The media was kissing the ass of the Kennedys and the Shepple bought it but I think everybody that knew anything about these assholes knew they were shit.
I lived in a small town that had a veteran that served on PT109 with JFK. I heard him speak publically twice. He said JFK was an arrogant asshole that the men ridiculed behind his back. He was not a very good officer.
That kind of assessment goes hand in hand with the fact he was a shitty President. He only did two things right. Support the NRA and fought for reduced taxes. Things that would get him expelled from the Democrat Party nowadays.