El mes pasado tuve que dejar mi doodle Banjo en el aeropuerto internacional JFK de la ciudad de Nueva York para comenzar su viaje a Melbourne, Australia. John F Kennedy o JFK fue presidente de los Estados Unidos y este aeropuerto lleva su nombre, pero a menudo también se lo conoce como parte de la "familia real" estadounidense. He decidido escribir este blog sobre el árbol genealógico de JFK y he incluido una copia de su pedigrí dibujado con el software TrakGene.
The Kennedy family is synonymous with American political royalty, and at the centre of this storied dynasty stands John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States. Born on May 29, 1917, in Brookline, Massachusetts, JFK’s family tree is a tapestry woven with ambition, tragedy, and enduring public service.
John F. Kennedy’s lineage can be traced back to his paternal grandfather, Patrick Joseph Kennedy, who emigrated from Ireland in the 1840s. The Kennedy family rapidly ascended the social and political ladder, with Joseph Patrick Kennedy Sr., JFK’s father, becoming a prominent figure in American business and politics.
Joseph Kennedy Sr., un exitoso banquero e inversionista, fue embajador de Estados Unidos en el Reino Unido durante el crucial preludio de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Su influencia en sus hijos, particularmente en JFK, fue profunda. Fue dentro de los muros de la casa Kennedy donde echaron raíces el sentido del deber, el servicio público y un compromiso inquebrantable con el sueño americano.
John F. Kennedy’s journey into politics began when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1946, representing the 11th congressional district of Massachusetts. His meteoric rise continued, and in 1952, he was elected to the U.S. Senate. The Kennedy family had officially become a political powerhouse.
However, the Kennedy legacy is not just about JFK; it extends to his siblings and their individual contributions to American society. Robert F. Kennedy, the seventh of nine children, served as Attorney General under his brother’s administration and later as a U.S. Senator from New York. His commitment to civil rights and social justice left an indelible mark on the American political landscape.
La tragedia golpeó a la familia Kennedy en 1963 cuando el presidente John F. Kennedy fue asesinado mientras conducía entre una multitud en Dallas, Texas, con su esposa Jacqueline. La nación se lamentó y la era Camelot llegó a un final abrupto. Sin embargo, el legado de Kennedy perduró. Ante un dolor indescriptible, Robert Kennedy continuó defendiendo las causas que él y su hermano apreciaban.
El árbol genealógico de los Kennedy también se extiende a Eunice Kennedy Shriver, hermana de JFK, RFK y Ted Kennedy. Eunice fue una apasionada defensora de las personas con discapacidad intelectual y fundadora de las Olimpiadas Especiales. Su dedicación a la inclusión y la compasión reflejó los valores inculcados a la familia Kennedy desde sus primeros días.
The youngest Kennedy brother, Edward “Ted” Kennedy, carried the torch of public service throughout his long tenure in the U.S. Senate. Known as the “Lion of the Senate,” Ted Kennedy played a pivotal role in shaping American healthcare legislation, education policy, and immigration reform. Another famous member of this illustrious family is Arnold Schwarzeneggar who was married to JFK’s niece Maria Shriver.
The Kennedy family tree, however, is not without its shadows. The tragedies that befell the family, including the assassinations of JFK and RFK, as well as the plane crash that claimed the life of John F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife Carolyn, cast a somber hue over the family’s legacy.
Yet, the Kennedy name endures as a symbol of hope, resilience, and public service. The family’s impact on American politics and society is immeasurable, with countless individuals inspired by the Kennedy commitment to making a difference in the world.