The Kennedy Men

by Laurence Leamer

  154 Roosevelt had alerted: This account of the meeting is based on Joseph P. Kennedy’s diary, JPKP, HTF, pp. 480-82; Krock’s memo of the meeting, KP; and TR p. 274.

  155 According to Roosevelt’s: KR, p. 218

  155 “then he would support”: ibid., p. 221.

  155 “his father’s greatest …”: FBI director, February 23, 1942, FBIFOI.

  156 “self-success”: Torbert Macdonald to John F. Kennedy, n.d., JFKPP.

  156 “In my years …”: JPKP, HTF, pp 482-89, RWP.

  156 “There was that radio …”: interview, Henry Luce, RWP.

  157 “more brains than …”: Boston Globe, November 10, 1940.

  10. Child of Fortune, Child of Fate

  158 “seemed to …”: Searls, p. 156.

  159 “Still can’t get used …”: John F. Kennedy to Lem Billings, October 4, 1940, JFKPP.

  159 “Because of his back …”: WNJ, p. 149.

  159 “I’m not interested …”: Hamilton, p. 358.

  160 “I think Jack knew …”: interview, Harriet Price, BP.

  160 Jack was chosen: Stanford Daily, October 18, 1940.

  160 “This draft has caused …”: John F. Kennedy to Lem Billings, November 14, 1940, JFKPP.

  160 “When I hear these …”: Joseph P. Kennedy to John F. Kennedy, September 10, 1940, JFKPP.

  160 “I think his father …”: quoted in Hamilton, p. 351.

  161 “WHEN WILL OUTLINE…”: Joseph P. Kennedy to John F. Kennedy, December 5, 1940, JFKPP.

  161 “I have seen the English stand …”: John F. Kennedy to Joseph P. Kennedy, December 6, 1940, JFKPP.

  161 “The danger of our …”: John F. Kennedy to Joseph P. Kennedy, “Flying the Mainliner,” n.d., JFKPP.

  162 “As I remember …”: John F. Kennedy to Harriet Price, read in interview, BP.

  162 “I think in that…”: quoted in RKHT, p. 43.

  163 “a personal favor…”: Joseph P. Kennedy to Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., March 17, 1941, ASP.

  163 private flying lessons: LL interview with Benedict Fitzgerald.

  163 “Year after year …”: Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, “We Want to Remember His Life, Nor Relive His Death,” Parade, June 30, 1988.

  164 “Remember, too …”: Rose Kennedy to Robert F. Kennedy, January 12, 1942, ASP.

  164 Bobby began to tremble: LL interview with Pierce Kearney.

  165 Rose sent Teddy to join: RKHT, p. 34.

  165 arrived in short pants: interview, Pierce Kearney, KP.

  165 ten in all: TEEK, p. 38.

  165 “That was hard to take …”: LL interview with Edward Kennedy.

  165 “You’ll just have to…”: RKHT, p. 31.

  165 “I had been …”: LL interview with Edward Kennedy.

  166 “she’d read a Peter …”: ibid.

  166 “The house for us …”: ibid.

  166 “Teddy went outside …”: interview, Rose Kennedy, RCP.

  167 “I saw a man and …”: LL interview with Joseph Gargan.

  167 “I don’t know…”: John F. Kennedy to Cam Newberry, July 8, 1941, NHP.

  167-68 “The boy has taken …”: A. G. Kirk to Captain C. W. Carr, Chelsea Naval Hospital, March 24, 1941, BP.

  168 “I just had …”: interview, Edward Kennedy, RCP.

  169 “Mr. Kennedy was so afraid…”: LL interview with Luella Hennessey Donovan.

  169 In 1941: Elliot S. Valenstein, ed., The Psychosurgery Debate: Scientific, Legal, and Ethical Perspectives (1980), p. 25.

  169 the medical kings of lobotomy: ibid., p. 22.

