The First Kennedys by Neal Thompson
This is the first book to investigate the remarkable tale of the destitute Irish refugee couple who fled famine, built a life together in a city hostile to Irish, immigrants, and Catholics, and started the Kennedy dynasty in America. It is based on genealogical discoveries and previously unreleased archives.
As JFK used his working-class roots to connect with blue-collar voters, the Kennedys’ original political persona was distinguished by their Irish ancestry. Instead of being the descendants of impoverished immigrants, this famous American family is now remembered as the forerunner of money, power, and luxury. Finally, Patrick and Bridget Kennedy, the first American Kennedys, are introduced to us. They arrived after the Great Famine like many other thousands of people, hungry and penniless.
The First Kennedys by Neal Thompson
18 used from $20.12
Free shipping
Amazon.com
Less than ten years after their Boston wedding, Patrick passed away unexpectedly, leaving Bridget to care for their children by herself. Despite widespread poverty and discrimination, she overcame these obstacles to go from housemaid to shop owner, preserving her family and enabling her only son, P.J., to succeed as a bar owner and businessman. The first of many, P.J. went on to become the first American Kennedy elected to public office.
The First Kennedys is a story of sacrifice and survival, resistance and reinvention that is uniquely American. It was written by the grandson of an Irish immigrant couple and is based on the first access to P.J. Kennedy’s personal files.
PJ Kennedy embodied everything that was Irish. As the son of immigrants, he developed into a prosperous and compassionate businessman who looks out for the Irish immigrants that live in Boston. In contrast to his erratic and haughty son, Joseph P. Kennedy, he showed compassion for his constituents who were victimized and unlucky.
Even Joe Kennedy’s funeral couldn’t be attended. He was overly preoccupied with starlets and movie production.
With their history in politics, Hyannis Port, and public service, it can be difficult to imagine the Kennedy family outside of their luxury. Nevertheless, Neal Thompson’s most recent book gives us fresh access to this first family. The author of THE FIRST KENNEDYS searches back through the Kennedy line to uncover the matriarch, a heroine who is fully formed with Irish determinism as an immigrant long before the wealthy dynasty was born. This is an astounding triumph of journalism and genealogy.
In this work, Thompson brilliantly creates a character for the beloved city of Boston, a city now populated by Irish Americans, green pride, and boisterous tales from the Emerald Isle, but Thompson’s work also serves to remind us of the Boston that was once a Puritan stronghold, cruel in its sentiment toward immigrants, especially the Irish. This book investigates the modest beginnings of the family that is commonly considered American royalty and holds up a mirror to modern discourse. It is set against more recent, contentious arguments about immigration and belonging.
When asked about his Irish heritage, Joe Kennedy was famous for saying, “We’re American now,” but the truth is more complicated. Plenty more. By removing a layer and bringing Bridget’s narrative to life with his assured and beautiful language, Thompson has been successful in doing so. This book will appeal to anybody interested in ancestry, the “American Dream,” the Kennedy mystique, or the “Kennedy Curse,” among other things. The most significant lesson from this book is that strong women are the protagonists of all of our stories.
