From the times that Joe Kennedy distributed contraband during the 20s into John F. Kennedy’s presidency, to the great love story of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Basset, all the way to Jack Schlossberg’s campaign for New York City congressman, the Kennedys have always maintained a place in the spotlight, and they never seem to leave.
Mr. Osborn, QUEST AP U.S. History teacher, gives a brief background on the Kennedys’ rise to power. He describes how Joseph Kennedy “was a very successful businessman who built a huge fortune and became very influential in Massachusetts labor. He was nominated to be the ambassador to Great Britain during the 1930s under FDR.” He continues in detailing how Joe Kennedy, an Irish-Catholic, “had this idea that he wanted his sons to be the first Catholic Irish President ever.” John F. Kennedy became the successor to the role of patriarch after his older brother Joe Kennedy Jr. passed away during World War 2.
The family comes back almost every decade, and now, newer generations of the family are rejoining the political scene. Schlossberg, John F. Kennedy’s grandson, is diving headfirst into the political scene as New York City’s new Congressman, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has long since been the Secretary of Health and Human Services for the current administration.
Ryan Murphy’s “Love Story”, a dramatized biography series on JFK Jr. and Basset, only seems to be adding to America’s already long-standing fascination with the family. Despite backlash from people close to the couple, the show seems to have been received positively by the American people. Trends like the newsboy cap and the minimalist Calvin Klein look, things John Kennedy Jr and Bassett made chic in the first place, have taken both fashion culture and the youth population by storm, and have brought an idolization to newer generations that older ones similarly held.
Gabby Oliva-Herrera, PEACE senior, states, “So far from what I’ve watched, I really enjoy it. The vibe of the production feels different from a lot of stuff that’s out recently, and it feels refreshing to see something new like that. I definitely think Gen Z is taking inspo from the show. I’ve seen a lot of people on TikTok doing OOTDs (outfit of the day) inspired by CBK or JFK Jr., and even look-alike contests.”
Ms. Hines, psychology and AP Human Geography teacher, explains the Halo effect, an effect where someone has cognitive bias in perceiving someone’s positive qualities, which creates a “halo” around them. Hines states that the Kennedys were “pretty,” and that’s why they seem so attractive to the public.
It is clear that the Kennedy Family won’t be leaving the words of the American people anytime in the near future. If anything, we could only expect to see more of them with this outward fascination and idolization of them.
Sarah Buss • Apr 27, 2026 at 10:33 am
I
appreciated how the author presented the Kennedy family’s enduring influence, both in historical
context and modern relevance. By tracing the family’s history from Joseph Kennedy to more
recent figures, Barth effectively conveyed a sense of continuity that highlights their sustained
presence in American public life.
Her inclusion of perspectives from both teachers and students here at Millikan
strengthened the article by adding a range of viewpoints that made the discussion feel more
well-rounded. In particular, the reference to “the halo effect” provided a thoughtful analysis of the
way we perceive this family. This offered insight into why the public continues to perceive the
Kennedy family so positively.
Additionally, her discussion of the recent series that aired and its impact onf fashiona nd
social media contributed to making her article more culturally relevant. This part of the article
demonstrated that the Kenedey legacy extends beyond politics and continues to shape popular
culture, especially among younger generations.
Overall, the article does a great job at showing how history, media, and public perception
all work together to keep the Kennedys relevant. By blending factual information with more
current examples, she makes the topic both informative and interesting, while also encouraging
readers to think about why certain public figures continue to hold such a lasting impression on
public attention.
Tyler Cover • Mar 31, 2026 at 11:17 am
To begin with, I also find the matter of the Kennedys very interesting. From what I know, more than a few of them passed away due to unnatural causes, and it’s this that I would like to also contend is a reason for their publicity. Of course, we all know of the infamous Dallas assassination of JFK, and the never-ending conspiracy theories that have risen around his end. Even more though, when I visited Arlington National Cemetery over my eighth grade trip and saw JFK’s gravesite, I learned that his eldest brother died in a WW2 plane crash, like was mentioned in the article. Even more, I know that Robert Kennedy Sr. was assassinated in LA by a Palestinian immigrant on the campaign trail to become the President.
Of course, I’ve not mentioned all of the instances that the Kennedys have met their fate far too early, but only the most widely known instances. Even further, I’d assert that primarily because of JFK’s assassination is why there’s such a fascination with his presidency. However, I am not trying to discredit what he was able to accomplish in his tenure of office, especially his handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis and decisive funding for NASA, but unfortunately he’s most remembered for his end. So while his family has done a lot, I believe it’s only as recognized because of the tragedy the family has gone through.
Samantha Camberos • Mar 31, 2026 at 9:33 am
After reading this article, I was thoroughly informed about the Kennedys’ rise to power, their influence, and their ability in remaining in the political sphere. I appreciate how the author included an interview from Mr. Osborn, who effectively explained the history of the Kennedy family. Because of the interview, I learned that Joseph Kennedy, the patriarch of the Kennedy family, started out as a successful businessman from Massachusetts who later became the ambassador to Great Britain.
Additionally, I also appreciate how the author explained why the Kennedy family has stayed relevant throughout the years. The author described Jack Schlossberg’s political campaign in New York, the love story between John Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Basset, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s role as the Secretary of Health in the Trump Administration. My suggestion would be to touch upon the alleged affair between Marilyn Monroe and John F. Kennedy. I believe that this scandal was also a large reason as to why the Kennedy family remained popular.
Finally, I also found it interesting that the author explained how the Kennedys’ fashion trends helped them stay relevant. The author mentioned how brands like Calvin Klein are highly associated with the Kennedys. Another one of my suggestions would be to include how celebrities such as Lana Del Rey are keeping that image alive, especially in her National Anthem music video, which was heavily influenced by the Kennedys and their reign in America. All in all, this article was very well written and I learned a lot about the Kennedy family.
Sarah Buss • Mar 30, 2026 at 10:56 am
On March 24, 2026, Alisa Barth wrote an article titled “The Kennedy Comeback.” I appreciated how the author presented the Kennedy family’s enduring influence, both in historical context and modern relevance. By tracing the family’s history from Joseph Kennedy to more recent figures, Barth effectively conveyed a sense of continuity that highlights their sustained presence in American public life.
Her inclusion of perspectives from both teachers and students here at Millikan strengthened the article by adding a range of viewpoints that made the discussion feel more well-rounded. In particular, the reference to “the halo effect” offered a thoughtful analysis of how we perceive this family. This offered insight into why the public continues to perceive the Kennedy family so positively.
Additionally, her discussion of the recent series that aired and its impact on fashion and social media made her article more culturally relevant. This part of the article demonstrated that the Kenedey legacy extends beyond politics and continues to shape popular culture, especially among younger generations.
Overall, the article does a great job at showing how history, media, and public perception all work together to keep the Kennedys relevant. By blending factual information with more current examples, she makes the topic both informative and interesting, while also encouraging readers to think about why certain public figures continue to hold such a lasting impression on public attention.