Kennedy Tradition of Politics and Tragedy

Aug. 29, 2009 -- The Kennedy family holds a unique place in American history for its tradition of public service, glamor and considerable tragedy.

One generation of the family has now seen three of its men serve and die in public office.

The Kennedy clan of parents Rose and Joe Kenndey Sr. were third generation Irish-Americans, boasting nine children born over the space of 17 years -- Joe Jr., John, Rosemary, Kathleen, Eunice, Patricia, Robert and Jean. The youngest and fourth son was Edward, who would come to be known as Ted.

Raising their children in a Boston of Brahmins descending from English, they were determined that their sons and daughters would break through the social barriers that limited Irish expectations and impressed upon their children the themes of religious devotion and social responsibility.

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Joe Kennedy was a successful businessman and proud father who wanted one of his sons to grow up to be president of the United States. His first choice was his oldest son, Joe, Jr. While serving in World War II, Joe Jr. was killed in a bombing run over France in 1942. This was the first of many tragedies the Kennedys would suffer. Kathleen Kennedy died in a plane crash at the age of 28 and Rosemary lived most of her life in an institution.

The political gene started on Rose Kennedy's side, with her father "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald, the first Irish-American mayor of Boston.

"Honey Fitz knew that the way to build a political coalition was to go from bar to barbershop to street corner and really get to know the people," said Peter Cannelos of the Boston Globe, editor of "Last Lion: The Fall and Rise of Ted Kennedy." "By the time Ted was entering his teens, Honey Fitz, who still knew everybody on every street corner, would take Teddy with him as he chatted just with average people. And I think it made a deep impression on Ted."

But it was John Kennedy, the oldest surviving brother, who first entered politics, at his father's urging. He won a congressional seat in 1947, then successfully ran for Senate in 1952. In 1960, after a bruising campaign against Richard Nixon, Kennedy was elected the first Catholic president of the United States.