy purposed to proscribe any forms of segregation and
further improve the state of civil rights of the US citizens. Thus it can be stated that Kennedy has
been remembered by several people due to various facets of his leadership of not only inspiring
people but also rousing his nation to accomplish great achievements in space exploration,
particularly in space craft missions (Bodroghkozy, 2013).
Conclusion
Thus to conclude it can be stated that both John Kennedy and Obama can be observed
through various other leadership styles such as transformational and behavioural, but the most
representative of all is the servant leadership approach that has led both the US political leader to
attain immense recognition and prominence among the voters. Both the leaders have efficiently
served their groups by working on behalf in order to enhance their ability in achieving aims for
the nation. However, Kennedy’s eminent service leadership had attained greater degree of
acknowledgement where during his President tenure he had been perceived to execute various
actions in the cause of equitable rights and further demanded for improved civil rights
legislation. Similarly Obama through his effective leadership skills and abilities has been able to
establish an environment of assurance and dedication for the US citizens. His purpose and
sanguine vision further extended the eminence and value of the national culture as well as the
central role of the arts in the critical society further advancing the nation into a new and well-
enhanced era.

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