#TBT: John F. Kennedy Strikes A Blow Against The Death Penalty

     On March 22nd, 1962, John F. Kennedy signed a bill abolishing the mandatory death sentence for murders in the District of Columbia, the last place in the United States with such a law. Executions have not been conducted at all in the jurisdiction since 1957 and have been legally ended.

     During his presidency, the last federal execution before it was struck down in 1972 occurred in 1963. Kennedy did, however, commute military death sentences, and the military death penalty has not been applied since his time in office.