The Larger Imagination of a "Dsspoiler of Women"

Steyn Online ^ | 29 May 217 | Mark Steyn

[Rummyfan]

We mark the centenary of John F Kennedy's birth at SteynOnline with a song central to his widow's instant mythologizing of her slain husband. But that focuses on the end of his short life, and I felt, on his hundredth birthday, I ought to say something about the pre-mythological Jack, the Kennedy of those formative years.

I've met a handful of Kennedys in the course of my life, including, briefly, JFK Jr, and in no instance have I ever felt the slightest desire to prolong the acquaintance. All gave off a more than faintly obnoxious sense of entitlement, unredeemed - as it was by, say, Jack's in-laws, the Devonshires - by any sense of noblesse oblige. I wonder if I would have felt differently had I met young JFK during his progress from Brookline to Choate to the US Embassy in London and then to PT109 out in the Pacific. His favorite book is also one of mine, John Buchan's wonderfully evocative and illuminating memoir Memory Hold-the-Door. A bit of posthumous non-fiction by a Scots novelist, colonial servant and Canadian Governor General doesn't seem a book you'd choose unless you meant it - not like Al Gore claiming his all-time favorite tome is Stendhal's Le Rouge et Le Noir. Yeah, right. All those ghastly Camelot courtiers got to know Buchan, too, because he was forever quoting it to them, so they wound up reading it just so they could suck up by quoting it back at him. It's a good book for a man in young Jack's position: Buchan assumes that with the privilege of a comfortable upbringing and good education comes duty.

[Rummyfan]

Jack had never bothered to vote in a Democrat primary until his own in 1946. Dad was unimpressed. "With the money I spent", Joe Kennedy sneered afterwards, "I could have elected my chauffeur."

[Pollster1]

I’ve met several Kennedys also. Teddy was the worst of the bunch, but there are none I would choose for elective office over a random selection from the general population. As for JFK, all I see in him is that same as what I see in Barack Hussein - a slick image polished by professionals but one that has no connection to reality.

[marktwain]

Steyn does an excellent job.

Surprisingly, I dislike JFK less after this article, and his family, more.

[pabianice]

Lest one forget that Joe, Sr., was a rabid anti-semite.

[PlateOfShrimp]

Me too. Maybe I am swayed by myth, but JFK seemed to be sort of a “strawberry rat tart without so much rat” compared to the rest of them.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

I used to know a woman who worked in the office that managed the Kennedy kids’ trust fund (or at least one of them). Sometimes the kids — Joe, RFK Jr., William Kennedy Smith, Caroline — would come into the office to get a check or do something else related to the trust. She said they were the most arrogant and obnoxious people. The office staff shuddered when they knew they were coming.

[kalee]

Hopefully the electorate will not fall for the Kennedy myth again and elect one to national office.

[yarddog]

There was an hour long show on TV about JFK. I think it was actually an old show and the host was Hugh Sidey of Time Magazine.

I could tell he liked JFK but he did not shy away from criticizing him either. He especially thought Kennedy disrespected his marriage and the nation with his sexual immorality.

[Stormdog]

“Hopefully the electorate will not fall for the Kennedy myth again and elect one to national office.”

Unfortunately, here in the People’s Republic of Massachusetts, we have one Congressman Joseph Kennedy III representing the 4th district.

His rise to power has been carefully orchestrated. In reality, he’s done nothing of note. Of course the dolts in the District elected him because of his lineage.

It is readily apparent to anyone willing to look, that he’s being groomed for a senate run.

He is, at least publicly, less offensive than the fake Indian, Elizabeth Warren or Mr. Softee, Red Ted Markey.

If, by chance, he doesn’t participate in the family tradition of homicide, rape or a rehab stint, young Joe III will in all likelihood represent this glowing state in the US Senate.

[miss marmelstein]

This is so typical of children of famous, accomplished people. I once had to deal with Tony Bennett’s daughter...awful.

[jmacusa]

They didn’t shoot enough of the Kennedys.

[AZLiberty]

“Misogynist” is the Democrat Party’s middle name, right before “Slave Holders”, and right after “Communist”.

[Freedumb]

Unfortunately there is a good chance Illinois will elect one as Governor next year. Nothing is for sure and it’s a crowded Democratic primary but if I had to bet on which one crawls out of the Rat primary next spring as the candidate it’s Bobby’s boy.