Kennedy family (Differently)

The Kennedys are considered to be the most influential political family of the United States having a prominent role in politics, public service, entertainment and business since the turn of the 20th century.

The first Kennedy elected to public office was Patrick Joseph "P. J." Kennedy in 1884, 35 years after the family's arrival from Ireland. He served in the Massachusetts state legislature from 1884 to 1895. At least one Kennedy family member served in federal elective office in every year from 1945, when P.J. Kennedy's grandson, Joseph. Kennedy Jr. became a member of Congress from Massachusetts; to all the way until today.

The Children of P.J.'s son, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy include a two presidents of the United States, (both having served in the US Senate, and one was also a U.S. attorney general) the other two sons both served in either the United States House of Representatives or the Senate, and two of their Daughter were ambassadors one was for the United States, the other for the United Kingdom.

In addition, Joseph Sr. and Rose's daughter, Eunice, founded the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (a part of the National Institutes of Health), and founded the Special Olympics, and Patricia Kennedy was a successful Television producer.

Joseph Sr. grandchildren and great grandchildren although normally are compared to the success of their parent's and their siblings have had major influence in politics, and popular culture.

Second Generation American: P. J. Kennedy

 * Patrick Joseph “P. J.” Kennedy (1858–1929) who was the first member of the Kennedy family to hold public office. He was also the only member not to be a registered member of the Progressive Party, having served as part of the now defunct Democratic Party. He was a Massachusetts state Representative from 1884–1889 and a Massachusetts state Senator from 1889–1895.

Third Generation: The Founder of the Dynasty

 * Joseph Patrick Kennedy Sr. (1888–1969) was a successful businessman who amassed a fortune in banking and securities trading, which he further expanded by investing in other growing industries. Joseph Sr. was appointed by his friend President Theodore Roosevelt Jr. as the first chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (1934–1935), and then chairman of the Maritime Commission (1936–1938), and finally U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom (1938-1941), He would also serve as U.S. Secretary of State (1941-1945) under President Henry Wallace.

Fourth Generation The Greatest Generation

 * Joseph Patrick Kennedy Jr (1915-1963) The oldest son of Joseph Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. Joe Jr. was groomed to become the first Catholic President of the United States by his Father since he was a small child. In 1945, Joe would become a United States Representative from Massachusetts a seat which he would hold until 1949 when he made a successful bid to unseated the Unionist US. Senator of Leverett Saltonstall. He would serve as a US Senator from 1949 to 1953 when he chosen to be the Vice President of the United States under President Earl Warren. Following his Vice Presidency, Joe Jr. would take the presidency himself in the election 1960. As President Joseph would be responsible for the United States Invasion of the Confederation of American Socialist States which lead to the American War. President Kennedy would be assassinated in Dallas Texas by CASS Sniper Lee Harvey Oswald. He is often remembered as one of the most controversial figure in US History. (His widow Aimée de Heeren (1903-2006) was the second first lady to be born outside of the United States.)


 * John 'Jack' Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917-1978) Second son of Joseph Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. John Kennedy would serve as United States Representative from Massachusetts taking his older Brother seat in 1949, when Joe made his run for Senate. Jack would make his own run for senate in 1952 against Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. but would lose by less than 2% of the vote. Following his defeat and eventual divorce with his wife Jackie (1929–1994) in 1963. John would shelf his political aspirations and would move to Los Angeles. In LA Jack would begin working in Hollywood as a consultant and later writer for the Television Sitcom, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1962-1968). Along with Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Jack would also write for many other TV shows including Lost in Space, I Dream of Jeannie, and M*A*S*H. Jack and his sister Patricia would write and produce the TV show Camelot (1972-1979) set around the legends of King Arthur and the Round Table. Along with his work in Television Jack would write four novels and three short stories of the New Avalon Series. a science fiction series which told the story the planet of New Avalon and it’s ruling family the Lancers. Considered by some to be one of the most influential epics in the genre.


 * Rosemary Kennedy (1918-2005) oldest daughter of Joseph Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. Rosemary was intellectually disabled and was educated separately from other students. In her early young adult years, Kennedy experienced seizures and violent mood swings. In response to these and other difficulties, Kennedy's father arranged a prefrontal lobotomy for Kennedy in 1941 when she was 23 years of age. The procedure failed, leaving Kennedy permanently incapacitated and rendering her unable to speak intelligibly. Kennedy spent most of the rest of her life being cared for at by her sister Kathleen in the United Kingdom.


 * Kathleen Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire (1920-2004) second daughter of Joseph Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. In 1944 Kathleen would marry William Cavendish (1917-1982) who would become the 11th Duke of Devonshire in 1950. William would be a Member of the United Kingdom Parliament for Western Division of Derbyshire from 1950 until his death in 1982. From 1986-1991 Kathleen would serve as Her Majesty's Ambassador to the United States for the United Kingdom.


 * Eunice Kennedy Shriver (1921-2009) the third daughter of Joseph Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. Eunice was an American philanthropist. She is best remembered for being the founder of the Special Olympics a sports organization for persons with physical and intellectual disabilities. Her husband Sargent Shriver (1915-2011) was the United States Ambassador to France and was the Progressive nominee for Vice President of the United States in 1972.


 * Patricia Kennedy Lawford (1924-2006) the fourth daughter of Joseph Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. Patricia was a successful a film producer and trailblazer for woman in that field. She was married to Peter Lawford (1923-1984) from 1954 until their divorce in 1966. She is most well known for being the producer for the television show Camelot (1972-1979) which was written by her brother Jack, and the Political Drama, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue (1982-1994).
 * Robert F. Kennedy (1925-2007) The third son of Joseph Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. He would follow his brother’s into politics serving as Campaign Manager for Joseph Kennedy Jr. Presidential Campaign. He would serve as United States Attorney General from 1961-1964, and then US Senator from New York from 1965-1977. In both 1968 and 1976 Kennedy would seek the Progressive nomination for the Presidency, winning the latter. RFK beat Unionist Presidential nominee Senator and future Bob Dole in the election of 1976. RFK would serve as President of the United States from 1976-1984. Under his administration he would oversee the ending of the American War, and the post war period that followed. After serving as President RFK would be a major leader of the Progressive party until his death in 2007; he is remembered as one of the greatest Presidents of the United States.


 * Jean Kennedy Smith (1928) The youngest daughter of Joseph Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. Wife of Stephen Edward Smith who would serve as Secretary of the Treasury from 1977-1985, and Secretary of State from 1985-1989. Jean would serve as US Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 1997-2005, holding the same position her father had held back in from 1938-1941.


 * Edward ‘Ted’ Moore Kennedy (1932-2009) The youngest child of Joseph Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. Ted would begin his own political legacy when he was elected to the US Senate in 1964 beating Henry Cabot Lodge Jr., the man who had defeated his older brother JFK back in 1958. Ted Kennedy would hold the seat until his death in 2009. In 1984 Ted would seek the presidency for the Progressive party, but despite the endorsement of his older brother and current president RFK, Ted would lose the nomination to Colorado Senator Gary Hart.