Final answer:
President Kennedy was the former President of the United States who first promoted affirmative action.
Step-by-step explanation:
The former President of the United States who first promoted affirmative action is President Kennedy. In his first State of the Union Address in January 1961, President Kennedy mentioned the denial of constitutional rights to some Americans on account of race and emphasized the need for equal opportunities. He created the Council for Equal Employment Opportunity, which aimed to ensure that government-funded projects implement affirmative action in hiring and employing workers. Presidents Johnson and Nixon continued this practice as well.