Vidal
Well-known member
- Location
- Washington, DC
- Pronouns
- he/him
A few paths for us to go down in considering the lore that is Joe Kennedy, Jr. was meant to be the successful Kennedy. I think the AH community and the broader actual historical community have started to come around to the idea that Joe Kennedy Jr. was maybe not as well-suited for politics as his father came to envision after his son's death... A lot of the qualities that made Jack successful were missing in Junior, and before his death, Joe Jr. had established some hardline positions: Opposing FDR at the 1940 Convention, being staunchly isolationist...
Let's assume he skips the mission that tragically sealed his fate and instead returns home without incident. After the war, he is elected to Congress like his brother. Then what?
He's faced with running statewide in '52, and he has two options: Does he want Governor or Senator in 52?
1) Argument for Governor is that it would give him executive experience for the presidency (at the time this was more valuable than Senate for the most part) + it would allow him to avoid his more controversial politics (foreign policy) in favor of easy domestic oriented campaign that he's a shoo-in for. I also imagine him as more controlling/executive in temperament than Jack.
2) Argument for Senator is that it lets him play on the big stage; he's in Congress now already and while I figure he likes legislating a bit less than Jack, he definitely loves being in the seat of power. Also, his isolationism is the surest thing about his politics we know, and taking on THE internationalist in the Senate would certainly pique his interest.
My theory is this all hinged, really, on Dever's choice about either running for reelection, challenging Lodge, or retiring. Whatever JPK Jr wants, JPK Sr will make possible by coaxing Dever.
Personally, I think he can win Gov but not Senate (though I don't think he would question his ability to win either...)
Let's assume he skips the mission that tragically sealed his fate and instead returns home without incident. After the war, he is elected to Congress like his brother. Then what?
He's faced with running statewide in '52, and he has two options: Does he want Governor or Senator in 52?
1) Argument for Governor is that it would give him executive experience for the presidency (at the time this was more valuable than Senate for the most part) + it would allow him to avoid his more controversial politics (foreign policy) in favor of easy domestic oriented campaign that he's a shoo-in for. I also imagine him as more controlling/executive in temperament than Jack.
2) Argument for Senator is that it lets him play on the big stage; he's in Congress now already and while I figure he likes legislating a bit less than Jack, he definitely loves being in the seat of power. Also, his isolationism is the surest thing about his politics we know, and taking on THE internationalist in the Senate would certainly pique his interest.
My theory is this all hinged, really, on Dever's choice about either running for reelection, challenging Lodge, or retiring. Whatever JPK Jr wants, JPK Sr will make possible by coaxing Dever.
Personally, I think he can win Gov but not Senate (though I don't think he would question his ability to win either...)