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“Every American should have the opportunity to receive a quality education, a job that respects their dignity and protects their safety, and health care that does not condemn those whose health is impaired to a lifetime of poverty and lost opportunity.”

-Senator Edward Kennedy (February 22, 1932 – August 25, 2009)

“Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures. The courage of life is often a less dramatic spectacle than the courage of a final moment; but it is no less a magnificent mixture of triumph and tragedy.”

- John F. Kennedy

I hope for an America where neither “fundamentalist” nor “humanist” will be a dirty word, but a fair description of the different ways in which people of good will look at life and into their own souls.

- Senator Ted Kennedy

Let us dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world.

- Robert F. Kennedy

jimmypage:

Top Ten BAMFs || Teddy M. Kennedy

“Like my brothers before me, I pick up the fallen standard. Sustained by their memory of our priceless years together, I shall try to carry forward that special commitment to justice, to excellence, to courage that distinguished their lives.”

Another powerful ethic that Dad taught us was to respect the privacy of others and to ignore whatever disrespect of privacy might come our way. I learned this particular lesson at a birthday party for myself in about 1946. At some point in the afternoon I wandered upstairs - to use the bathroom, I think. I passed a bedroom and heard a boy’s voice. I looked in and saw Lafay Paige, one of the young party guests, talking on the phone, to one of his parents. His back was partly turned and he couldn’t see me. Lafay was saying, “I hope this party gets over pretty quick because it’s really dull and we’re not having much fun at all. It’s really drab, so will you come and get me?” I stood there sort of paralyzed and embarrassed that the boy felt my party was dull.

Then I heard footsteps behind me. My father had just walked out of the master bedroom and spotted me listening to the telephone conversation He quietly told me to come back with him into his bedroom. I thought maybe he was going to console me, but he had another topic entirely on his mind. He said, “Teddy, let me give you some advice. Follow it, and you’ll be much happier the rest of your life.”

 ”Never listen to a phone call that isn’t meant for you. Never read a letter that isn’t meant for you. Never pay attention to a comment that isn’t meant for you. Never violate people’s privacy. You will save yourself a great deal of anguish. You might not understand this now, but you will later on.”

— True Compass, by Teddy Kennedy.

jimmypage:

Top 20 Vintage Hotties ||  John F. Kennedy (May 29th, 1917 - November 22nd, 1963)

“History is a relentless master. It has no present, only the past rushing into the future. To try to hold fast is to be swept aside.”

jimmypage:

Top Twenty Vintage Hotties ||  Jacqueline Kennedy (July 28th, 1929 - May 14th, 1994)

“It’s not ‘Jackie’, or Jacqueline, it’s Mrs. Kennedy. Although the one thing I do not want to be called is First Lady. It sounds like a saddle horse.”

Rose Kennedy to Robert Kennedy
Chez Balenciaga, Paris (1961)

Dearest Bob,
I think you should work hard and become President after Jack—
It will be good for the country
And for you
And especially good for you know who.

Ever your affectionate & peripetetic
Mother.

Above: A gaunt looking John F. Kennedy after becoming a Representative in his official portrait; July 1947.

Rose Kennedy: Diary Entry
November 3rd, 1960.

We went to the airport Thursday to see Jack go off to California on his private plane. The first time I had seen it. Jean was aboard with Steve [Smith, her husband]. Dave Powers*, who goes to give Jack a few laughs and to look after his clothes. It is the first time Dave has gone, as he has a very possessive wife who will not let him out of her sight even for lunch, or sometimes even for breakfast with Jack, not to mention a dinner date. Joe [Sr.] has always had someone like a court jester around him, someone witty, light hearted; but faithful, loyal, and with sense enough to keep his mouth closed under all circumstances. And I think that Jack hoped that Dave Powers would fill this particular need in his life. Pat is to join the party out in California as Jackie is not going until Friday, because she is taking care of Caroline.
Jack looks unusually well. His cheeks have filled out amazingly since I saw him in June. He has lost that lean Lincolnesque look which I secretly like better.

