January 17, 2005
EARLY INNINGS:
The Roosevelts, Kennedys, and Now the Bushes: Second Term Firmly Establishes a Dynasty and Eases Sting of 1992 Loss (John F. Harris, January 17, 2005, Washington Post)
Amid the celebration and crowds of Inauguration Day came a surprisingly intimate moment between father and son. As John F. Kennedy's parade passed the reviewing stand where Joseph P. Kennedy was watching, the new president looked up and tipped his hat -- a gesture of affection and gratitude to the patriarch who had dreamed for years of putting a son in the White House.Forty-four years later, as President Bush prepares to launch his second term, it might be the father who should tip his hat to the son.
One of the 43rd president's achievements in winning reelection, according to Bush family friends and historians, is to ease the sting of the 41st president's failure to do so a dozen years earlier. The president's victory also establishes firmly a fact that earlier was open to dispute: The Bushes now belong in the top tier of political families in U.S. history.
A sobering thought for Democrats: Jeb is universally acknowledged to be the best of the lot and George P. is just now reachinmg the age where he can start running for office. Posted by Orrin Judd at January 17, 2005 11:54 AM
You never see the MSM put the words Bush and dynasty together. Yet they've swooned over Camelot for 4 decades.
JFK served only 3 years. In contrast the Bushes have presided over 2 wars (so far), the biggest domestic attack in US history, and their lineage could well enter its 3rd decade if Jeb steps up in 08.
Nope no dynasty here.
Posted by: Gideon at January 17, 2005 1:34 PMWell, the Kennedys have managed to infest the House of Representatives with several of their spawn, backbenchers all.
Posted by: Raoul Ortega at January 17, 2005 1:39 PMI thought Kennedy didn't wear a hat to the inauguration??
Posted by: Rick T. at January 17, 2005 5:22 PMRick,
Snopes debunks that urban legend. Also, the PBS documentary on JFK (which for a while seemed like it was on five or six times a year) has footage of JFK tipping his hat to JPK during the inauguration parade and specifically mentions it in the narration.
Posted by: Ed Driscoll at January 17, 2005 6:15 PMI'd vote for Jeb if for no other reason than to be sadistic towards those suffering from BDS.
Posted by: MB at January 17, 2005 7:03 PMJeb has been an uninspired governor in Florida who will be little more than a repeat of the despicable Bush pere. It would take a truly objectionable Democrat opponent like Kerry or Hillary for me to vote for him. Even the moderately annoying like Dean would cause me to write in McCain or Giuliani rather than vote for Jeb.
Posted by: Bart at January 21, 2005 9:06 AMAs goes Bart so goes Bart.
Posted by: oj at January 21, 2005 10:09 AMWow, Bart really does live in New Jersey; and it shows.
Posted by: Dave W. at January 21, 2005 3:04 PMRick T.:
It was Wm. Henry Harrison who didn't wear a hat. He also gave a very, very, very, very, very long inagural address, in the rain. He got sick and died a month later.