I've once again been inspired by the history of the Kennedy family, thru TV shows and documentaries. This will be my 3rd post covering the Kennedy family and I have also written on many other topics in relation. My continuous fascination with the Kennedys is perhaps because I find their family to be pioneers of the most interesting time periods in American history. (Also because they were Catholic) The Kennedys were the political driving force of a changing era that witnessed an abrupt end to the age of innocence.
The intent of this post is to capture a better perspective of one of America's most royal families, the Kennedy's. The format of this post will be biographical and genealogical. It will highlight their early rise in America, as well as the key historical events, accomplishments, and the Kennedys impact on society. I would also like to consider this post a specific tribute to two of America's most progressive leaders; John F Kennedy and Bobby F Kennedy.
The Grandfather: P.J Kennedy (1858-1929)
Upbringing: He was raised by his Irish immigrant parents in the state of Massachusetts.
Significance: He worked as a teenager on the Boston docks, and would later use these earnings to start his own saloon business. This expanded into multiple bars in the Boston area as well as an importing business. He was also very popular among working class Irish and was able to pursue a career in politics. He served as a state senator and representative.
Wife and Children: He married Marry August from 1887 until her death in 1923. They had four children together; Joseph, Francis, Mary, and Margaret. Their eldest son Joseph would go on to be a very successful businessman, politician, and the patriarch of the famous Kennedy family.
Political Office: Massachusetts House of Representatives (1884-1889) Massachusetts State Senate (1889-1895)
The Patriarch: Joseph P. Kennedy (1888-1969)
Upbringing: He was raised into a prominent family in East Boston. They were proud Irish Catholics among the wealthy class of Protestant Brahmin families. Joseph pursued an education at Harvard University.
Significance: Throughout the 1920s he made a fortune in investments ranging from the stock market, real estate, Hollywood, liquor importing, and many other types of business. He was a proud Irish man and supporter of the Democratic Party. He made many business alliances with those who shared his values.
He was a major supporter of Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1932 presidential campaign, which would later grant him a position as the first chairman of the SEC (US Securities and Exchange Comission) in 1934. During his close ties with FDR he developed a public dispute with the outspoken Catholic Priest from Michigan, Charles Coughlin. Coughlin had gained popularity through his radio broadcasts and was known as an extreme anti-communist, anti-Semite, and a fascist sympathizer.
In 1938 FDR appointed Joe Kennedy as the Ambassador to the United Kingdom during it's most testing time at the on-start of WWII. Kennedy dealt closely with Prime Ministers Neville Chamberlain and Winston Churchill, however often took the approach of defeatist to the Nazi Regime. He was simply not trained in diplomacy and was quickly forced to resign in 1940.
By the end of WWII, Joe realized he could no longer acheive his dream of becoming president due to his failures as ambassador, broken ties with FDR, and accusations of antisemitism. Nonetheless he was determined to see that his children would someday rise to the executive office. He continued his investments and business alliance after the war and made good friends with Charles Lindenberg, Senator Joseph McCarty, and many other notable leaders.
Wife and Children: He married Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald in 1914, who was the daughter of John F Fitzgerald, Mayor of Boston, and one of the most prominent political families in the country. The two would go on to establish their own family royalty with their 9 children. Joe Jr, John, Rose Marie, Kathleen, Eunice, Patricia, Robert, Jean, and Ted.
Political Office: US Ambassador to Great Britain (1938-1940) 1st Chairman of the SEC (1934-1936) 1st Chairman of the Maritime Comission (1936-1938)
The Eldest Son: Joseph P. Kennedy Jr (1915-1944)
Upbringing: He was brought up into one of the most prominent families in America, and was his father's chosen son to become president. Just as his father did, Joe Jr. pursued an education at Harvard University, as well as studied economics in London, and later back to Harvard to study Law.
