Welcome back as we continue our story about our next potential holy donor, John F. Kennedy. We return to JFK’s story as he (Jack) is getting ready to go to college and as his father, Joe Sr., is entering politics with the help of President Roosevelt. Joe Sr. still very much believes power is found in government leadership, and he continues to encourage a political future for his children, especially Joe Jr.
Jack follows in his father’s and older brother’s footsteps and goes to Harvard, still physically unwell, and trying unsuccessfully to be a college athlete. When Joe Sr. becomes US ambassador to Great Britain, JFK heads to London with him for a summer, and he travels Europe, observing pre-WW2 conditions. When World War II begins, Joe Sr. pulls some strings to allow Jack to enlist in the Navy despite his physical ailments. Jack successfully leads his patrol torpedo boat crew to survival after their boat is destroyed at sea, yet his naval service worsens his health, and he returns home to pain and surgery.
As Jack settles in back home, the family gets news of Joe Jr.’s death in a plane explosion. Upon losing his oldest son, Joe Sr. turns his dreams of political leadership to Jack, and he clearly finds success. Join us next week as we learn how Jack becomes our nation’s first Catholic president!
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Recommended reading:
"Jack: A Life Like No Other" by Geoffrey Perret
"An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy" by Robert Dallek
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