Plausibility Check, and Challenge- Kennedy Family as Rockefeller Republicans

[Guildencrantz]

Would it be at all possible in a timeline where the Republican Party is socially liberal and much more centrist for the Kennedy family to be Republicans? Or were their ties to the Democrats too strong to sever?

Regards,
dk

 

[JoeinOhio]

As I recall, Joseph P. Kennedy flirted with the idea of becoming a Republican toward the end of Woodrow Wilson's 2nd term. The 1920s pro-business GOP was much to his liking. However, Republican politics in New England before WWII was dominated by Brahmin old-money blood-bloods like the Cabots and Lodges who were uncomfortable with the "new money" and Gatsby-esque Joe Kennedy (and with Irish Catholics in general).

Irish Catholics in pre-WW 2 New England were heavily Democratic and tied to the big-city machines. Joe Kennedy also resented being shut out of the more influential clubs and groups when he attended Harvard, due to being an Irish Catholic.

By the mid-to-late 1930s, the FDR-led Democratic Party had clearly become the majority party and appeared likely to hold power far into the future. So, becoming Republican was much less appealing to Joe Kennedy and his family after the 1920s.

 

[Guildencrantz]

As I recall, Joseph P. Kennedy flirted with the idea of becoming a Republican toward the end of Woodrow Wilson's 2nd term. The 1920s pro-business GOP was much to his liking. However, Republican politics in New England before WWII was dominated by Brahmin old-money blood-bloods like the Cabots and Lodges who were uncomfortable with the "new money" and Gatsby-esque Joe Kennedy (and with Irish Catholics in general).

Irish Catholics in pre-WW 2 New England were heavily Democratic and tied to the big-city machines. Joe Kennedy also resented being shut out of the more influential clubs and groups when he attended Harvard, due to being an Irish Catholic.

By the mid-to-late 1930s, the FDR-led Democratic Party had clearly become the majority party and appeared likely to hold power far into the future. So, becoming Republican was much less appealing to Joe Kennedy and his family after the 1920s.

Alright, that makes a lot of sense. Thank you so very much.

Regards,
dk

 

[hcallega]

Yeah it's tough to pull this off because of culture differences. The New England Republican Party of the early 20th Century was dominated by wealthy Protestants who could trace their lineage back to the Revolution, often earlier. In stark contrast, Joe Kennedy was the son of a saloon owner. Even if he joined the Republican Party, they would not accept him. Also, the Democratic Party was more ideologically diverse than they are today. There were many pro-business conservatives in leadership roles. Interestingly, John F. Kennedy's slogan when running for Congress was "The Fighting Conservative."

 

[Dan1988]

How much of that was largely a Massachusetts thing, though? In Rhode Island, IIRC, there was much less of the Brahmin constituency running the GOP. So, had Joseph P. Kennedy gone to Brown instead of Harvard, maybe he could have been part of the GOP.