The Kennedys of Massachusetts

The events depicted in the series are based upon the book by Doris Kearns Goodwin titled The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys : An American Saga.

Joe Kennedy is attracted to Rose, and engages her in conversation when both families are on vacation at Old Orchard Beach, Maine, later in the year; her father does not approve of their relationship.

Mayor Fitzgerald, attempting to curry favor with the Catholic church ahead of a looming corruption trial, decides to send Rose to study at the Blumenthal Convent in Holland instead of the “hotbed of female socialist ferment,” Wellesley College—despite his earlier encouragement of her education.

Joe sympathizes with Rose’s disappointment and the pair exchange letters during his studies at Harvard College and her time overseas at the convent school.

Upon graduating, Joe asks Fitzgerald to bring the fact that Massachusetts has never had an Irish Catholic bank examiner to the attention of Governor Foss and lands the job.

In 1927, he meets actress Gloria Swanson for lunch at the Savoy-Plaza Hotel, agreeing to sign her to his company despite his earlier opposition to her making the controversial film Sadie Thompson (released 1928).

However, Swanson finds Stroheim difficult to work with, with the director making unusual suggestions such as using real flies for scenes set in Africa.

As ambassador, Joe supports Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s policy of appeasement towards Adolf Hitler and “peace at any price,” and rejects King George VI’s suggestion that he would like a more formal alliance.

Joe Jr. remains pledged to Farley despite pressure from chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party William Burke to support Roosevelt, until the convention votes by acclamation.

It may be finished here” and “England is fighting for self-preservation.” John Fitzgerald sharply reprimands Joe for his supposedly off-the-record interview, stating that he has finally cut his own throat with his tongue.

The third episode starts with the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and the Kennedys listening to President Roosevelt’s speech to the nation the day after.

The procedure leaves Rosemary unable to walk or speak; Joe has her institutionalized at the St. Coletta School for Exceptional Children in Wisconsin.

In 1943, Jack is in the Navy as commander of a patrol torpedo boat stationed at Tulagi in the Solomon Islands, while Joe Jr. and Kathleen are back in England as a naval aviator and a Red Cross volunteer, respectively.

The explosives aboard the modified B-24 flown by Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. and Lt. Wilford John Willy explode prematurely, killing them.

One of his opponents for the 11th congressional district House seat, Women’s Army Corps veteran Major Catherine Falvey, accuses him of being a “carpetbagger…trying to buy the election with his father’s money.” Enraged, Joe orders Jack’s campaign staff to stay out of limousines, and states that if Jack is caught in a limousine, Joe will run himself.

Religion is the curse of the Irish.” Kathleen Kennedy Cavendish and Earl Peter Fitzwilliam fly to Paris to meet Joe in 1948, but their plane encounters a storm and heavy turbulence, eventually crashing and killing them both.