Significance: He was a clear path to become president and bravely served the country during WWII. He shared his father's ambivalence towards Adolf Hitler, however still was eager to serve his country. He joined the Navy in 1940 as a patrol bomber pilot and served over 25 missions throughout the war. He took part in Operation Aphrodite, which was a guided missile attack on German fortifications. However during an attack one of the missiles pre-maturely exploded inside his plane, instantly killing him and his partner. Joe tragically died at the young age of 29.
The President: John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)
Upbringing: He was the 2nd eldest child of Joe and Rose Kennedy's prominent family. He spent much of his childhood and teenage years in his older brother's shadow. He developed early medical issues and a bad lower back however that did not slow his academic ambitions. In 1936 he enrolled at Harvard University and studied political philosophy.
Significance: In 1941 he was determined to strengthen his back and join the US Navy during WWII. He became an instructor of PT boat operations and would go on to lead several missions outside of the war zone. He did however serve missions in the Pacific Theater leading boats and missions throughout the Solomon Islands. One of his most heroic acts came when one of these boats was rammed down by a Japanese destroyer and he and his crew had to swim back to shore. For three miles he carried one of his crew members.
After the war was finished John eagerly began his career in politics as a Democrat. In 1947 at the young age of 30, he was easily elected to the US Congress representing Massachusetts' 11th district. He served as a congressman for six years until he decided to run for the Senate in 1953. That year he also met and married Jacqueline Bouvier. He was a very popular senator not only because of his name yet also his youthful charisma and charm. He helped push thru the Civil Rights Act of 1957, which granted more privileges to African Americans as well as usher in a new age of integration. In 1958 Kennedy easily won his re-election and decided to run for the presidency in 1960.
He ran on the democratic ticket with his Lyndon B Johnson as his vice president. LBJ had been in congress for the past 20 years, since 1937. Kennedy ran against the Republican candidate, Richard Nixon, who was the Vice President of Eisenhower as well as a former congressmen and senator himself. The election was most famous for becoming the first ever televised debate. This was the infamous moment where the general public witnessed Kennedy's cool demeanor in contrast to Nixon's perspiration and tension. It was one of the closet elections in history and JFK won by the very slim margin of 49.7 to 49.5% in the popular vote. He was sworn in as the 35th president on January 20th of 1961.
His presidency came at a very tumultuous time in US history from foreign tension with Russia to domestic issues with civil rights. He was very ambitious and brought his brother Robert F. Kennedy on board as attorney general. The two brothers brought forth a new progressive style to governing the White House and from the get-go they made many enemies; Russia, the FBI, Cuba, LBJ, organized crime, CIA etc.
Their greatest enemy was the foreign threat of communist Russia under the leadership of Nikita Khrushchev. This was during the height of the Cold War, where the two superpowers were both keen on spreading their political ideology. Khruschev saw Kennedy as young and weak and strengthened his military upon his election. However the major front of Kennedy's presidency was the small island of Cuba, led by the communist leader Fidel Castro. In 1961 the CIA pushed forth a plan to overthrow Castro through a group of rebellious Cuban fighters which lead to the Bay of Pigs Invasion. The plot was a total failure however, and only strengthened the Cuban resolve.
In 1962 Cuba was once again was at the center of American conflict with Russia at the Cuban Missile Crisis. This was caused by a growing fear of Soviet missile sites being built on the island of Cuba. It was a Soviet reaction to the Bay of Pigs Invasion, to offer protection to Cuba. However Kennedy needed to handle the crisis with cool demeanor yet also strength to not give in to Khruschev's military aggression. The two exchanged several letters and came to a diplomatic agreement to back off from one another's territories and avoid war. This was perhaps one of President Kennedy's finest moments in which the world was at it's closest to nuclear war.
