The Return of the Kennedys, the Successors of Camelot

Caroline Kennedy is the new ambassador to Japan; since January, Joseph P. Kennedy III has been a member of Congress. The American left wing is hoping for the restoration of the famous family of politicians. The family’s political end was announced in 2009. First, Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy died. Then, his son Patrick, the last member of the dynasty on Capitol Hill, declared he was not running for re-election to the House of Representatives. It was the finale of a dark decade for the Kennedys. Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy II resigned from politics 10 years earlier and a few months later, John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr., the son of the former president, died in an airplane crash. Liberal-left Americans had been hoping that handsome lawyer and publisher would “pass the torch to a new generation,” as his father would say. The numerous clan of Irish descent disappeared from politics for years.

But the torch is burning again. At the end of July, JFK’s only daughter, Caroline, was appointed the American ambassador to Japan. She is not specialized in this country; she never worked in diplomacy, not even in the government. She is a lawyer who spent her life writing books, raising children, supporting charity and, most of all, cherishing her father’s legacy.

JFK’s Daughter

The nomination is a reward from Barack Obama for helping him become president. During his campaign in 2008, when the entire Democratic establishment supported Hillary Clinton’s nomination for the White House race, together with her uncle Ted Kennedy, the ambassador was one of the first individuals in the party to voice support for Obama.

The new president wanted to pay his dues somehow and soon there was a chance to turn this celebrity, the daughter of a famous politician, into a political star. After Hillary Clinton was appointed secretary of state, her seat in the Senate remained vacant. Obama and his team supported Caroline’s candidacy from the very beginning. She seemed to be the favorite, but in the end she didn’t succeed. In her interviews with the press she was incoherent; some would spitefully compare her to Sarah Palin. She would avoid answering questions, especially those related to her fortune.

She backed out under pressure of her critics. Obama tried then to make her the ambassador to the Vatican, but the church implied that she wouldn’t be welcome because of her pro-choice stances.

But it was worth the wait. An appointment as ambassador to Japan is a huge distinction; Tokyo remains one of the most important posts. Prominent politicians have been sent there so far, including former Vice President Walter Mondale and former Speaker of the House Tom Foley. And relations with Japan might be facing a tough phase due to their increasing nationalism and strained relations with China.

As a daughter of JFK, Caroline is famous in Japan, where all American celebrities are cherished. Her father was well-remembered: After becoming president he ended a crisis between both countries that started in 1960 after placing the American base on Okinawa. The Japanese can be sure that through Caroline, they get direct access to Obama, which was not always possible for other ambassadors. She should manage there, especially since she is tactful and well-mannered, which is necessary in diplomacy. But what then? Will she pass the torch of the Kennedys to the 21st century, especially considering that she is already 55 years old?

One that has more time to fulfill this vision is surely 32-year-old Joe P. Kennedy III, the grandson of Robert Kennedy. The freshly elected congressman looks all like his predecessors: He has this charming smile and a famous Kennedy jaw. The only difference is his red hair. He studied engineering at Stanford University and graduated from Harvard Law School, where he worked for the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, providing legal aid to low-income tenants with foreclosure cases in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. Earlier he joined Peace Corps to serve in the Dominican Republic and East Timor, which helped him to polish his Spanish — a language that is becoming more and more important in DC.

Joe P. Kennedy III did not speak much in his campaign; he preferred to listen to what the voters had to say. In the House of Representatives he became a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee as well as Science, Space and Technology Committee, accordingly with his education and experience in third world issues. He seems to want people to forget about his heritage: He doesn’t like speaking about it, which is why he missed the annual ceremony for Human Rights Awards that was funded to honor his grandfather Robert. However, his attempts at downplaying his family roots will fail, as no one will ever forget this magic name.

Handsome and Charismatic

For some, the name was a pass to the power; for others, a curse. But it would always guarantee an interesting life. JFK’s father, Joseph Patrick Kennedy, was once the American ambassador to the United Kingdom. He also admired Hitler and was one of the leaders of the American isolationist movement. He dreamed of a huge political career for his oldest son, Joseph (“Joe”) Patrick, but he died during the war as a bomber pilot. His father’s hopes were passed on to the second son — JFK, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, also known as Jack. His dad’s money helped him to get into the House of Representatives and the Senate and, in 1960, made it easier for him in the presidential election, when he beat Richard Nixon.

JFK, handsome and charismatic, with beautiful Jacqueline by his side, turned out to be a political giant. In the recent C-SPAN TV station survey, 65 historians called him one of the presidents with the best leadership qualities, putting him higher than Thomas Jefferson. More than 60 percent of Americans think that JFK was a “more than average” president.

