Overview
The Kennedy family is one of American history’s most influential and well-known political dynasties. Their legacy spans politics, public service, business, and popular culture. The family’s prominence began with Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., a wealthy businessman and U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom, who had ambitious plans for his children to enter politics. There was a dark past regarding Joe Kennedy’s legacy, where he has been known to work with organized crime during the probation period.
Joe’s sons—John F. Kennedy (JFK), Robert F. Kennedy (RFK), and Edward “Ted” Kennedy—would go on to shape American history significantly.
John F. Kennedy (1917–1963)
JFK was elected the 35th president of the United States in 1960, becoming the youngest person ever elected to the office. His presidency was marked by major events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, the advancement of the Civil Rights Movement, and the Space Race, during which he set the goal of landing a man on the moon.
Robert F. Kennedy (1925–1968)
RFK, JFK’s younger brother, served as U.S. Attorney General and later became a U.S. senator from New York. He played a key role in the civil rights movement and was a strong advocate for social justice. In 1968, he ran for president, but his campaign was cut short when he was assassinated in Los Angeles after winning the California primary.
Ted Kennedy (1932–2009)
Ted Kennedy, the youngest Kennedy brother, served in the U.S. Senate for nearly 47 years, making him one of the longest-serving senators in U.S. history. Despite controversies, including the Chappaquiddick incident, he became a champion for health care, workers’ rights, and education reform.
The Kennedy Legacy
The Kennedy family’s influence continues into modern times, with members like Caroline Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. playing roles in politics and activism. Despite tragedies, including JFK Jr.’s plane crash in 1999, the family’s name remains synonymous with political ambition, public service, and the idea of “Camelot”—a romanticized era of American optimism.
The Kennedys’ story is one of triumph and tragedy, filled with political achievements, personal losses, and an enduring legacy that continues to fascinate the world.
The Presidency
As many know, Kennedy never served out his first term, having been assassinated in November of 1963. But during his term, two other Kennedys came on the scene. Kennedy picked his younger brother Bobby as his US Attorney General.
His youngest brother, Teddy, would run for Senate in Massachusetts in 1962, using most of Kennedy’s marketing materials for continuity. Note the nearly identical pins below of JFK and Teddy. RFK ran for NY US Senate in 1964, won, and became the Democrat Presidential favorite in 1968 after LBJ dropped out. RFK, too, would be felled by an assassin’s bullet immediately following his big win in the California primary in June. Only Teddy survived throughout the decades into the 21st Century. Many Democrats lionized the Kennedys, but the family mainly knew nothing but tragedy after tragedy.