  169 They had performed: see Walter Freeman, M.D., and James W. Watts, M.D., Psychosurgery: Intelligence, Emotion, and Social Behavior Following Prefrontal Lobotomy for Mental Disorders (1942).

  170 Over half a century: This author was in a nearly empty restaurant in Nashville, the Pancake Palace, one afternoon in 1998. The only other customers were an elderly woman and a middle-aged woman in the next booth. The author overheard the older woman telling her daughter in mesmerizing detail about Rosemary Kennedy’s lobotomy and how guilty she still felt. When the author introduced himself to the women, they were at first startled and worried that they had been followed. But when they understood, the elderly woman told her story in detail.

  170 Rosemary was shipped away: According to the institution’s records, Rosemary Kennedy did not arrive at her current home at what was then called the St. Coletta School for Exceptional Children in Jefferson, Wisconsin, until July 1949. Until then, according to Luella Hennessey Donovan, she was kept at Craig House. Rosemary’s sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, says that she has no recollection of where Rosemary was kept.

  171 “the Navy Department…”: Rose Kennedy to “Dear Children,” February 2, 1942, JFKPL.

  171 “I am sorry Gunther’s …”: Rose Kennedy to “My Darlings,” December 5, 1941, JFKPL.

  171 “There is nothing comparable …”: AWRJ, p. 35.

  172 put in his hours: interview, S. A. D. Hunter, BP.

  172 “He’s coming …”: Inga Arvad, unpublished memoir, NHP.

  172 “the Royal Theatre…”: Inga Arvad to John F. Kennedy, January 20, 1942, NHP.

  173 “To an indefinite …”: In the late 1990s the photo was in the possession of a collector, Ben Swearingen. Robert White showed the author a copy of the photo.

  173 “the conversation slid …”: FBI report, November 16, 1940, FBIFOI.

  173 “lost control of myself…”: W. H. Welch, FBI report, May 6, 1942, FBIFOI.

  174 “a skirt chaser”: interview, Ronald McCoy, BP.

  174 “I’ve got another …”: interview, Frank Waldrop, BP.

  174 under FBI surveillance: FBI laboratory report, February 13, 1942, FBIFOI.

  174 “He can help me …”: W. H. Welch, FBI report, May 6, 1942, FBIFOI.

  174 “We’ve got ten …”: interview, Ronald McCoy, BP.

  174 “I think he was …”: LL interview with Betty Coxe Spalding.

  175 “She said that he began …”: LL interview with John White.

  175 FBI inventoried her possessions: inventory of Inga Arvad possessions, n.d., FBIFOI.

  175 “more possibilities than”: D. M. Ladd to Mr. Kramp, January 9, 1942, FBIFOI.

  176 Instead, Jack took what he: LL interview with John White.

  176 “One of ex-Ambassador …”: quoted in Hamilton, p. 438.

  176 “He is full of enthusiasm …”: Inga Arvad to John F. Kennedy, January 26, 1942, JFKPP.

  177 “You are going away”: Inga Arvad to John F. Kennedy, n.d., NHP.

  177 “Maybe your gravest”: Inga Arvad to John F. Kennedy, Wednesday (by textual analysis, probably dated January 28, 1942), JFKPL.

  177 “stinking New Dealism”: memo FBI director, “Re: Mrs. Paul Fejos, Espionage,” February 1, 1942, FBIFOI.

  177 “stinks of defeat”: John F. Kennedy to Ralph Horton, n.d. (early 1942?), 1992, JFKPL.

  177 “may call for us …”: ibid.

  178 “all around us…”: John F. Kennedy to Lem Billings, February 12, 1942, JFKPL.

  178 “Washington is begginning [sic]”: John F. Kennedy to Rip Horton, n.d., NHP.

  178 talked to the Church: FBI memo, February 17, 1942, FBIFOI.

  179 “go to bed with him”: FBI ARV translation, February 24, 1942, FBIFOI.

  179 “If I were but…”: Inga Arvad to John F. Kennedy, March 11, 1942, JFKPP.

