The Kennedys

All about the Kennedys of Massachusetts

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The Kennedys adoringly playing with their newborn daughter, Caroline.

[thekennedyclan]

Pop that champagne Bobby!

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Rosemary Kennedy with her two older brothers, Jack and Joe Jr., on the grounds of the family’s original summer home in Nantasket Beach circa 1920

Colorization by me.

Photographer: Unknown

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Probably the best version of this photo I’ve seen…

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Raw newsreel footage of Rosemary Kennedy with her sister Eunice and brother Jack aboard the S.S. Manhattan in 1938.

Courtesy of the Kino Library

[politicspoetry]

“He’d been smitten since the first time he laid eyes on her, and it wasn’t until he became President that they really had the time to discover each other. He rarely disciplined her, or even raised his voice to her. Once, looking out the tall windows from his Oval office desk and noting a suspicious movement in her jaw, he called, ‘Caroline, are you eating candy?’ There was no answer. He repeated, ‘Caroline, are you eating candy?’ Again, silence. Finally, in exasperation: ‘Caroline, answer me; are you eating candy? Yes, no, or maybe?’ But if she wept, he dissolved. He found it hard to correct her. Often, you would hear the President’s plaintive voice, coming from the adjacent room, pleading, ‘Caroline, please hang up, I have to use the phone.’ And if she was away, he worried. He called her every evening, no matter where she was. Once, he walked into her room with a bundle of books, but Caroline was nowhere in sight. Miss Shaw told him she’d gone to a friend’s birthday party. His face fell, and then he kind of just let the books fall out of his arms, watching them hit the floor. Sounding as though she were a wayward teenager, said, ‘What in the—she has got to start staying home at night.’” —K. Willis.

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Kathleen and Jack in Palm Beach

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Jack, Jackie, Caroline, and John - 1962

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Our favorite family

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[just-shower-thoughts]

In a few generations, kids will be frustratedly trying to remember today’s date for a U.S. history test.

[kennedyfamfan]

[petiteclover]

Biographers reported that the Kennedy children were terrified into arriving at the dinner table exactly on time, and were forced to give reports to their parents – book reports, reports on history, art, etc. All of the children were also expected to give detailed reports of their days as well, with Joe flying into a rage should one of the children fail to perform. Additionally, laughter and general silliness were not tolerated at the Kennedy dinner table.

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Bobby with his father Joe and siblings Pat and Ted at the table during their time at the American Embassy in the United Kingdom, 1938.