The Irish Brotherhood: John F. Kennedy, His Inner Circle, and the Improbable Rise to the Presidency

＂The Irish Brotherhood＂ is the history of Jack Kennedy s original political inner circle. Led by Bobby Kennedy, Kenny O Donnell, Larry O Brien, and Dave Powers they were tough minded, Irish-Catholic guys who were joined together by a common ambition to see Jack Kennedy through to the White House. War veterans who were young, ambitious, and they wanted their country back. Jack Kennedy was their man, their leader. No matter that he was Irish, Catholic, and his Old Man had made as many enemies as friends Jack had ambition, brains, a special charisma. To win the White House would be a victory not only for Jack Kennedy, but for the downtrodden. They collectively decided that if the political powers would not let them in willingly then they would kick the door down. At the center of the story is Kenny O Donnell, Jack Kennedy s tough talking, no-bullshit, top political aide. Jack recognized he needed Kenny s blue collar, political genius and Kenny recognized something special in Jack.

Helen O’Donnell is the daughter of John F. Kennedy’s top-gun political aide, Kenneth P. O’Donnell. Ms. O’Donnell is the author of A Common Good: The Friendship of Robert F. Kennedy and Kenneth P. O’Donnell. She also worked with Chris Matthews of MSNBC’s Hardball on his 2012 book Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero. She lives in Los Angeles and Washington, DC.

Kenneth ＂Kenny＂ O’Donnell, Sr was a war hero and a graduate of Harvard University where he played football with Robert F. Kennedy. Through his relationship with Bobby, he became Jack Kennedy’s top political aide during the 1950s. In 1960, he worked hand in glove with Jack and Bobby as they designed and drove the Kennedy Machine to victory.