Greetings Patrick,
re: reader says JFK definitely not a socialist

You don't cite which article you read where I refer to JFK as a "true socialist" (and I can't remember which one it is at the moment), but I recall that it was the first time I'd ever used that term for him and I kind of surprised myself by saying it (and probably JFK would be surprised too). But upon thinking about it since then (and I have, even though I haven't gone back to that article) I don't regret having said it because I think JFK was a socialist, in the true sense of the word - ie "of, by and for the people", not in the distorted sense which you describe as "government welfare state".

JFK wasn't against free enterprise - and neither are true socialists - but he was against exploitation of workers by capitalism AND communism - both of which are systems where there is no middle class - just the haves and the have-nots - the rich and the poor. JFK was loved by the working class, both union and non-union members. See JFK'S RIGHT-TO-WORK SPEECH and JFK DEFENDED DOLLAR and JFK & FEDERAL RESERVE

I know it's hard to put just one label on JFK - and if we were only allowed ONE, then it wouldn't be affiliated with politics. But when narrowed to the criteria of politics, I'm sticking with my opinion that JFK was a "socialist" in the purest sense. See ORWELL'S DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM and ORWELL ANTI-LEFT & RIGHT and LEFT, RIGHT & SOCIALISM

You prefer to use "free enterprise capitalist" in describing JFK and I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on the political term although maybe "free enterprise socialist" would be more to our mutual liking. But in JFK's ideals and actions we're in agreement 100% that he - as you say - had great compassion for the common working man and the economically oppressed.

All the best,
Jackie Jura