John Fitzgerald Kennedy Remembered: An Irish Family Ancestry Connection

This past week we have been stirred with reminders that November 22 is the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the 35^th president of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. For us, it conjures memory of the magic and calamity associated with an ancestor. Fascination with this foul deed continues to impact people around the world for many reasons, among friend and foe alike (JFK). John Kennedy’s tenure as president was a life altering event for many millions. He challenged people throughout the world to believe in possibilities for the future of humanity, to believe that human annihilation by war was not inevitable, and that because our problems were caused by mankind they could be fixed by mankind (JFK). His assassination was wrought with paralyses of spirit  that still tinges the world psyche.

On a bleak 1969 December day Jennie and I entered an elevator in our hotel in Leningrad, USSR. The elevator was right out of the 1890s; hand operated and “managed” by a stern babushka-like lady (elderly grandmother). Clearly, the elevator was her domain, complete with a small table and overly comfortable chair. Prized photographs and memorabilia were evident. Besides the obligatory photo of the current Soviet General Secretary, there were photos of the USSR Cosmonauts and the United States Astronauts. Oh, yes, and a photo of the late President Kennedy. We remarked about her Cosmonauts and our Astronauts. She smiled. We noted the Kennedy photo. She beamed. I took out a Kennedy half-dollar and handed it to her. Her eyes glistened with tears. No need to show floor or room pass. The magic was still there. We were now “kindred spirits.” Wherever we traveled in Europe in the mid-60s the affect was the same.

June 28, 1963, then President Kennedy was presented with an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree by Michael Tierney, K.S.G., M.A., D.Litt., Vice-Chancellor of the National University of Ireland. Presented below are selections from his remarks. The entire presentation is available at: http://www.nui.ie/college/docs/citations/pre_2002/JFK_Citation.pdf

Today we are proud beyond words to be the medium through which theIrish people pay honour to the head of the greatest of all free nations, the nationto which the free world owes it freedom. All Irishmen are truly proud that their ancient race has contributed so much to the making of a great American. Our joy and pride are overflowing when the President is not alone the head of the world’s greatest nation, but can trace his lineage back to two of the noblest and most historic Irish families. Mr. Kennedy… is descended from the Dál gCais of Thomond and from the great family who were lords of Ormond from the eleventh to the sixteenth century. The Father of the original Cinnéidigh was Donnchuan, elder brother of Brían Bórú, most renowned of all Irish Kings and his name is still commemorated in that of the parish of Killokennedy in East Clare. On his mother’s side the President is descended from perhaps the greatest of the Norman families [a.k.a., Butlers] who settled in North Kerry and Limerick in the thirteenth century and held an extensive palatine lordship as the Fitzgerald Earls of Desmond.  In course of time they were the rulers of all Norman Ireland as the King’s Deputies. 

Both Jennie and William have genealogical ties to President Kennedy through our Irish ancestry. This lineage covers many centuries, entwining several different family lines. William has a direct linage to the Fitzgerald line. Jennie’s linage includes the Butlers, as noted above, under the greatest of the Norman families. In our St. Patrick’s Day Blog we intend to flesh out the Irish connections a wee bit more.

William