The Kennedy Family

The Kennedy family was notorious for wrongdoing but yet many Americans overlooked this and fell in love with the Kennedy family. The great Kennedy legacy began with Joseph Patrick Kennedy Sr. Joseph Kennedy, the father of President John F. Kennedy, was born in Boston on September 6, 1888 to a family of Catholic, Irish immigrants (Encarta. Joseph...).After completing his studies at Harvard University he began his career as a small businessman, and local politics. He came to be one of the richest men in American through his work in making motion pictures, shipbuilding, and real estate and stock market speculations. Joseph Kennedy had nine children with wife, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, the daughter of the former mayor of Boston John Francis “ Honey Fitz” Fitzgerald (Encarta). Rose Kennedy was proud Irish woman and true and devoted Catholic unlike her husband who was never zealous to speak about his heritage or faith. At one point when a Boston newspaper referred to him as an “Irishman”, Kennedy exploded; “I was born in this country! My children were born in this country! What the hell does someone have to do to become an American?” (Collier 21) The mother had big dreams for Robert Kennedy, the third son, to become a priest. Bobby Kennedy was very religious as a little boy, he always served as an altar boy and he loved to learn Latin. On the other hand his father would not hear of having his son become a priest. The five female children, Rosemary, Kathleen, Eunice, Patricia, and Jean Ann all attended catholic schools given that their father had no private ambitions for them. However the four boys under their father’s orders were not permitted to attend catholic schools. They had to attend high-quality private schools (Martin17). Joseph Kennedy has been portrayed as a strict parent and that is exactly the way he was. He made sure that his children knew exactly what was politically correct. He had great ambitions that at least one if not all of his boys would one day become president. After the birth of their eldest son Joseph Patrick Kennedy, the boy’s maternal grandfather was quickly quoted saying “Well, of coarse, he is going to be President of the United States...his mother and father have already decided” (Martin 1). Kennedy Sr. was the driving force that made the boys all go into politics. If it hadn’t been for him they may have become teachers or doctors. Joseph Patrick Kennedy could be analyzed as a strange mix. “He had a hot heart and a cold head, which created a special animal vigor, a boundless self-confidence, and an awesome ego” (Martin 2). The Kennedy looked to their father for emotional support. Many of the Kennedy children accused their mother for leaving them for long periods of time and for not giving them any real warmth (Martin 24). Joe Kennedy had one piece of advice for his sons that he hoped would one day win them an election, “It’s not what you are that counts, but what people think you are” (Courier 30) The Kennedy clan (like their father liked to call them) was very close even though the children attended different schools, the mother was often shopping in Paris, and the father on “business” trips with his showgirls. “They almost didn’t need anyone else,” said Dave Powers, a long time family friend. “When they were together they seemed all the same. You had to get them apart to see how different they were. They lived on each other. Each of them would rather have another Kennedy say, ‘Nice play!’ than get a compliment from the Pope or a President” (Martin 13) all throughout their lives the children lean toward each other for support. Throughout high school and college John F. Kennedy always felt like he was behind the shadow of his brother. He always had to work hard to compete with his brother‘s accomplishments. Joe Kennedy Jr. was an excellent student, football star, the one their father had the biggest dream for, and the one that their mother loved the most. When Rose Kennedy was told that John Kennedy had scored higher on an IQ test than his brother Joe had, Rose refused to believe it, she said that it was impossible. The first time that John was able to step in front of his older brother was during World War II. JFK received a Purple Heart and the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. After his boat was rammed and sunk by the Japanese, JFK was thrown across the deck. He was then able to help the survivors and get them onto the island. He was stuck on the island for several days and several times in swam into dangerous waters hoping to find a rescue ship (“John F. Kennedy 3”). In WWII John Kennedy became a hero and then a couple of months later his brother became the first of the “Kennedy tragedies.” On August 12, 1944 Joe Kennedy was killed in a plane explosion while conducting a secret and special assignment that involved the most dangerous type of flying (“Joseph Kennedy Jr.”). The son