what did jfk say about hitler

John F. Kennedy wrote about Adolf Hitler in his 1945 diary after visiting Hitler's bomb-ravaged residence in Germany shortly after World War II. He described Hitler as someone who had "boundless ambitions for his country which rendered him a menace to the peace of the world," but also noted that there was a "mystery about him in the way he lived and in the manner of his death that will live and grow after him." Kennedy wrote that Hitler "had in him the stuff of which legends are made." Kennedy's comments have sometimes been misunderstood as admiration, but historians and those who knew him clarify that he was analyzing Hitler's historical significance and mystery, not expressing sympathy for his crimes. JFK recognized Hitler as a dangerous figure driven by ambition and saw him as one of the most significant figures in history, not as a hero or role model. The phrase about Hitler having "the stuff of which legends are made" refers to the enigmatic and compelling nature of Hitler's life and impact, rather than any glorification of his actions. This perspective came from Kennedy's role as a historian and observer shortly after the war, reflecting on Hitler's legacy and the profound effect he had on the world, while firmly condemning the Nazi cause and crimes.