More about the film The Kennedys

The founding father, Joseph Kennedy, rose to wealth and power by way of Boston, Wall Street, Hollywood and Washington. Then, moving on to London as Franklin Roosevelt's ambassador to the Court of St. James -- his popularity greatly enhanced by his large, photogenic family -- Joe Kennedy seemed poised for the pinnacle, the presidency, his lifelong goal.

But, ironically, the man who had so long prided himself as a publicity genius was undone by his own remarks to a reporter, to the effect that democracy was finished in Britain -- and possibly in America, too. In the parlance of a later time, Joe Kennedy sounded soft on fascism. His presidential prospects in ruins, he vested all in the next generation. By 1960, son John had at last attained the White House -- "the long of arm" of Kennedy power, as was said, plus a seemingly endless fund of Kennedy family charm having played a part all the way.

What followed was a human drama as powerful and painful as any in our history, a compounding national tragedy, as one violent, senseless act followed another.

Taken in all, the long Kennedy quest for the presidency can be seen as a chronicle of evolving political ideology from the isolationism of Joe Kennedy to the cold warrior stance of John to the fierce social activism of Robert Kennedy; and, finally, to Edward, the lone survivor.

Film Credits
Credits for the American Experience documentary program The Kennedys.

Program Transcript
The Kennedys transcript.

Interviews
Read and listen to what historians have to say about The Kennedys.

Further Reading
A list of related books, articles, and Web sites.