JFK was openly in support of Civil Rights and met various times with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He passed numerous executive orders to further grant African Americans less discrimination and advanced integration. On several occasions he faced heavy opposition on this matter in the south. In 1962 the University of Mississippi withstood it's first integration which lead to a riot and federal troops having to arrive. In 1963 Gov. Wallace of Alabama took a similar stance against the integration by blocking the doorway from two black students enrolling in the University of Alabama. Once again federal troops were sent in to maintain order and see the integration go through. Kennedy used this occasions to further push thru civil rights, which would eventually lead to the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Kennedy also worked to strengthen and create other departments within the government such as the Peace Corps, NASA, and his "New Frontier" domestic policy which granted funding for education, poverty, and medical care. He also worked to maintain peace throughout other foreign countries such as Israel, Iraq, Germany, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. He was also known for his image in popular culture with ties to Hollywood and several extramarital affairs most notably with Marilyn Monroe.
In 1963 he began his re-election campaign, with the support of his wife Jackie. However on a trip to Dallas, he was tragically assassinated while on a motorcade through the streets. Harvey Lee Oswald was accused of taking the shot from a vantage point, and was arrested and to be tried for the assassination of the president. However before he could stand trail he was also murdered, which of course has lead to numerous conspiracy theories. Nonetheless one of the great presidents was killed far too early. He was immediately succeeded by LBJ.
Wife and Children: He married Jacqueline Kennedy, the daughter of a prominent Wall Street stockbroker, and met thru elite social circles. They married in 1953 and their first child, Arabella was lost in a miscarriage. their 2nd child was Caroline, their 3rd child was John Jr who died in a plane crash in 1999, and their 4th child Patrick was also lost to a miscarriage.
Political Office: US House of Representatives (1947-1953) US Senator (1953-1960) President of the United States (1961-1963)
The Attorney General: Bobby F. Kennedy (1925-1968)
Upbringing: He was the 7th child of Joe and Rose Kennedy, and as the 3rd son he was somewhat of the runt of the family in the shadow of his two older brothers, Joe Jr and John. He went to three boarding schools and developed an interest in American History. He was considered a very gentle person, however developed a tough character to get ahead in politics.
Significance: In 1944 he was 18 and very eager to serve his country as his brothers had. He joined the Navy and in 1946 he served for several months on-board a destroyer in the Caribbean, which was fittingly named the USS Joesph P Kennedy Jr, after his elder brother who was killed in action. After his discharge he returned to his pursue an education at Harvard in political science. He was also a notable football player and journalist. He then studied law at the University of Virginia.
By 1951 he had married Ethel, developed a strong relationship with his brother John, and was eager to begin his career in law. His father began to see him in a new light as an important player in the family. In 1961 he joined his brother's successful presidential campaign and was appointed attorney general. His devotion to his brother and the family was one of the reason's JFK and his father felt he would make a great cabinet member. Others saw Bobby as under qualified for the role, and considered his position clear nepotism. With all this and Bobby's progressive ambition for change throughout the government, he quickly made many enemies.
As Attorney General he lead an aggressive campaign against organized crime as well as union organizations such as the Teamsters and their key leader Jimmy Hoffa. Bobby's ambitious and progressive style lead to many disagreements with FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, who considered Bobby too young and inexperienced to be his boss. Bobby was also very committed to the civil rights movement, while J. Edgar Hoover thought it was a communist revolution and especially despised Martin Luther King Jr. Bobby played a crucial role in helping his brother resolve the integration issues in the south as well as problems with Cuba and Russia.
Following the assassination of his brother, Bobby left the Cabinet to run for Senate in New York. He served for four years during which time he continued to support the advancement of civil rights as well as spoke against sending ground troops to Vietnam. During his brief tenure he began to pull himself away from president LBJ's agenda, and it was quite clear that he himself intended to be president. In 1968 LBJ withdrew from running for a 2nd term, and Bobby announced his intent to run for president.
His campaign got off to a slow start as he faced vice president Hubert Humphrey. Yet following the assassination of Martin Luther King in the midst of racial tension, Bobby continued his rhetoric on economy and racial equality. By May the Democratic primaries began to shift in his favor as he won in Indiana and Nebraska. However before he could continue to carry off that momentum he was assassinated at a hotel in California. The murdered was a 24 year old Palestine, who felt betrayed by Kennedy's support of Israel in the Six-Day War. However just as with JFK's assassination there are many conspiracy theories to this one as well, especially when you consider all the enemies he had. Nonetheless it was yet another tragic early and tragic death of an American hero.
