The Founding Father: The Story of Joseph P. Kennedy

by Richard J. Whalen

s/t: A Study in Power, Wealth and Family Ambition
An invaluable book...it approaches the members of the Kennedy family as denizens of history & not of mythology...Whalen makes many fascinating contributions to history.--Chicago Tribune

Genres: Biography, History, American History, Nonfiction

551 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

Reviews

[Roger Dier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of all the Kennedys, Joe Kennedy is the most fascinating and perhaps one of the most accomplished and interesting people of the 20th century. Had it not been for Joseph P. Kennedy, all the Kennedys that followed him would be unknown to the world. The book opens with a vivid detailing of how Kennedy's forbearers came to American, and the foothold gained by his father and mother in the Boston area. "Beachhead in a Hard Land" is one of the first chapters in the book, and the hard land, hard for the Irish, seems astonishing from a 21st Century view. To wit: "Children in the Irish slums, a Boston census taker sadly noted, seemed literally "born to die." More than 60 percent died before their fifth birthday in these years." These years were the post-Civil War era.

The book details Joe's youth and rise into business. He had a remarkable appetite for self-promotion and making money. While in his early 20s, his first job was that as a bank examiner, and find out how banks made money served him well in the years ahead. He had great guile and a marvelous sense of financial timing. Stories abound: When he needed to secure an audience with London bankers to acquire liquor licenses to import booze to America, he found out where Prince Philip was dining in France, paid off a waiter to get a seat near the Prince's table, then introduced himself to the Prince and told him they had met the year before in America at a reception. Joe wasn't at the reception (a Brahmin event, he wasn't invited), but the Kennedy talked the Prince into writing him a letter of introduction so he could gain entry with London bankers.

Of all the money he made, and the political appointments he won (Ambassador to England, Chair of the original Securities and Exchange Commission, Chair of the U.S. Maritime Commission), Joe Kennedy's real talent lay in fatherhood. After marrying Rose Fitzgerald, the daughter of Patrick "Honey Fitz) Fitzgerald, Joe and Rose raised nine children. He was completely devoted to his boys and girls. Joe Jr.'s death in 1944 took a lot out of him, but of his surviving sons, one became a President, Another became U.S. Attorney General, the third surviving son, Ted, served in the Sentate from 1962 to 2009.

This book was published in 1964, and while it contains Joe's public warts, his private ones never surface, and that was refreshing.

[Stanley Zimmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and greatly informative. The story of an ambitious Irishman resenting the prejudice of that time, with tremendous drive accordingly to make sure the world could not ignore the Irish any longer. That overriding drive creates great personal success, through, in many cases, unethical and corrupt practices. After being able to push his son into the presidency in 1960, he continued to push his sons to do what he wanted in JFK’s unfulfilled term, nearly causing WWIII in the process. Surprising abuses of power.

[Corey J. Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating read and a must for any professed Kennedy scholar.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very in-depth and fascinating!

[Mark Bunch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book very much. The ultimate shot caller.