Rose Kennedy: The Life and Times of a Political Matriarch by Barbara A. Perry

Author:Barbara A. Perry [Perry, Barbara A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Bought, Non-Fiction
Goodreads: 19081690
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Published: 2013-07-14T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

Mother of the President

AFTER ROSE’S 1957 IOWA TRIP, SHE BEGAN SPEAKING IN STATES crucial to Jack’s presidential candidacy. The 1960 Democratic nomination contest featured only sixteen primaries, in contrast to 2008’s forty. Jack Kennedy decided to focus on New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Indiana, West Virginia, Nebraska, Maryland, and Oregon. He couldn’t secure the nomination by winning those states, but victories in most of them could demonstrate his electability.1 New Hampshire, traditionally the first presidential primary, warranted Rose’s attention in early 1958. She spoke to Catholic organizations in Concord (the capital), Manchester (the largest city), and Nashua (the second largest city). A letter, probably from Rose’s secretary, informed one of the New Hampshire organizers that Rose did “not want to make her appearance in New Hampshire a political issue. We believe, therefore, she would not want to say ‘hello’ to the Governor as she doesn’t want any publicity about it, other than what comes from the people to whom she is going to talk.”2 This arrangement suited Rose perfectly; she could fly under the political radar while raising money for charity and spreading the Kennedy name among potential voters.

Always fastidious, Rose asked for a quiet room, not a suite, at the back of hotels, and a second room for her maid or secretary.3 In Nashua, her first stop, she spoke to five hundred faculty, students, and their guests at Rivier College, a Catholic institution founded by the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary. Next came Concord where six hundred Catholic Daughters of America turned out, followed by a capacity crowd of two hundred and sixty at a meeting of the Manchester Diocesan Council of Catholic Women.4

Rose’s engagements, like her 1957 Iowa events, reflected Joe’s strategic imprint and Jack’s undoubted concurrence. She declined some Massachusetts charity functions, telling organizations that 1958 would be devoted to campaigning for Jack’s Senate reelection. In reality, he seemed so likely to maintain his seat that the family didn’t even have to call on Rose until late in the campaign.5 The family was obviously looking ahead to 1960 when Rose wrote to James Cardinal McIntyre, “Joe has told me that your Eminence has graciously offered to get in touch with various groups in Los Angeles and in other parts of California to whom I might speak. I have been doing this kind of work for some time in Massachusetts and I have found it very stimulating.” Her offered topics varied from the tried and true “An Ambassador’s Wife in London” to her newly crafted “My Trip to Japan.” She also reminded McIntyre that she accepted no honoraria; all proceeds would be donated to charities organizing her visit. Planning to see Pat in L.A. during April and May 1958, Rose could deliver her talks then or later.6

The cardinal arranged an invitation for her to speak at an Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women meeting. Contacting Reverend Mother Mulqueen at Manhattanville College, Rose asked her to facilitate a talk at Sacred Heart College in Los Angeles. “To be frank,” Rose

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.