Wife and Children: He married Ethel Skakel in 1950 and the two had 11 children together; Kathleen, Joseph, Robert, David, Courtney, Michael, Kerry, Christopher, Max, Douglas, and Rory.
Political Office: US Attorney General (1961-1964) US Senator- New York (1965-1968)
The Senator: Edward Kennedy (1932-2009)
Upbringing: He was the youngest of nine children, raised into Joe and Rose Kennedy's prominent family. He was very gifted at football in high school and even went on to play his freshmen year at Harvard University. However he was expelled his semester year for cheating on an exam. At which point he enlisted in the US Army from 1951 to 1953. He then re-entered Harvard in 1953 and later the University of Virginia to study law. He was always considered more of an athlete than a student and was able to graduate through the help of his family name.
Significance: Ted worked for his brother's presidential campaign in 1960. Following the election of JFK, Ted would later go on to fill his seat in 1962 as the senator of Massachusetts. A seat that he would hold for 47 years. He was very popular during his years and defined as one of the most liberal senators in history. However his career was also clouded with controversy including a divorce from his wife and a car accident in Chappaquiddick of which he fled the scene. This would later go on to ruin his presidential plans for 1972, 1976. When he decided to run in 1980 he was defeated by Jimmy Carter who was then defeated by Ronald Reagen. However Ted went on to serve the senate until his death in 2009. I remember I was saddended by the news of this great American leader, and wrote a tribute in his honor. (See Tribute to Teddy Kennedy )
Wife and Children: He married Joan Bennet in 1958 and they had three children together, Kara, Ted, and Patrick Jr (who served as congressmen of Rhode Island for almsot 20 years). In 1982 he divorced his wife and remarried Victoria Reggie in 1992.
Political Office: US Senator of Massachusetts (1962-2009)
The Kennedy Family Legacy:
The first thing that comes to mind to me when I think of the Kennedy name is one word; tragedy. Of Joe's nine children, four of them died far too soon (Joe Jr died in WW2 at the age of 29, John was assassinated at the age of 46, Kathleen died at the age of 28 in a plane accident, and Robert was assassinated at the age of 42). The eldest daughter Rosemary spent most of her life mentally incapacitated. And in 1999 JFK's eldest son John Jr was also killed in a plane crash, which has epitomized what has become known as a family curse.
Nonetheless despite all this tragedy the family as a collective unit went on to do so much for this country. Much of this accredited to Joe Kennedy's ambitious vision for his children, based on Catholic and Democratic principles. Two of his daughters, not quite as popular as the four sons, who also made major contributions were Eunice and Jean. Eunice founded the Special Olympics in 1968 and Jean served as ambassador to Ireland from 1993 to 1998. Many of the offspring of these 9 children went on to serve their country thru congress and other forms of leadership.
Of course the two most significant of the Kennedy children were John F. Kennedy and his brother Bobby. It was these two young ambitious leaders who paved the way for civil liberties in the country. It was these two leaders who challenged crime, communism, prejudice, and poverty more than any other presidency that came before it. The abrupt deaths of JFK and RFK marked a major turning point in this country. It was an end of innocence, to think that an ideological change could be challenged so viciously. And yet their deaths served only as a rallying cry for American progressiveness that continues to push new barriers today.
Famous Landmarks
The Grandfather: P.J Kennedy (1858-1929)
Upbringing: He was raised by his Irish immigrant parents in the state of Massachusetts.
Significance: He worked as a teenager on the Boston docks, and would later use these earnings to start his own saloon business. This expanded into multiple bars in the Boston area as well as an importing business. He was also very popular among working class Irish and was able to pursue a career in politics. He served as a state senator and representative.
