Kennedy president ial library about political relationships between numbers of the roosevelt and kennedy families in particular the alliance between roseville and jfk. The Franklin D Roosevelt president ial library provided this video. Paul hello and welcome to another edition of at home with the roosevelts. I am paul sparrow, the director of the museum in hyde park, new york. Today we will talk about the relationship between two of the most important political families in American History during the 20th century, the roosevelts and kennedys. To assist me in this conversation i am joined by the , director of the jfk library. Thank you for joining me. This is one of the most interesting and complicated relationships, multigenerational relationships. Two families that are really dynasties in the way they impacted american political life. There is a component of this that a lot of people do not really understand. Not only was there a relationship between Franklin Roosevelt and Joseph Kennedy. Between Eleanor Roosevelt and but there was an incredible relationship john f. Kennedy. We will start with the relationship between Franklin Roosevelt and joe kennedy. Joseph kennedy made most of his money in the 1920s and the stock market. When Franklin Roosevelt, became president , appointed Joseph Kennedy as the head of the securities and Exchange Commission which as he said was putting the fox in charge of the henhouse. This created a relationship between the two of them, in which joe kennedy became a very close confident of fdr, ending up at the ambassador to the court of st. James. Do you want to talk about how he managed that posting in london right before the war . Alan it is an interesting time. I almost want to go back a tiny bit before that. As you can imagine when young , people are in the age where they are graduating from high school, whoever is the president in that moment, has a profound impact on them. And shapes their view of the presidency. Fdr is the president as jfk comes of age. And through is young adulthood. And i think much of his vision of what is leadership, and what is the nation is informed by fdr. So i think that is a big part of it. Through his father, joseph, and the posting at the court of st. James he has direct connection to what that service might look like. There is a moment when the german uboat sinks the first u. K. Ship. Jfk is asked by his father to look after the surviving u. S. Passengers and their families in that transition. He gets a little bit of responsibility in that moment. And so i think it informs his notion of Public Service. Ultimately he goes and signs up to go to war. He is finally accepted into the navy with his fathers help a little bit. To go to war under a president , the only president you have been conscious of as an adult, cannot help but impact your notion of what leadership is. Paul because john f. Kennedy was in england immediately prior to the war with his father as the master he wrote a book about , it. Alan in addition to being in england and from there touring into different parts of europe, he observes the lead up to world war ii. Some of that was intentional and in terms of his research for his thesis at harvard. He ultimately turns that into a book, why england slept. And i do not know that it pays all that much attention to his fathers role in that. But he looks at what is the to later, i think it informs his you of the cold war, and how do you respond . So it is an interesting time. Paul interestingly, that book, john kennedy gave a copy of it to Franklin Roosevelt. Jfk signed it and Franklin Roosevelt signed it. Siu have the fdr collection and that is one of our most precious possessions with the fdr and jfk signature. You may not know the story. It is one of my favorite anecdotes. In 1940, when kennedy came back from europe, he came to visit the fdr library that was under construction at the time. He left a gift for fdr. Note, a copy of the thank you note that fdr wrote to jfk. It is a scribbled note so it is a little bit hard to read. It appears to say thank you for the machine gun and goggles. Alan really . Paul everyone was can you like can you imagine john f. , kennedy dropping off a machine gun of the president s yard. What it said was marine gun. Actuallywhat it said was marine gun. It was a spear gun for fishing. Because he knew fdr left to go fishing and be in water. The goggles were swimming goggles. Alan oh. Paul we have never been able to find what happened to the spear gun or the goggles. It does go to the relationship the two families had, they were alan they were. There were a lot of interactions throughout the years. The continuing conversation between jfk and eleanor is also significant and jfks rise. Paul the period right before the u. S. Gets into the war, when Joseph Kennedy is the ambassador he starts siding with , germany. He is telling roosevelt and anyone who will listen that he does not think england will survive. He thinks America Needs to find a way to get peace with germany. This creates a real friction between him and the president. And also friction between him and his sons. Alan it is a good bit of friction. And as you can imagine, inside the Kennedy Family to go against , your father would have been a tough road. Paul Joseph Kennedy almost ran against fdr in 1940. It was not clear that fdr was going to run. Because it wasnt unprecedented third term. At that point kennedy felt he had something to offer, not to mention significant funds to support his candidacy. But fdr kept him in england just long enough to prevent him from running then brought him back and they parted ways and it eventually became nasty between the two of him. Fdr did serve long enough that a lot of people thought about running against him. Paul very true. When war broke out, john f. Kennedy joined the navy. Talk about how that experience influences presidency and his view of fdr and the commanderinchief. A lot of people recognize the exceptional circumstances of hit joining the navy. He overcame a lot of physical disabilities. He was disqualified for naval , which had gone back a long time and he had a number of other maladies. His father joked about him, that if a mosquito bit jfk the that the mosquito would die. That he seemed to be sick all the time with different maladies. But he did want to join the navy. Even though he was initially rejected. Or disqualified. He appealed to his father to intervene on his behalf. With a leadion naval person, the office