* Dave Powers was Jack’s confidant, assistant, and jack-of-all trades since the Congressional election of 1946.

Rosemary Kennedy, 21, to Joseph P. Kennedy
April 4th, 1940

Darling Daddy,
Many thanks for coming tosee on Friday. You were darling.
I hope you liked every-thing here. —- And. the . chats with me, and Mother. Esbelle. Just. liked to know if you would like me to stay with you at. Easter. Or go to Hereford. It is up to you. Mother says I am such a comfort to you. Never . to leave you. Well Daddy. I feel honour because you chose me to stay . And . the others suppose are wild. — Let . me know tuesday about the arragements .or  . Sunday night with you . telephone me. I . would to talk to you very much.
Much, love,
Rosemary

PS I am so fond of you. And. Love you very much. Sorry . to think that I am fat. you think. —

John F. Kennedy, age 26: Round-Robin Letter
[Postmarked August 13th, 1943]

Dear folks,
This is just a short note to tell you that I am alive - and not kicking - in spite of the many reports that you may happen to hear. It was believed otherwise for a few days - so reports or rumours may have gotten back to you. Fortunately, they misjudged the durability of a Kennedy - and am back at the base now and am O.K. As soon as possible I shall try to give you the whole story. *
Much love to you all,
Jack

*A few days earlier, Motortorpedo Squadron 2 had held a funeral mass for Jack and his crew, whom they believed to have died when the Japanese destroyer Amagiri plowed through the hull of PT 109 in the early morning hours of August 2nd. Although the Navy Department had notified Joseph P. Kennedy during the course of the week that Jack was missing in action, he believe that Jack was still alive and did not inform his family until after Jack and the surviving crew members had been rescued on August 7th.

Above: Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., with Eunice and Bobby in the late 1940s.

Robert Kennedy, age 14, to Joseph P. Kennedy

Dear Dad,
I got your letter this morning. Thank you very much it was very interesting.
We all went to Edgertown last weekend and had alot of fun. [Lem] Billings (JFK’s best friend) went over and he led the singing with his wonderful voice. While he was down here we sang the song that Pepsi Cola has for advertising. He just sat there with a grim face.
We have all been sailing here. I came in 2nd in the July series and Eunice is doing quite well now.
I was in bed for a few days because I had some boils on my knee but they are almost all gone now though I am not able to go in swimming.
Pat[ricia] has a new boy friend who is 6 feet 7 in. She likes him very much We are making up songs about him like this
“6 feet 7
Straight From Heaven”

Father Downing is not making any more sermons because he was in an auto accident so we don’t get yelled at in the middle of mass any more.
This is about all the news except that some of us may go to Nantucket next weekend
Love From All
Bob

Joseph P. Kennedy’s diary entry about Kathleen
Hotel George V, Paris [May 14th, 1948]

No one who ever knew her didn’t feel that life was much better that minute. And probably we know so little about the next world that we must think that they wanted just such a wonderful girl for themselves. We must not feel sorry for her but for ourselves.

Written by me 1/2 after notified of Kick’s death.*

*Since the summer of 1946 Kathleen (nicknamed Kick) had been romantically involved with Lord Peter Fitzwilliam, an Irish peer and Protestant, who was already married. In an effort to overcome her parents’ strenuous objections to the couple’s proposed marriage (following Fitzwilliam’s divorce), Kick and Fitzwilliam had chartered a plane from England to France, hoping to persuade Joseph P. Kennedy to give them his blessing. Disregarding the pilot’s reservations, they had taken off as a severe storm approached the Rhone Valley. Boston Globe report Joseph Dinneen received news of Kick’s death over the wire and tracked Joe Kennedy to Paris in the early morning hours of May 14th. Calling to ask whether JPK had heard the news of her death, Dinneen in effect informed him of it.