Wife and Children: He married Marry August from 1887 until her death in 1923. They had four children together; Joseph, Francis, Mary, and Margaret. Their eldest son Joseph would go on to be a very successful businessman, politician, and the patriarch of the famous Kennedy family.
Political Office: Massachusetts House of Representatives (1884-1889) Massachusetts State Senate (1889-1895)
The Patriarch: Joseph P. Kennedy (1888-1969)
Upbringing: He was raised into a prominent family in East Boston. They were proud Irish Catholics among the wealthy class of Protestant Brahmin families. Joseph pursued an education at Harvard University.
Significance: Throughout the 1920s he made a fortune in investments ranging from the stock market, real estate, Hollywood, liquor importing, and many other types of business. He was a proud Irish man and supporter of the Democratic Party. He made many business alliances with those who shared his values.
In 1938 FDR appointed Joe Kennedy as the Ambassador to the United Kingdom during it's most testing time at the on-start of WWII. Kennedy dealt closely with Prime Ministers Neville Chamberlain and Winston Churchill, however often took the approach of defeatist to the Nazi Regime. He was simply not trained in diplomacy and was quickly forced to resign in 1940.
By the end of WWII, Joe realized he could no longer acheive his dream of becoming president due to his failures as ambassador, broken ties with FDR, and accusations of antisemitism. Nonetheless he was determined to see that his children would someday rise to the executive office. He continued his investments and business alliance after the war and made good friends with Charles Lindenberg, Senator Joseph McCarty, and many other notable leaders.
Wife and Children: He married Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald in 1914, who was the daughter of John F Fitzgerald, Mayor of Boston, and one of the most prominent political families in the country. The two would go on to establish their own family royalty with their 9 children. Joe Jr, John, Rose Marie, Kathleen, Eunice, Patricia, Robert, Jean, and Ted.
Political Office: US Ambassador to Great Britain (1938-1940) 1st Chairman of the SEC (1934-1936) 1st Chairman of the Maritime Comission (1936-1938)
The Eldest Son: Joseph P. Kennedy Jr (1915-1944)
Upbringing: He was brought up into one of the most prominent families in America, and was his father's chosen son to become president. Just as his father did, Joe Jr. pursued an education at Harvard University, as well as studied economics in London, and later back to Harvard to study Law.
Significance: He was a clear path to become president and bravely served the country during WWII. He shared his father's ambivalence towards Adolf Hitler, however still was eager to serve his country. He joined the Navy in 1940 as a patrol bomber pilot and served over 25 missions throughout the war. He took part in Operation Aphrodite, which was a guided missile attack on German fortifications. However during an attack one of the missiles pre-maturely exploded inside his plane, instantly killing him and his partner. Joe tragically died at the young age of 29.
The President: John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)
Upbringing: He was the 2nd eldest child of Joe and Rose Kennedy's prominent family. He spent much of his childhood and teenage years in his older brother's shadow. He developed early medical issues and a bad lower back however that did not slow his academic ambitions. In 1936 he enrolled at Harvard University and studied political philosophy.
Significance: In 1941 he was determined to strengthen his back and join the US Navy during WWII. He became an instructor of PT boat operations and would go on to lead several missions outside of the war zone. He did however serve missions in the Pacific Theater leading boats and missions throughout the Solomon Islands. One of his most heroic acts came when one of these boats was rammed down by a Japanese destroyer and he and his crew had to swim back to shore. For three miles he carried one of his crew members.After the war was finished John eagerly began his career in politics as a Democrat. In 1947 at the young age of 30, he was easily elected to the US Congress representing Massachusetts' 11th district. He served as a congressman for six years until he decided to run for the Senate in 1953. That year he also met and married Jacqueline Bouvier. He was a very popular senator not only because of his name yet also his youthful charisma and charm. He helped push thru the Civil Rights Act of 1957, which granted more privileges to African Americans as well as usher in a new age of integration. In 1958 Kennedy easily won his re-election and decided to run for the presidency in 1960.