  179 “If you feel anything …”: ibid.

  180 “For God’s sake!”: Hamilton, p. 488.

  180 “could be of real…”: Franklin Roosevelt to Joseph P. Kennedy, March 7, 1942, RL.

  180 He also had: James Landis to Joseph P. Kennedy, March 10, 1942, Landers Papers, LC.

  180 “just be a hindrance…”: Joseph P. Kennedy to Franklin Roosevelt, March 12, 1942, RL.

  180 “unknown reliability”: J. Edgar Hoover to Edwin M. Watson, April 20, 1942, FBIFOI.

  181 “In the moving picture …”: Joseph P. Kennedy, special service contact, Boston fi
eld office, October 11, 1945, FBIFOI.

  181 “When I saw Mr. Roosevelt…”: Joseph P. Kennedy to Lord Beaverbrook, August 12, 1942, Beaverbrook papers, KP.

  181 “He has become disgusted…”: Joseph P. Kennedy to Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., June 20, 1942, JFKPL.

  181 “limping monkey …”: ARV summary, July 24, 1942, FBIFOI.

  182 an eighty-foot armed vessel: Dick Keresey, “Farthest Forward,” American Heritage, July-August 1998.

  183 “I swear to God …”: Torbert Macdonald to John F. Kennedy, June 20, 1942, JFKPP.

  183 “going into the Quartermaster Corps”: Hamilton, p. 512.

  183 “It was wintertime …”: LL interview with Holton Wood.

  11. A Brothers’ War

  185 told a new friend: interview, James Reed, BP.

  185 his favorite book: interview, John F. Kennedy, JMBP.

  185 “For the chosen few …”: John Buchan, Pilgrim’s Way: An Essay in Recollection (1940), p. 50.

  186 “We made fun …”: Ted Guthrie to John F. Kennedy, October 3, 1961, David Powers papers, JFKPL.

  186 “I was only…”: ibid.

  186 “He suddenly threw …”: John F. Kennedy to Lem Billings, May 6, 1943, JFKPP.

  186 “lackadaisical way …”: John F. Kennedy to “Dear Dad & Mother,” May 14, 1943, JFKPP.

  187 Jack willed himself: interview, John lies, BP.

  187 refusing to sign in: interview, Catherine Holway Kelley, BP.

  187 That spring weekend Chuck Spalding: LL interview with Chuck Spalding.

  187 “he will want to be back…”: John F. Kennedy to “Dear Dad and Mother,” May 14, 1943, JFKPL.

  187 earning himself the nickname: interview, Charles Albert Harris, BP.

  187 On the night of August 1, 1943: This account of the sinking of PT-109 is based primarily on interviews with the survivors conducted by Joan and Clay Blair Jr., BP; see also John Hersey, “Survival,” New Yorker, June 17, 1944.

  188 looked like a fishing bobber: interview, George Ross, BP.

  190 He stopped swimming: Hersey, “Survival.”

  190 NAURO ISL NATIVE KNOWS POSIT: Robert J. Donovan, PT-109: John F. Kennedy in World War II (1961), p. 179.

  190 suffering from fatigue: Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Navy Medical Records, August 9, 1943, JFKPL.

  191 “I can say in all honesty …”: LL interview with Bryant Larson.

  191 “There is no doubt…”: Deputy Commander, South Pacific Force, to Vice Admiral R. S. Edwards, “Subject: Lieutenant (j.g.) Jack Kennedy, Commanding Officer, PT-109,” January 11, 1944, DPP.

  191 “Our reaction …”: interview, George Ross, BP.

  191 “He was furious!”: interview, John lies, BP.

  191 “Americans can never …”: John F. Kennedy to Inga Arvad, draft letter, RWC. Kennedy edited this phrase in his own hand and dropped it from the final letter.

  192 “I received a letter …”: John F. Kennedy to Inga Arvad, September 26, 1943, NHP.

