Easily pleased, hot tempered, impatient, independent. Joe Kennedy was a fierce competitor, eager to excel in athletics, craving wealth, and, perhaps above all else, eager to rise above the second-class status of an Irishman in Boston at the beginning of this century. That last should have been satisfied when his son John defeated Boston Brahmin Henry Cabot Lodge in his 1952 senate race, but by then he had built his life, and his dynasty, around the idea that it was the Kennedy clan against the rest of the world. I can't quite tell when he was and wasn't involved in the liquor business, his reputation includes a significant role in providing spirits during Prohibition and there was the minor embarrassment of using his position as ambassador to commandeer cargo space for his whiskey. He built ships, built a Wall Street fortune and later clamped down on the tricks he had used. He tinkered with clocks. But mostly he promoted Joe Kennedy until he was 50, then promoted the sons of Joe Kennedy until he was leftspeechless by a stroke.
Perhaps presidents shouldn't shake hands. Yesterday we related how Squeeky Fromme failed to kill Gerald Ford on 5 September 1975 when the president thought he was going to shake her hand. On 6 September 1901 another president wasn't so lucky. If Fromme knew she was following a historical precedent it did not turn up in the trial.
It seems to be a day of changing sides in the events section. Benedict Arnold was unhappy with his treatment by Congress and switched sides, the Navy launched a rocket from an aircraft carrier - that would be the US Navy and a German rocket, and the US got to take a nice long look at the hottest hardware the Soviets could put in the air.
1521 - The first circumnavigation of the globe is completed as the Victoria lands in Seville, Spain. She was only ship to return of five ships that had set out on 20 September 1518. Of the original 270 men, only 18 survived, Portuguese astronomer and captain Ferdinand Magellan not among them.
1620 - The Leyden Separatists (Pilgrims) set sail from Plymouth, England, their third attempt - well behind schedule and later in the year than most captains willingly sailed the north Atlantic. The ill-fated Speedwell had been sold, some of her passengers transferred to Mayflower, others chose to wait until the next year.
1781 - General Benedict Arnold, having switched sides to serve in the British Army, landed troops from 24 ships and sacked New London, Connecticut, at that time an important base for revolutionary privateers but not defended by significant forces.
1901 - US President William McKinley reached to shake the hand of blacksmith Leon Czolgosz at a reception in the Temple of Music at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. Czolgosz's hand held a handkerchief concealing a .32 caliber Johnson revolver, he fired two shots, the second of which penetrated the stomach. McKinley died on 14 September.
1947 - In Operation Sandy the US Navy launched a captured German V-2 rocket from the deck of the USS Midway.
1976 - With only 30 seconds of fuel remaining, Lieutenant Victor Belenko broke through the clouds over Hokkaido in a Soviet MiG-25P. He narrowly missed a departing airliner at the commercial airport, skidded on the runway, blew a tire, ended up 800 feet off the end of the runway, and applied for asylum in the United States. His request was approved, the plane, then the most advanced in the Soviet air force, was later returned.
Somhlolo Day, Swaziland - Commemorates 1968 independence for the Kingdom of Swaziland after 75 years of British colonial rule. Named after a 19th Century Swazi king who was called Somhlolo or Father of Mysteries.
1888
- Joseph Patrick Kennedy, US financier, diplomat - Born at East
Boston, Massachusetts to Patrick Joseph Kennedy, politician and prosperous
liquor importer, and Mary Augusta Hickey Kennedy. Interested in making
money at Boston Latin School, goal of being millionaire by 35. Graduated
Harvard University 1912, earned $125 per month as bank examiner at Columbia
Trust, after 18 months borrowed heavily to buy block of stock, in 1914
became youngest bank president in US at age 25. Married Rose Fitzgerald,
daughter of Boston mayor John Francis "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald, the couple
had nine children. Assistant general manager Bethlehem Shipbuilding 1917,
manager of Hayden, Stone and Company in 1919, traded aggressively on Wall
Street, manipulating the market through helpful journalists (and made
way more than one million by age 35), retired in 1925, sold portfolio
before 1929 crash. Bought motin picture distribution company in 1926,
started affair with Gloria Swanson - a trophy that cost him dearly, her
pet project "Queen Kelly" was expensive flop. Supported FDR heavily in
1932, wanted cabinet post, was appointed chair of Securities and Exchange
Commission where he outlawed his former tricks and earned grudging respect.
Supported FDR heavily in 1936, wanted cabinet post, instead was named
chair of Maritime Commission, made public relations hit out of that. Lobbied
for appointment as Ambassador to Britain, awed by Nazi strength he lobbied
for appeasement, minimized early Nazi atrocities and supported Hitler.
Rose and three of their children were on the first armed merchant ship
to arrive in New York, Kennedy battled Churchill and found himself out
of the loop, appropriated cargo space for 200,000 cases of whiskey for
his import firm, resigned in October amid public ridicule on both sides
of the Atlantic. Supported FDR heavily in 1940, but in an interview predicted
the end of democracy - his own poitical career ended. Arranged disastrous
lobotomy for slightly retarded daughter Rosemary who spent rest of life
in nursing home. Prepped eldest son and naval aviator Joe Jr to be first
catholic president, killed when plane exploded on mission. Bought Chicago
Merchandise Mart, centerpiece of family fortune from 1945. Financed and
managed massive congressional campaign for John in 1946. Daughter Kathleen
"Kick" killed in plane crash in French Alps 1948. Bankrolled John's 1952
senate run against Henry Cabot Lodge, opposed John's unsuccessful bid
for 1956 VP nomination, financed and managed much of John's 1960 presidential
race, suffered a massive stroke as the campaign to put Teddy in the Senate
started, he never recovered and died at Hyannisport, Massachusetts on
18 November 1969.
I've had an exciting life. I married for love and got a little money
along with it.
- Rose Kennedy
My brother Bob doesn't want to be in government - he promised Dad he'd
go straight.
- John Fitzgerald Kennedy
He may be president. but he still comes home and swipes my socks.
- Joseph P. Kennedy
Whenever you're sitting across from some important person, always picture
him sitting there in a suit of long red underwear. That's the way I always
operated in business.
- Joseph P. Kennedy
Twisted History is sent daily, absolutely free, to our subscribers who understand that the events of the past centuries have shaped our lives today - and are probably less depressing than the events on today's TV news. Both an HTML version (which looks just like this) and a text version that is compatible with all mail clients are available.
Manage your subscription
Tell a friend
about Twisted History
Leave
Feedback
Copyright 2000 G. Armour Van Horn, all rights reserved. This document may be distributed freely. Please forward the complete message including this copyright notice.