Bombshell Fights For America

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Ch.8 page 12

wentworth360

on April 14, 2010

Info: Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. made huge profits from reorganizing and refinancing several Hollywood studios. estimates put what Kennedy made over $5 million ($63.5 million today)
Joe Kennedy drove the campaign behind the scenes. He played a central role in planning strategy, fundraising, and building coalitions and alliances. Joe supervised the spending and to some degree the overall campaign strategy, helped select advertising agencies, and was endlessly on the phone with local and state party leaders, newsmen, and business leaders. He had met thousands of powerful people in his career, and often called in his chips to help his sons.

Peter Lawford was married to John F. Kennedy's sister at the time. This led him to become part of the Rat Pack, which included Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. Joey Bishop and Dean Martin. They worked at many fund raisers for the campaign.