  192 “A number of my illusions…”: ibid., n.d., NHP.

  192 “Munda or any …”: ibid.

  193 “He never really…”: John F. Kennedy to “Dear Mother and Dad,” received September 12, 1943, JFKPL.

  193 “I used to have …”: John F. Kennedy to Inga Arvad, n.d., NHP.

  193 “You said that…”: ibid, and RWC.

  194 “Previous to that…” John F. Kennedy to “Dear Mother and Dad,” received September 12, 1943, JFKPL.

  194 “When I read …”: ibid.

  195 “pride in …”: quoted in Doris Kearns Goodwin, p. 647.

  195 “Jack, you know…”: Rose Kennedy to the family, October 9, 1942, JFKPL.

  195 “When I returned home …”: Joseph P. Kennedy to Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., August 31, 1943, JFKPP.

  196 “With the great quantity…”: Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. to “Dear Family,” August 29, 1943. JFKPP.

  196 sinking a ship and a half a day: information available at: Uboat.net/allies/ documents/usaaf.

  196 “In their long brotherly …”: TR, p. 285.

  196 almost started to cry: Doris Kearns Goodwin p. 623.

  197 Joe Jr. snuck him onto: Searls, p. 196.

  197 He talked about: LL interview with Mark Soden.

  197 “He had a special…”: ibid.

  197 “Joe was what…”: LL interview with Robert Duffy.

  198 “They really don’t…”: Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. to “Dear Family,” August 29, 1943, JFKPP.

  198 “In my talks…”: John Daly made these comments in his original statements for As We Remember Joe, the memorial tribute edited by John F. Kennedy. They were edited out of the final document. JFK personal correspondence, 1933-50, JFKPP.

  198 five trips cross-country: Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. to “Dear Family,” August 29, 1943, JFKPP.

  198 Judge John Burns stood: Doris Kearns Goodwin, p. 663.

  199 “To Ambassador …”: Searls, pp. 202-3.

  199 seven schools: RKHT, p. 42.

  199 arrived in a checked coat: LL interview with David Hackett; and David Hackett, KLOH.

  199 Bobby invited friends: LL interview with Sam Adams.

  200 “I played …”: quoted in RKHT, p. 46.

  200 “the opportunity to meet…”: Joseph P. Kennedy to Robert Kennedy, October 14, 1942, JPKP, HTF, pp. 549-50.

  201 “if this friend of mine …”: Robert F. Kennedy to David Hackett, April 3, 1944, ASP.

  201 “He would turn away …”: LL interview with Sam Adams.

  201 “This boy will…”: “Norton Says,” newspaper clipping, September 10, 1943, KP.

  201 Sam had a splendidly: LL interview with Sam Adams.

  201 Bobby’s sister Jean felt: interview, Jean Kennedy Smith, ASP.

  201 “Of course they were …”: Robert F. Kennedy to Dave Hackett, January 1945, ASP.

  202 “I was paddled fifteen …”: interview, Edward Kennedy, RCP.

  202 One night at Fessenden: LL interview with Dan Burns.

  202 “Your youngest brother…”: Joseph P. Kennedy to Kathleen Kennedy, January 17, 1944, JFKPL.

  202 “I succeed in dispersing …”: Searls, p. 204.

  204 “During the winter months …”: Squadron diary, JFKPL.

  206 “the wind …”: Searls, pp. 221-22.

  206 “My love life is still…”: Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. to “Mother and Dad,” January 31, 1944, JFKPL.

  206 “Several people have …”: Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. to “Mother and Dad,” February 19, 1944, JFKPL.

  206 “What you gonna …”: LL interview with Robert Duffy.

  206 he confided: LL interview with Lynn McTaggart; and Lynne McTaggart, Kathleen Kennedy: Her Life and Times (1983), p. 146.

  207 “I’ll still take …”: New York Sun, dispatch dated May 1, 1944.