of Naval Operations i believe it was, he was initially assigned to a desk job. President kennedy did not want a desk job, he wanted to go to the front and then he was given a pt boats in the pacific theater. All of those operations very certainly, much informed his sense of Public Service. And deepened his appreciation for democracy. He knew that democracy was under assault from a world that did not believe in the kind of freedom. He said even in his debates with candidate nixon in the famous televised debate. His address to the nation at that point is, can america live world live, half free and half slave . He referred to lincoln in that speech. Although lincoln was talking about a literal slavery democracy literal slavery to messick late and candidate was referring to lincoln was talking about a literal slavery domestically and kennedy was talking about the world. In large part it is grounded in his service in world war ii. Paul there was another incident during world war ii i think had enormous influence on john f. Kennedy. That was the death of his brother joseph. , he was quite a hero. Alan yes and according to the Family Dynamics of that time, his older brother was to be the one who went into politics. And jfk was the to play a supportive role. When his older brother passes away, unfortunately, in a bombing run in which the bombs , went off prematurely, his father, joseph, turned to him. It was now his turn to the the family into politics which was an interesting identity shift for him. Much of his younger life he gets away with being friendly and wellliked but not all that series a student and not all that serious a player in the world. It is only through seeing the war develop and then his last couple of years at harvard really focusing in his studies and his naval service. I think he becomes a much more serious person understanding how the world works. Paul when world war ii ends, fdr has died. He dies in april and the world changes. We enter into a new phase of this relationship between the kennedys and the roosevelts. Now the primary relationship is between Eleanor Roosevelt, who is arguably the most powerful woman in america, certainly one of the most powerful women in the world. And a major influence on the democratic party. And a major force within the democratic party. Their political careers start to intersect. It really happens when kennedy becomes a senator. Elinor has very different political views than he does. You want to talk about how that evolved . Alan sure. And you can correct me if im off on this. A big part of the early schism i thinka big part of the early schism revolved around senator mccarthy. And senator mccarthys relationship with the kennedys. Even when the senate votes to censure mccarthy and kennedy had a speech ready to support that censure. But he was in the hospital and unable to deliver that speech. I think because he was not able to publicly distance himself or mccarthy when others are, i think eleanor infers from that and the ongoing family relations between mccarthys and kennedys, that he may not be as strong a candidate and may not share the same values she shares. And i believe engages in some public criticism of kennedy as maybe not being the right candidate. , doesnnedy i think wisely not engage in a public battle with Eleanor Roosevelt. I think she would not win that battle. But privately he writes her and asks her to consider the fact, and be open to meeting with him. It is only in the in person conversations that his genuine curiosity and his willingness to learn and his patriotism come through to her in a way she can , support him. I can appreciate given what she but knew at the time and her greater familiarity with Adlai Stevenson why it was difficult for her to wrap her mind around kennedy. Paul and i think Bobby Kennedys role as one of the council to the Committee Mccarthy was leading certainly tarnish jfk in her eyes as well, guilt by association. There was no question she was in Adlai Stevenson supporter. Strong on civil rights. She was verystrong on civil rights. She did not feel the kennedys were Strong Enough supporting civil rights in the senate or later. I think she really held a grudge, to be honest. I love Eleanor Roosevelt but she could hold a grudge. Against his father, joe. Alan [laughter] paul she resented the fact that he had criticized fdr during the war. And yet supported germany over england. I think she never fully let go of that ask you like to grind. Ask axe she liked to grind. I do think it is a wonderful moment in their relationship. He comes here to visit her home. After that convention, when kennedy gets the democratic nomination, he knows he has to win her over. He goes to visit her. Alan we have some of those photos in our library as well. Yes, he has to go in person to meet with her. Again, she is enamored and a big capable candidate. She is worried not only about kennedys relationship with mccarthy, but his age and experience. She does not think he has a Strong Enough record to run on. It is only in person that he is and it is only in person he is able to convince her. I think that is true who kennedy was throughout his life. There is so much evidence of once people met him, he was the one voted most likely to succeed. He won people over. He had a smile that was completely disarming and charming. There is no amount of correspondence that will convey that it has to be done in , person. Paul Eleanor Roosevelt had some objections to jack kennedy, but she hated richard nixon. [laughter] picking one of those, that was an easy choice for her. One of my favorite letters she has ever written was the letter she wrote to jfk that day after the first televised debate between nixon and jfk. It is classic Eleanor Roosevelt. It is passiveaggressive, complimentscriticism. The tone of the letter is i was , watching the debate last night with some friends and although i thought you did very well, i thought i would share some of their comments with you. Alan [laughter] paul an interesting side note one of the people she was , watching the debate with was lloyd benson. Alan really . Paul many years later he made to dan quayle, i knew john kennedy. And youre are no john kennedy. She said he came across as too confident. And that he needed to include the audience more in his answers and i think you might agree with me. It is a classic letter. She campaigned for him quite vigorously. She did what she thought she needed to do for the democrats to win. She