His tragic death in Dallas in 1963 marked the beginning of a Kennedy curse, but it also created a legend — the nation called him the “king of Camelot” and a “knight of the Round Table.” The 1,000 days of his presidency are still remembered as one of the best times. Almost all presidential candidates try to follow his legacy and not only the Democrats like Bill Clinton: Ronald Reagan praised him too. And today, Republican ideologists emphasize the contrast between socialist Obama and JFK, who wanted to decrease taxes.

However, realists claim that JFK was created by the media. He took part in the first live television presidential debate. This changed the rules of the game very quickly — the image started to dominate the content of the arguments. Simultaneously, the media remained very discreet on Jack’s sexual adventures, including those with the women of the mafia. But the oratorical fireworks such as “ask not what your country can do for you …” were not created by the media; they became an inspiration for millions of Americans.

After JFK’s assassination, the torch was passed on to his younger brother, Robert Francis Kennedy, the former attorney general who declared war on the mafia. In 1964 he became a New York senator; four days later, he joined the White House race. He was tough but seemed delicate, which made him so popular among racial minorities and the poor. He was worshiped to an almost religious level. During the campaign, the voters would crowd around just to touch him. He had the presidential nomination all but guaranteed, but then the curse hit him on June 6, 1968 in Los Angeles, where he was shot by an immigrant, Sirhan Sirhan. Even though the motive was allegedly RFK’s support for Israel, conspiracy theorists claim that Sirhan was hypnotized to become an instrument in someone else’s hands.

After losing another brother, the youngest of the Kennedy brothers, Ted, wanted to withdraw from politics, but stayed in the Senate. At the end of the ‘60s, he was the Democrats’ favorite to run for president. He was supposed reunite a party torn by differences over the Vietnam War. But on July 22, 1969, it was reported that Ted was driving a car on Chappaquidick Island, Massachusetts that ended up in the river, killing his female assistant. Kennedy reported himself to the police many hours later, which made people suspect he was driving under the influence of alcohol. His White House dreams were gone.

Ted was hoping that Americans would forget the Chappaquidick incident, and in 1979 he ran for the nomination against Jimmy Carter, who was fighting for re-election. He lost and the breach he caused in the party contributed to Carter’s defeat to Reagan. Ted Kennedy decided to focus on his work for the Senate; he was known for being a firm supporter of the liberal program of the Democrats, who were moving toward the center. He was respected and nicknamed the “Senate’s liberal conscience.” In 2009 he died with the glory of a statesman faithful to his mission.

The Curse of the Kennedys

Ted’s star shines in the background of the younger Kennedy generation. Its members would bring disappointment to the family. William Kennedy Smith, the son of one of Joseph Kennedy’s daughters, was accused of rape after an alcohol-filled party in Palm Beach, Fla., although he was cleared of the charges eventually. Michael Skakel, the nephew of Robert’s wife Ethel Kennedy, killed his girlfriend when he was 15 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. One of Robert’s sons, David A. Kennedy, was a drug addict and died of an overdose. Michael Kennedy, the other son, killed himself while skiing.

A curse? Critics claim that the series of tragedies which befell the Kennedys is not “the revenge of the gods” for their massive fortune, but a punishment for their iniquity. The Kennedy family is spoiled by money and benefits. They can get away with the misdeeds that others can’t, their enemies say.

The new generation, Caroline and Joe P. Kennedy III, do not fit the stereotypes — so far. They haven’t given anything to tabloid journalists to report about. They were hard working students staying away from parties and drugs. JFK’s daughter is famous for avoiding the media, protecting her privacy as taught by her mother. She was raised to respect literature and art. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis took her daughter to an apprenticeship at Sotheby’s, London’s auction house; only a miracle saved her from death when the IRA assassinated the member of parliament who hosted her. Now, she feels most comfortable at home with her books and the company of her husband, designer Edward Schlossberg.

Joe seems similar. He is quiet, ostentatiously modest and shy. He doesn’t drink alcohol. He was the only member of his lacrosse team who didn’t drink; he would drink milk not beer after game. When in January he arrived for the first meeting of Congress, he got lost in the maze of elevators and rooms on Capitol Hill. His absent-mindedness gives him charm and makes people like him. But as everyone says, to get on top, he has to prove that he deserves it. The Kennedy cult can realize the hidden American longing for the royal family — but America is not a monarchy.