  208 “I wonder if the next…”: quoted in Doris Kearns Goodwin, p. 676.

  208 “entitled to the …”: Joseph P. Kennedy to Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., February 21, 1944, JFKPL.

  208 “let all the rest…”: Doris Kearns Goodwin, p. 676.

  209 “Never did anyone …”: AWRJ, p. 54.

  209 “HEARTBROKEN. FEEL …”: quoted in Doris Kearns Goodwin, p. 677.

  209 “I have finished …”: Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. to “Dear Mother and Dad,” May 8, 1944, JFKPL.

  210 On his last mission: Searls, p. 237.

  210 “He seems to be …”: Joseph P. Kennedy to Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., July 19, 1944, JFKPL.

  210 “I think at this point…”: Robert F. Kennedy to Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., n.d., ASP.

  211 “pride—his sense of…”: miscellaneous JFK correspondence, n.d., JFKPL.

  212 “the whole squadron …”: Joseph P. Kennedy Jr, to John F. Kennedy, August 12, 1944, JFKPL.

  213 Timilty thought: interview, Joseph Timilty, BP.

  213 “He … is obviously…”: “Special Examination and Treatment Request,” August 4, 1944, U.S. Navy Medical Records, JFKPL.

  214 As Jack lay: interviews, Leonard a
nd Kate Thorn, BP.

  214 On the evening before: Jack Olsen, Aphrodite: Desperate Mission (1970), p. 223.

  214 Late that afternoon: Searls, pp. 265-66.

  12. A New Generation Offers a Leader

  219 “Children, your brother …”: AWRJ, p. 207.

  220 When Joe called: LL interview with Mary Lou McCarthy.

  220 “Joe’s death has…”: Joseph P. Kennedy to James Forrestal, September 5, 1944, Mudd Manuscript Library, Princeton University.

  220 “It came at a time …”: interview, John F. Kennedy, JMBP.

  220 “enjoyed great health”: AWRJ, p. 5.

  221 “You are the …”: Mike Grace to John F. Kennedy, n.d., JFKPL.

  221 “the best ones…”: Mrs. John S. Pillsbury to John F. Kennedy, August 16, 1944, JFKPL.

  221 “a completeness to …”: AWRJ, p. 5.

  221 “There must be …”: Harriet Price to John F. Kennedy, n.d., JFKPL.

  221 “You will have some…”: Barbara Ellen Spencer to John F. Kennedy, August 15, 1944, JFKPL.

  221 “natural cynicism”: Joseph P. Kennedy to Lord Beaverbrook, October 23, 1944, NHP.

  222 “Who’d you ever …”: interview, Joe Kane, KP.

  222 “the Hopkins…”: diary notes on the 1944 political campaign, HTF, p. 608

  222 “felt that Roosevelt”: HTF, p. 608.

  222 “The people one …”: Kathleen Kennedy to “Dearest Family,” September 15, 1946, RFK papers, JFKPL.

  223 “Colitis chronic”: JFK medical record, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, U.S. Navy Department, December 15, 1944, JFKPL.

  223 “Sometime in the …”: John F. Kennedy to Red Fay, November 21, 1944, PFP.

  223 “yellow as saffron …”: interview, J. Patrick Lannan, BP.

  223 “It just seems …”: Kathleen Kennedy to John F. Kennedy, October 31, 1944, JFKPL.

  223 patterned in part: interview, John F. Kennedy, JMBP.

  223 “I am returning…”: John F. Kennedy to Lem Billings, February 20, 1945, JFKPL.

  224 “Oh, you mean …”: interview, J. Patrick Lannan, BP.

  224 “Frankly, don’t think…”: Joseph P. Kennedy to Red Fay, March 26, 1945, PFP.

  224 “Everyone evidently …”: Robert Kennedy to John F. Kennedy, envelope dated January 1, 1945, JFKPL.

  224 “Anyways their…”: John F. Kennedy to Lem Billings, February 20, 1945, JFKPL.