Joseph Kennedy's relationship with the Federal Bureau of Investigation began during World War II and continued until his death in 1969. Kennedy wrote FBI director J. Edgar Hoover regularly, on both official and personal matters, though it is not clear how highly the agency valued Kennedy's information.

Read some Kennedy-related letters from the FBI archives.

Joseph Kennedy was designated one of two Special Service contacts to the FBI's Boston office in 1943. In this capacity he reported things he thought the FBI might want to know, sometimes corresponding directly with J. Edgar Hoover.

1. Kennedy the Informant

September 7 ,1943
Edward Soucy to J. Edgar Hoover
Kennedy has offered his services to the FBI, but no decision has been made yet.

October 18, 1943
J. Edgar Hoover to Edward Soucy
Hoover approves Kennedy as a contact, but requests a background check.

December 27, 1943
Edward Soucy to J. Edgar Hoover
Kennedy's background check reveals his belief that "Communists and fellow travelers" have taken over Hollywood.

January 29, 1944
Edward Soucy to J. Edgar Hoover
Soucy lists Kennedy as a Special Service contact.

January 14, 1965
Special Agent in Charge, Boston to J. Edgar Hoover
Kennedy is relieved of his informant role.

2. Doing Business

October 14, 1944
Edward Soucy to J. Edgar Hoover
The FBI uses Kennedy's experience in the shipbuilding industry to investigate a case.

October 15, 1945
E.A. Tamm to J. Edgar Hoover
The Boston field office reports that Kennedy has not been very useful to the FBI.

March 2, 1953
J. Edgar Hoover to Joseph Kennedy
Hoover writes a personal note to Kennedy about following up on a report.

3. Lobbying

February 16, 1956
J. Edgar Hoover to Tolson, Boardman, Belmont and Nichols
The FBI appreciates Kennedy's critique of CIA operations overseas.

December 16, 1958
G. A. Nease to Tolson
A proposal to enlist Kennedy in support of legislation giving the FBI more authority in bombing cases.

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Joseph Kennedy was a vocal supporter of the FBI and J. Edgar Hoover. He passed along his enthusiasm to his son John.

1. Praise and Thanks

August 3, 1949
J. Edgar Hoover to Joseph Kennedy
Hoover thanks Kennedy for praising the FBI in a speech.

August 28, 1953
J. J. Kelly to J. Edgar Hoover
Kennedy tells an FBI agent that without the Bureau, the country would "go to Hell."

September 2, 1953
J. Edgar Hoover to Joseph Kennedy
Hoover thanks Kennedy for speaking highly of the FBI.

December 22, 1953
J. J. Kelly to J. Edgar Hoover
A Boston agent commends Kennedy as "a long time friend of the Bureau."

January 4, 1953
J. Edgar Hoover to Joseph Kennedy
Hoover thanks Kennedy and wishes him a happy new year.

May 7, 1958
Joseph Kennedy to J. Edgar Hoover
Kennedy voices his indignation over newspaper articles "unsympathetic to our Government."

May 14, 1958
J. Edgar Hoover to Joseph Kennedy
Hoover thanks Kennedy for his letter of May 7th.

2. Forwarding Articles

April 3, 1957
J. Edgar Hoover to Joseph Kennedy
Hoover sends Kennedy a copy of an FBI employees' magazine with an article about Kennedy.

April 12, 1957
Joseph Kennedy to J. Edgar Hoover
Kennedy thanks Hoover and pokes fun at CIA director Allen Dulles.

October 30, 1959
Joseph Kennedy to J. Edgar Hoover
Kennedy says his son Jack will promote Hoover's anti-Communist ideas in his presidential campaign.

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Joe Kennedy and J. Edgar Hoover maintained a personal correspondence up until Kennedy's death in 1969. Kennedy even invited the FBI director to his daughter's wedding.

1. Invitations

April 1953
Joseph Kennedy to J. Edgar Hoover
Kennedy invites the FBI director to his daughter Eunice's wedding.

May 5, 1953
J. Edgar Hoover to Joseph Kennedy
Hoover declines the wedding invitation but wishes the couple well.

June 1, 1953
Joseph Kennedy to J. Edgar Hoover
Kennedy invites Hoover to a reception at his Chicago Merchandise Mart.

June 8, 1954
J. Edgar Hoover to Joseph Kennedy
Hoover declines Kennedy's invitation.

2. Get Well Messages

November 9, 1954
J. Edgar Hoover to Joseph Kennedy
Hoover sends get-well wishes to Joe's son, John, after an operation.

November 1, 1956
Joseph Kennedy to J. Edgar Hoover
Kennedy thanks Hoover for a get-well note.

September 1, 1965
J. Edgar Hoover to Joseph Kennedy
Hoover sends a get-well note to Kennedy in the hospital.

3. John's Election

November 9, 1960
J. Edgar Hoover to Joseph Kennedy
Hoover congratulates Kennedy on his son's election to the presidency.

4. Joe's Death

November 18, 1969
Edward Kennedy to J. Edgar Hoover
Kennedy's son Ted informs Hoover in a telegram that Joe has died.

November 19, 1969
J. Edgar Hoover to Edward Kennedy
Hoover sends Edward Kennedy his condolences.

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