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The Kennedys and Frank Sinatra

You can't be successful without making a few enemies, and Joe Kennedy is a very successful man. But will it affect Jack's Presidency?

There’s a storm front moving in on the Kennedy family, from the Chicago shores of the Great Lakes. Will Sam Giancana cause trouble for the President, or just disappear into the background (I guess that question is answered depending how much of a conspiracy theorist the audience, or more specifically, the writer is)? In trying to act as a go between for Giancana and the Kennedys, I guess Frank Sinatra didn’t do it “his way.”

It is hard to imagine a First Lady in today’s climate being pushed around the way Jackie was in this hour. She had an obvious disdain for how her role took her away from her kids. Why not change that role? Furthermore, why is the First Lady changing her schedule around when “the Delegates” arrived five minutes early? She’s the First Lady for Pete’s sake!

As much as Joe Kennedy was as much of a hindrance to his son’s administration, it was still heartbreaking to see the conversation he had with Jack and Bobby in the Oval Office. Impressive, too, how he immediately knew he had to step away from the administration, and be completely “out” as he said. It reminded me how he made the same realization in the first hour.

I knew Jack Kennedy had always faced near insurmountable pain in his back during his time in the White House. That he took a multitude of drugs, properly prescribed or not, isn’t a surprise. That Jackie was treated with amphetamines isn’t something I saw coming. The Wikipedia page for Doctor Max Jacobson mentions treating Jack, but not his wife (Not that the page jives with what we saw in this hour, as according to Wiki, Jacobson started treating Kennedy on the campaign).

(Take a look back at my reviews of Hour 1 & 2, and Hour 3)

Notes & Quotes

  • I wonder how accurate the list of medications the President was on was….?
  • “I’m starting to realize that this job is about choosing between two lousy options. And the right choice is the one that’s just a little less lousy.” – Jack
  • Robert and Ethel had eleven children? Eleven?
  • Any particular reason that Joe switched from Francis to Frank in reference to Sinatra halfway through the hour?
  • I’m also surprised Kennedy tolerated General Lemnitzer as long as he did.

 

Photo Credit: Reelz Channel

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