thought it was vitally important. She had had repeated runins with eisenhower and completely disagreed with his policies and felt it was important for a democrat to get in. She hoped to resurrect some of the new deal policies that she has supported so strongly when her husband was pregnant her husband was president. Once kennedy gets elected, the first thing he does is appoint Eleanor Roosevelt. Alan it is fascinating. Not just for that campaign but president ial campaigns writ large. It is always an interesting challenge kennedy is trying to , particularly when kennedy is trying to frame himself is standing up for a new generation. We have new ideas, a new energy. You are trying to be new, new, new. At the same time he knows full , well that if he does not win over the establishment he is , going nowhere. He has to get eleanors support. At the same time, creating this image of trying to get out young voters. I think that is fascinating. He had a really good sense of history. Some new ideas and energy. One of the things he gets from fdr is the important of innovation in leadership. Fdr did some really innovative things. Fdr said he would go off on a retreat and not talk to anybody and come back with this lend lease idea. That turns the war. I think president kennedy knew that you needed to take time to think about the bigger picture. And you needed to commit resources behind an idea or will not go anywhere. That is not just money but Political Capital and you have to build up that Political Capital first. He pays very close attention to those relationships, including, i was intrigued to learn that on our day of infamy, november 22, 1963, the assassination of president kennedy earlier that morning, he called to express birthday wishes to fdrs first vice president. I believe he was turning 95. You know a real student of , history and a person who really pays attention to relationships does those personal touches. In addition to being a good, largescale, retail politician. Those personal touches made a huge difference throughout his career. Im sure eleanor had no nance for john that garner. Paul she was not a huge fan. Despite all Eleanor Roosevelt experience and her years of work with the United Nations jfk puts , her on a commission on the status of women. Understanding that at this moment in time, this idea of the equality for women including including more women into the political establishment to stop some of the discrimination that was leveled against women in all industries. It is interesting he would appoint her in that role. It one to one of her passions. She had been for gender equality adult life. Her whole adult life. Alan i think it was a brilliant choice and eleanor did a great job with it. The subject came up repeatedly in his press conferences. Appointed asve many women to Senior Leadership roles as we would expect to see today. But the level to which he did involve women in his administration was somewhat of a breakthrough for his time, and certainly the appearance of women journalists in the press pools that he interacted with. And many of them called him to account for what are you going , to do to continue your Campaign Pledge on equal rights for women . Equal pay for women . Andequal pay for women . And equal roles . And all of that. I think by todays standards, he could have done more. But for those times i think he did some amazing things. Paul Eleanor Roosevelt dies in november, 1962. Jfk comes back to hyde park. Along with harry truman and every Major Political figure in america to pay his respects at her funeral. I think there is a true sincerity at that moment to the passage of this great woman in his acknowledgment of her role in the establishment of the democratic party. It is also an honor he felt she had earned. Alan i cant find words that accurately capture eleanor ce to the significan democratic party, the nation, and roosevelt ascension to the residency. She paves the way and influences so many people. Could not have fdr you support at that time, he was long gone. But eleanor is able to bridge that gap. Paul we will and with the thought that both of these men gavend fdr essentially their lives in duty to the country. In both cases, their death in office created a residence with the American People that has stayed with us. And i think there is something missing in todays politics. Both of these people truly believed in Public Service. They had been raised with the sense that they had a duty and responsibility to serve the American People. And they both did and very extraordinary ways. I think john f. Kennedys inaugural address remains one of the greatest speeches of all time. Alan i have to agree and i have to say fdr and the events of his time as president , shaped the nation, shaped that generation. In profound ways. President kennedy even nixon is , only three years older than kennedy. And later, president Herbert Walker bush is only six years older than kennedy. World war ii shapes them. And so many other kennedy sibling serve in the war either in the military or in civilian roles. I think president kennedy would have encouraged us, were he alive today, to always value Public Service and consider Public Service in its many forms as way to strengthen the nation and the world around us. Paul that is a great place to end todays conversation. Thank you for joining us. You do a great job up there. I hope you have a great year. Alan paul always great to talk. , i look forward to visiting hyde park again. Paul that is it for today. [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2020] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] youre watching American History tv, all we can every weekend, on cspan3. To 4, 1945, the United Nations came into being. That day has been United Nations state since. Next on reel america, for films about the u. N. 1945 tellsfrancisco the story of the creation of the International Body and documents the details as they were finalized between april at tober of 1940 april and october of 1945. The United Nations and will dispute describes how it responded to crises in the first fiveyears. Seeds of head highlights the work american nation and Rehabilitation Administration to provide food and shelter. War. Ok at the korean seven years ago, the United Nations faced the possibility of world war iii when Chinese Forces enter the korean,. Tvh week, American History pass will america rings you archival films that provide Historical Context for Public Policy issof