Changes

The '''Kennedy family''' over a series of generation dominated Irish-American politics for most of the 20th century, and played a central role in the history of the [[Democratic Party]] into the 21st century.

The '''Kennedy family''' over a series of generation dominated Irish-American politics for most of the 20th century, and played a central role in the history of the [[Democratic Party]] into the 21st century.

[[File:Kennedys.jpg|thumb|380px|Joe Kennedy & Family in 1934; the oldest child Joe Jr. is not shown]]

[[File:Kennedys.jpg|thumb|380px|Joe Kennedy & Family in 1934; the oldest child Joe Jr. is not shown]]

==Origins==

==Origins==

The first prominent representative was '''John Francis "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald''' (1863-1950).  A well-educated banker, he could not resist the lure of Boston ward politics.  He served two terms as mayor of Boston but failed in comeback races for Congress, the Senate and the governorship.  Nevertheless his high visibility in the Irish community guaranteed fast political tracks for his grandsons.   

The first prominent representative was '''John Francis "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald''' (1863-1950).  A well-educated banker, he could not resist the lure of Boston ward politics.  He served two terms as mayor of Boston but failed in comeback races for Congress, the Senate and the governorship.  Nevertheless his high visibility in the Irish community guaranteed fast political tracks for his grandsons.   

==Joe Kennedy==

==Joe Kennedy==

In 1914 Fitzgerald's daughter '''Rose Kennedy''' (1890-1995) married '''[[Joseph P. Kennedy]]''' (1888-1969), the Harvard-educated son of wealthy liquor dealer.  Joe built the family fortune with brilliant forays into banking, shipbuilding, motion pictures, real estate and (just before prohibition ended), a heavy investment in upscale imported liquor.  He moved the family base from Boston to New York in 1927, where it remained until his son [[John F. Kennedy]] (1917-63) returned to Boston in 1946.  Joe was noted for his fierce devotion to promoting his children, his notorious love affairs, his ruthless business dealings, and his major roles in the [[New Deal]].  He was a strong supporter of President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] who named Kennedy in 1934 to head the new [[Securities and Exchange Commission]], and turn it into a powerful watchdog of Wall Street.  Joe reached the pinnacle of esteem as Ambassador to the Court of St. James (ambassador to Britain) in 1938-40, cruising elegantly in the highest circles of London society, in contrast to his maligned reputation in American high society. Daughter '''Kathleen Kennedy''' (1920-48), became Marchioness of Hartington when she married the heir to a dukedom; she died in a plane crash.  Recalled as ambassador because of his isolationism and support for Prime Minister [[Joseph Chamberlain]]’s [[appeasement]] of Germany, Joe nevertheless endorsed FDR in the critical 1940 election.  Unlike [[Al Smith]] and other prominent Catholics, he refused to attack Roosevelt and thereby preserved presidential options for his sons. Joe was increasingly isolated after 1941, keeping his distance from the clubhouse politicians who clustered around Honey Fitz, as well as Yankee businessmen he thought had denied him entry into the most elite Harvard circles. His business enterprises flourished.

In 1914 Fitzgerald's daughter '''Rose Kennedy''' (1890-1995) married '''[[Joseph P. Kennedy]]''' (1888-1969), the Harvard-educated son of wealthy liquor dealer.  Joe built the family fortune with brilliant forays into banking, shipbuilding, motion pictures, real estate and (just before prohibition ended), a heavy investment in upscale imported liquor.  He moved the family base from Boston to New York in 1927, where it remained until his son [[John F. Kennedy]] (1917-63) returned to Boston in 1946.  Joe was noted for his fierce devotion to promoting his children, his notorious love affairs, his ruthless business dealings, and his major roles in the [[New Deal]].  He was a strong supporter of President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] who named Kennedy in 1934 to head the new [[Securities and Exchange Commission]], and turn it into a powerful watchdog of Wall Street.  Joe reached the pinnacle of esteem as Ambassador to the Court of St. James (ambassador to Britain) in 1938-40, cruising elegantly in the highest circles of London society, in contrast to his maligned reputation in American high society. Daughter '''Kathleen Kennedy''' (1920-48), became Marchioness of Hartington when she married the heir to a dukedom; she died in a plane crash.  Recalled as ambassador because of his isolationism and support for Prime Minister [[Joseph Chamberlain]]’s [[appeasement]] of Germany, Joe nevertheless endorsed FDR in the critical 1940 election.  Unlike [[Al Smith]] and other prominent Catholics, he refused to attack Roosevelt and thereby preserved presidential options for his sons. Joe was increasingly isolated after 1941, keeping his distance from the clubhouse politicians who clustered around Honey Fitz, as well as Yankee businessmen he thought had denied him entry into the most elite Harvard circles. His business enterprises flourished.