The Kennedy Years

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born in 1917 in Brookline, Massachusetts, and he graduated from Harvard in 1940. As the son of Joseph and Rose Kennedy, JFK was groomed for achievement from an early age. The elder Joseph saw in his sons a way in which he might exert great political influence. He himself had been ambassador to England and a millionaire, but he had higher goals: the Presidency of the United States.

When JFK's older brother Joe was killed in World War II, the spotlight fell on him. He became the oldest of the four sons, and it was apparent that he was destined for great things in U.S. politics. He had distinguished himself in the war as well, and his service with the Navy has been immortalized in the book and the movie, P.T. 109.

In his chapter entitled "Growing Up Kennedy," Martin observes that "so strong was the sibling rivalry that young Joe Kennedy reportedly cried when his brother Jack won the first medal in the family for courage in combat" (45). This shows the intense pressure that defined what being a young male Kennedy meant.

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oth his brothers in their various campaigns. Clearly the Kennedys showed the strength of their inter-family structure during the times of both the assassinations: JFK's in 1963 and RFK's in 1968. Robert and Ethel were quite comforting to Jackie in the months that followed Dallas, and it became very apparent that once the Kennedys brought in a new member through marriage, that person was part of the inter-family dynamic. This is one reason the entire family was shocked when Jackie remarried, to Greek tycoon Aristotle Onassis. In contrast, Ethel has never remarried, as a symbol of her solidarity with the Kennedy family and her love for RFK. Martin has a brief explanation for the difference of the two brothers and the faithfulness within their ranks: RFK's devout religion. "When the Robert Kennedys gave each of their children religious pictures to hang on their bedroom walls, Jack and Jacqueline confided that they wouldn't be caught dead with those pictures in their house" (191). Once JFK had ascended to power in the Presidency, he was able to demonstrate that he had a great deal of charisma as a leader. Martin helps to explain why JFK was so popular and why he seemed destined to become President. The United States was j
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Approximate Word count = 2109
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page)

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