1. the name of a family of US Democratic politicians.
▪ John F. (1917–63), 35th president of the US 1961–3; in full John Fitzgerald Kennedy; known as JFK. The youngest man ever to be elected US president (at 43), he was a popular advocate of civil rights. In foreign affairs he recovered from the Bay of Pigs fiasco to demand successfully the withdrawal of Soviet missiles from Cuba (the Cuban Missile Crisis). Kennedy was assassinated while riding in a motorcade through Dallas, Texas.
▪ Robert (1925–68), US Attorney General 1961–4; full name Robert Francis Kennedy. He closely assisted his brother John in domestic policy, and was also a champion of the civil rights movement. He was assassinated during his campaign as a prospective presidential candidate.
▪ Ted (1932–2009), brother of John and Robert, US Senator since 1962; full name Edward Moore Kennedy. His political career was overshadowed by his involvement in a car accident at Chappaquiddick Island (1969), in which his assistant Mary Jo Kopechne drowned.