He ran on the democratic ticket with his Lyndon B Johnson as his vice president. LBJ had been in congress for the past 20 years, since 1937. Kennedy ran against the Republican candidate, Richard Nixon, who was the Vice President of Eisenhower as well as a former congressmen and senator himself. The election was most famous for becoming the first ever televised debate. This was the infamous moment where the general public witnessed Kennedy's cool demeanor in contrast to Nixon's perspiration and tension. It was one of the closet elections in history and JFK won by the very slim margin of 49.7 to 49.5% in the popular vote. He was sworn in as the 35th president on January 20th of 1961.
His presidency came at a very tumultuous time in US history from foreign tension with Russia to domestic issues with civil rights. He was very ambitious and brought his brother Robert F. Kennedy on board as attorney general. The two brothers brought forth a new progressive style to governing the White House and from the get-go they made many enemies; Russia, the FBI, Cuba, LBJ, organized crime, CIA etc.
In 1962 Cuba was once again was at the center of American conflict with Russia at the Cuban Missile Crisis. This was caused by a growing fear of Soviet missile sites being built on the island of Cuba. It was a Soviet reaction to the Bay of Pigs Invasion, to offer protection to Cuba. However Kennedy needed to handle the crisis with cool demeanor yet also strength to not give in to Khruschev's military aggression. The two exchanged several letters and came to a diplomatic agreement to back off from one another's territories and avoid war. This was perhaps one of President Kennedy's finest moments in which the world was at it's closest to nuclear war.
JFK was openly in support of Civil Rights and met various times with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He passed numerous executive orders to further grant African Americans less discrimination and advanced integration. On several occasions he faced heavy opposition on this matter in the south. In 1962 the University of Mississippi withstood it's first integration which lead to a riot and federal troops having to arrive. In 1963 Gov. Wallace of Alabama took a similar stance against the integration by blocking the doorway from two black students enrolling in the University of Alabama. Once again federal troops were sent in to maintain order and see the integration go through. Kennedy used this occasions to further push thru civil rights, which would eventually lead to the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Kennedy also worked to strengthen and create other departments within the government such as the Peace Corps, NASA, and his "New Frontier" domestic policy which granted funding for education, poverty, and medical care. He also worked to maintain peace throughout other foreign countries such as Israel, Iraq, Germany, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. He was also known for his image in popular culture with ties to Hollywood and several extramarital affairs most notably with Marilyn Monroe.In 1963 he began his re-election campaign, with the support of his wife Jackie. However on a trip to Dallas, he was tragically assassinated while on a motorcade through the streets. Harvey Lee Oswald was accused of taking the shot from a vantage point, and was arrested and to be tried for the assassination of the president. However before he could stand trail he was also murdered, which of course has lead to numerous conspiracy theories. Nonetheless one of the great presidents was killed far too early. He was immediately succeeded by LBJ.
Wife and Children: He married Jacqueline Kennedy, the daughter of a prominent Wall Street stockbroker, and met thru elite social circles. They married in 1953 and their first child, Arabella was lost in a miscarriage. their 2nd child was Caroline, their 3rd child was John Jr who died in a plane crash in 1999, and their 4th child Patrick was also lost to a miscarriage.
Political Office: US House of Representatives (1947-1953) US Senator (1953-1960) President of the United States (1961-1963)
The Attorney General: Bobby F. Kennedy (1925-1968)
Upbringing: He was the 7th child of Joe and Rose Kennedy, and as the 3rd son he was somewhat of the runt of the family in the shadow of his two older brothers, Joe Jr and John. He went to three boarding schools and developed an interest in American History. He was considered a very gentle person, however developed a tough character to get ahead in politics.
By 1951 he had married Ethel, developed a strong relationship with his brother John, and was eager to begin his career in law. His father began to see him in a new light as an important player in the family. In 1961 he joined his brother's successful presidential campaign and was appointed attorney general. His devotion to his brother and the family was one of the reason's JFK and his father felt he would make a great cabinet member. Others saw Bobby as under qualified for the role, and considered his position clear nepotism. With all this and Bobby's progressive ambition for change throughout the government, he quickly made many enemies.
