JFK'S GRANDFATHER WAS CONVENTION DELEGATE IN 1900
Kansas City, Missouri (JFK+50) On July 6, 1900, President John F. Kennedy's grandfather, Patrick J. Kennedy*, representing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, arrived here in Kansas City as delegate of the Democratic National Convention.
This marked the third time Mr. Kennedy had served as a delegate at a national convention. P.J. was known as a politician who was always willing to help constituents in need. "Everyone who ran for political office would get $50 or $75 from P.J...."
Unfortunately, PJ's generosity did not do him any favors when he ran for Street Commissioner in 1908. Doris Kearns Goodwin tells us that the lesson P.J.'s son Joe learned from this experience was to "stay out of politics."
*Patrick Joseph Kennedy (1858-1929) was the 5th child of Patrick and Bridget Murphy Kennedy, immigrants from New Ross, County Wexford, Ireland. PJ attended Boston College and by the age of 30 established a successful liquor-importing business. PJ served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1884-1889) and the State Senate (1889-1895).
SOURCE
"The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys, An American Saga," by Doris Kearns Goodwin, Simon and Schuster, New York, 1987.
P.J. Kennedy
Kansas City, Missouri (JFK+50) On July 6, 1900, President John F. Kennedy's grandfather, Patrick J. Kennedy*, representing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, arrived here in Kansas City as delegate of the Democratic National Convention.
This marked the third time Mr. Kennedy had served as a delegate at a national convention. P.J. was known as a politician who was always willing to help constituents in need. "Everyone who ran for political office would get $50 or $75 from P.J...."
Unfortunately, PJ's generosity did not do him any favors when he ran for Street Commissioner in 1908. Doris Kearns Goodwin tells us that the lesson P.J.'s son Joe learned from this experience was to "stay out of politics."
*Patrick Joseph Kennedy (1858-1929) was the 5th child of Patrick and Bridget Murphy Kennedy, immigrants from New Ross, County Wexford, Ireland. PJ attended Boston College and by the age of 30 established a successful liquor-importing business. PJ served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1884-1889) and the State Senate (1889-1895).
SOURCE
"The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys, An American Saga," by Doris Kearns Goodwin, Simon and Schuster, New York, 1987.
P.J. Kennedy
JFK Library Photo
