The Patriarch：The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy

CelebratedhistorianDavidNasawbringstolifethestoryofJosephPatrickKennedy,inthis,thefirstandonlybiographybasedonunrestrictedandexclusiveaccesstotheJosephP.KennedypapersJosephPatrickKennedy—whoselifespannedtheFirstWorldWar,theRoaringTwenties,theGreatDepression,theSecondWorldWar,andtheColdWar—wasthepatriarchofAmerica’sgreatestpoliticaldynasty.ThefatherofPresidentJohnF.KennedyandsenatorsRobertandEdwardKennedy,“Joe”Kennedywasanindomitableandelusivefigurewhosedreamsofadvancementforhisninechildrenwerematchedonlybyhisextraordinarypersonalambitionandshrewdfinancialskills.Trainedasabanker,KennedywasalsoaHollywoodmogul,astockexchangesavant,ashipyardmanager,thefoundingchairmanoftheSecuritiesandExchangeCommission,andambassadortoLondonduringtheBattleofBritain.ThoughhisincrediblelifeencompassestheveryheartoftheAmericancentury,JosephKennedyhasremainedshroudedinrumorandprejudicefordecades.Drawingonnever-before-publishedmaterialfromarchivesonthreecontinents,DavidNasaw—therenownedbiographerofAndrewCarnegieandWilliamRandolphHearst—unearthsamanfarmorecomplicatedthanthepopularportrait.WasKennedyanappeaserandisolationist,ananti-SemiteandNazisympathizer,astockswindler,abootlegger,andacolleagueofmobsters?Didhepushhissecondsonintopoliticsandthenbuyhiselectionsforhim?WhydidhehavehisdaughterRosemarylobotomized?WhydidheopposetheTrumanDoctrine,theMarshallPlan,theKoreanWar,andAmericanassistancetotheFrenchinVietnam?WhatwashisrelationshiptoJ.EdgarHooverandhisFBI?Howdidheinfluencehisson’spoliticsandpoliciesintheWhiteHouse?InthisgroundbreakingbiographyNasawignoresthetiredoldanswerssurroundingKennedy,startingfromscratchtodiscoverthetruthbehindthismisunderstoodman.Thoughfarfromasaint,JosephKennedyinmanywaysexemplifiesthebestinAmericanpolitical,economic,andsociallife.Hisrags-to-richesstoryisoneofexclusionandquietdiscriminationovercomebyentrepreneurship,ingenuity,andunshakableendurance.Kennedy’sstorydeservestobetoldinfull,withnoholdsbarred,andNasaw’smagnificentThePatriarchisthefirstbooktodoso.