

The triumphs and tragedies of the most popular political family in American history.

The Kennedys rally to put Jack in the White House, but their difficult past illuminates a deeper struggle. “People talk about the curse that seems to echo down the generations of the Kennedys and in a certain sense it’s true,” says Tom Wilkinson. “And if you are going to see it in the kind of Greek tragedy sense, there isn’t a better sort of patriarchal figure than Joe Kennedy because his world view was extreme. His world view was: ambition, money and family. It’s almost medieval in its simplicity … but almost everything else went by the boards.” -Tom Wilkinson
Aired: 4/3/2011
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The Presidential election comes down to the wire; Bobby tells Joe Sr. he’s leaving politics. “John F. Kennedy was a very complicated person who meant a lot of things to a lot of different people. I have my own interpretation of who he was and what his legacy was. Kennedy served as President of the United States during an extraordinary period of time and brought us exceptional social and political changes in a short time, in 1000 days. He gave this country a sense of purpose and enthusiasm which was much needed at that time.” - Greg Kinnear