As Attorney General he lead an aggressive campaign against organized crime as well as union organizations such as the Teamsters and their key leader Jimmy Hoffa. Bobby's ambitious and progressive style lead to many disagreements with FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, who considered Bobby too young and inexperienced to be his boss. Bobby was also very committed to the civil rights movement, while J. Edgar Hoover thought it was a communist revolution and especially despised Martin Luther King Jr. Bobby played a crucial role in helping his brother resolve the integration issues in the south as well as problems with Cuba and Russia.
Following the assassination of his brother, Bobby left the Cabinet to run for Senate in New York. He served for four years during which time he continued to support the advancement of civil rights as well as spoke against sending ground troops to Vietnam. During his brief tenure he began to pull himself away from president LBJ's agenda, and it was quite clear that he himself intended to be president. In 1968 LBJ withdrew from running for a 2nd term, and Bobby announced his intent to run for president.
Wife and Children: He married Ethel Skakel in 1950 and the two had 11 children together; Kathleen, Joseph, Robert, David, Courtney, Michael, Kerry, Christopher, Max, Douglas, and Rory.
Political Office: US Attorney General (1961-1964) US Senator- New York (1965-1968)
The Senator: Edward Kennedy (1932-2009)
Upbringing: He was the youngest of nine children, raised into Joe and Rose Kennedy's prominent family. He was very gifted at football in high school and even went on to play his freshmen year at Harvard University. However he was expelled his semester year for cheating on an exam. At which point he enlisted in the US Army from 1951 to 1953. He then re-entered Harvard in 1953 and later the University of Virginia to study law. He was always considered more of an athlete than a student and was able to graduate through the help of his family name.
Wife and Children: He married Joan Bennet in 1958 and they had three children together, Kara, Ted, and Patrick Jr (who served as congressmen of Rhode Island for almsot 20 years). In 1982 he divorced his wife and remarried Victoria Reggie in 1992.
Political Office: US Senator of Massachusetts (1962-2009)
The Kennedy Family Legacy:
The first thing that comes to mind to me when I think of the Kennedy name is one word; tragedy. Of Joe's nine children, four of them died far too soon (Joe Jr died in WW2 at the age of 29, John was assassinated at the age of 46, Kathleen died at the age of 28 in a plane accident, and Robert was assassinated at the age of 42). The eldest daughter Rosemary spent most of her life mentally incapacitated. And in 1999 JFK's eldest son John Jr was also killed in a plane crash, which has epitomized what has become known as a family curse.
Of course the two most significant of the Kennedy children were John F. Kennedy and his brother Bobby. It was these two young ambitious leaders who paved the way for civil liberties in the country. It was these two leaders who challenged crime, communism, prejudice, and poverty more than any other presidency that came before it. The abrupt deaths of JFK and RFK marked a major turning point in this country. It was an end of innocence, to think that an ideological change could be challenged so viciously. And yet their deaths served only as a rallying cry for American progressiveness that continues to push new barriers today.
Famous Landmarks
- The JFK Space Center launched by NASA in 1962
- JFK International Airport located in NYC was renamed in his honor in 1963
- RFK Memorial Stadium was opened in 1961 and renamed to honor RFK in 1969
- The Justice department building was renamed to the RFK Justice department building in 2001
- 1991 film JFK portrays a conspiracy theory of JFK's assassination in Dallas, TX
- 1994 film Forrest Gump portrays a fictional character's dealing with the Kennedys
- 1992 film Hoffa portrays RFK's fight against the infamous Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa
- 2006 film Bobby portrays the day RFK was assassinated at a hotel in Los Angeles
- 2010 film J. Edgar portrays the FBI director's rise to power, and his dealing with the Kennedys
- 2011 TV series by the History Channel The Kennedys gives a very detailed look into the family thru 8 episodes (this was part of the inspiration for this post)
