Q: Joseph P. Kennedy, The Ambassador - Susan Ronald  - INTRO:

A:

• Career in corporate finance

• Interest in Tudors, starting writing

• Gurlitt Art, Vault Collection

• Focus on World War2

• Fascinated by JFK, election, presidency

• Focus on Joe Kennedy, Ambassador years

Q: What were the early influences that shaped Joe Kennedy?

A: 

• Immigrant, Catholic, Outsider

• Chip on the Shoulder

• Father, saloon owner, politics

• Driven to be the best

• Ability to reinvent his past

Q: How did Kennedy make his Fortune?

A:

• Father made money as ward boss

• Attended Harvard

• Ran bank with Harvard friends

• Very successful on Wall Street

• Moved on to Hollywood production

• Major Importer of whiskey

Q: What was the early relationship between Kennedy and Roosevelt?

A:

• Raised funds for 1928 election

• Kennedy an excellent political fundraiser

• Roosevelt not interested in Kennedy’s political views

• Used Kennedy to get big business behind New Deal

Q:  Why did Roosevelt appoint Kennedy Ambassador?

A:

• Joe Kennedy wanted the Ambassadorship

• Springboard for sons political future

• Served as head of SEC

• Initially Roosevelt thought it was ridiculous

• Kennedy had dangerous views

• Better for Kennedy to be on the inside

Q: Did Kennedy get along with Churchill?

A:

• Frosty, pretty much terrible

• Thought Churchill was dangerous

• More sympathetic  with Mussolini/Vatican

• Forced by White House to congratulate him

Q: Did Kennedy resign or get fired?

A:

• Roosevelt preferred that Kennedy continue

• State Department happy for him to leave

• Kennedy wanted to go back to USA

• Planned on campaigning for Wilkie, against Roosevelt

• Resigned in a huff

• Reached a deal with Roosevelt

Q: What were Kennedy’s foreign policy views?

A:

• Followed views of Vatican

• Close to Count Enrico Galeazzi

• Supported Corporate State

• Fascist Approach

• Kennedy Plan for Jews

• Usurped plan & efforts by others

Q: Did Kennedy collaborate with isolationists Ford & Lindbergh?

A:

• Staunchly isolationist

• Fed senators, congressmen enormous amount of info

• Did not work with Ford so much

• Close to Lindbergh

• Commissioned Lindbergh for arms study

• Pressured Hollywood producers to stop anti-Nazi stand

Q: Did Kennedy have political ambitions?

A:

• Ambition to build political dynasty

• Why not me first?

• Created image of international expert

• Events in Europe caught up with him

Q: Joe Kennedy & the Kennedy Kids:

A:

• Joe Jr. was like his father

• Chip off the old block

• Jack was the reader

• Jack understood history

• Joe Kennedy took advice from young Jack

• Allure of the Kennedys

Q: What is Joe Kennedy’s Legacy?

A:

• Legacy was his kids

• Helped put together JFK’s cabinet

• Placed RFK as Attorney General

• Kids shaped American politics