May 6, 2012
"JOHNNY WE HARDLY KNEW YE": Memories of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Getting Into Politics IV.
Knoxville, Tennessee (JFK+50) Today we continue our report on Chapter 2 of the book by Kenneth P. O'Donnell & David F. Powers with Joe McCarthy. It is published by Little, Brown & Company.
The title of Chapter 2 is "Getting Into Politics".
This chapter continues the discussion of JFK's entry into the political profession in 1946.
O'Donnell & Powers write that while JFK did not follow the old political techniques, he "found their colorful personalities to be fascinating."
Dave Powers says:
"As much as (Jack) personally disagreed with their viewpoint, (he) enjoyed the Boston Irish pols & they liked him."
Dave adds that while JFK was a new type of Irish politician, he loved everything about politics.
The 1946 campaign became a "free-for-all" with 10 candidates in the field, but from the beginning JFK showed "incredible stamina & zest."
Dave says that while most politicians go to rallies, meetings, dinners & luncheons, what set Jack Kennedy apart was his willingness to personally go door to door. He writes:
"The housewives were startled to see Jack Kennedy standing on their porches because most....had never seen a politician that closely before."
During the evening, Jack would go to 3 or 4 house parties. The success of these parties led to "the famous Kennedy teas."
The teas were only for women who received engraved invitations. Over a thousand turned out for the 1st held at the Hotel Commander in Cambridge.
It was also the only tea attended by Jack's father.
This chapter continues the discussion of JFK's entry into the political profession in 1946.
O'Donnell & Powers write that while JFK did not follow the old political techniques, he "found their colorful personalities to be fascinating."
Dave Powers says:
"As much as (Jack) personally disagreed with their viewpoint, (he) enjoyed the Boston Irish pols & they liked him."
Dave adds that while JFK was a new type of Irish politician, he loved everything about politics.
The 1946 campaign became a "free-for-all" with 10 candidates in the field, but from the beginning JFK showed "incredible stamina & zest."
Dave says that while most politicians go to rallies, meetings, dinners & luncheons, what set Jack Kennedy apart was his willingness to personally go door to door. He writes:
"The housewives were startled to see Jack Kennedy standing on their porches because most....had never seen a politician that closely before."
During the evening, Jack would go to 3 or 4 house parties. The success of these parties led to "the famous Kennedy teas."
The teas were only for women who received engraved invitations. Over a thousand turned out for the 1st held at the Hotel Commander in Cambridge.
It was also the only tea attended by Jack's father.
