Joseph P. Kennedy made his fortune during Prohibition and was an early force in Hollywood. FDR made him ambassador to the Court of Saint James (Britain) but his negativity about Britain`s war prospects were an irritant.
His many children achieved both greatness and tragedy. His son Joe Jr. died during World War II on a bombing mission over Europe. John F. Kennedy was elected president and Robert F. Kennedy ran for president but both were cut down by assassins. Edward Kennedy became a United States Senator from Massachusetts and had presidential ambitions of his own before the Chappaquiddick scandal.