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Clockwise from top: John Fitzger-ald Kennedy National HistoricSite; Rose Kennedy at the dedi-cation of the national historicsite in 1969; John and Joseph P.Kennedy Jr. at the Beats Streethome, 1919.
"We were veryhappy here andalthough wedid not knowabout the daysahead, we wereenthusiastic andoptimistic aboutthe future"Rose Kennedy, 1969
John Fitzgerald Kennedy
On May 29,1917, John F. Kennedywas born in the master bedroomof this modest home in Brookline,Mass. The great grandson of Irishimmigrants, and the second son ofJoseph P. and Rose FitzgeraldKennedy, this bright, spirited boywas filled with promise.
Kennedy is remembered as theman who led the United States toa New Frontier: the youngest indi-vidual and first Catholic electedto the American Presidency, hemolded a sweeping Civil RightsBill, launched the Peace Corps,promoted the space race, and ne-gotiated a Nuclear Test Ban treatyduring the hottest years of theCold War. Also memorable werehis successes in promoting artsand education, confronting cor-porate power, and expanding
health insurance and publicwelfare legislation.
As the witty and energetic "mediaPresident," Kennedy inspired thenation with his eloquent speechesand endless drive. His wife, Jac-queline, embodied elegance andverve. Together they captured theheart and imagination of a newgeneration. When he challengedAmericans to "Ask not what yourcountry can do for you, ask whatyou can do for your country,"they responded with enthusiasmand activism.
Behind that public career, behindthe romance and mythology ofwhat came to be known as "Game-lot," lay Jack Kennedy the privateman. It was no coincidence thatthis son of a powerful, politicallyminded father, surrounded bybright and talented siblings, be-came an ambitious man, with asense of family loyalty and com-mitment to public service. Norwas it surprising that his attentive,highly educated mother devel-
oped in Jack a quest for knowl-edge, an appreciation of historyand the arts, and the willingnessto accept the consequences of hisdeeds. Clearly, the character be-hind Kennedy's public actions wasinfluenced by his childhood inBrookline.
Though his life ended tragicallyon November 22,1963, leavingthe man and the vision in mid-stream, John F. Kennedy left anenduring legacy: "All this will notbe finished in the first one hun-dred days. Nor will it be finishedin the first one thousand days . . .nor even perhaps in our lifetimeon this planet. But let us begin. Inyour hands, my fellow citizens,more than mine, will rest the finalsuccess or failure of our course."
"Let the word go forthfrom this time andplace.., that thetorch has been passedto a new generationof Americans."
Left to right: Rose Fitz-gerald Kennedy, 1927;Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.,c. 1914, one of the young-est bank presidents in theUnited States; Joseph P.Kennedy Jr. and John in1925; John Kennedy asa member of the DexterSchool football team,1927. He and his brother
Joe were teammates.
1914 World War Ibegins
Joseph P. Kennedy andRose Fitzgerald marryand move to Brookline,Mass.
1917 John FitzgeraldKennedy born at 83Beals Street
1927 The Kennedysmove to New York
1938 Joseph P. Kennedybecomes ambassador toGreat Britain
1939 World War IIbegins
1940 John F. Kennedygraduates from HarvardCollege
1943 Japanese destroy-er sinks PT109, patrolboat commanded by JFK
1946 JFK elected toCongress
1952 JFK elected toSenate
1953 JFK marries Jacqueline Lee Bouvier
1957 JFK's Profiles irCourage awardedPulitzer Prize
The Brookline Years
In 1914, when Rose and JosephKennedy moved into their firsthome at 83 Reals Street in Brook-line, they were breaking—andmaking—tradition. Both membersof this newly wedded couple weregrandchildren of immigrants andchildren of politically prominentfathers who had risen through theranks of Irish Catholic Boston.
While many young couples of theirera settled into their parents' homeor a rented apartment, Joseph Ken-nedy insisted on owning a housein the largely middle class, street-car suburb of Brookline. Mrs. Ken-nedy later explained that her hus-band "had a strong need for privacy,for independence, for being ableto choose the people he wanted tobe with in close association." Sheherself valued a healthful environ-ment in which to raise her family,and recalled "a sense of opennessin the neighborhood, with a vacantlot on one side of us and another
across thestreet, and finebig shade treeslining the side-walks." Both Ken-nedys appreciatedthat the Beals Streethome, where they lived from1914 to 1920, was close to play-grounds, a Catholic church, goodschools, Coolidge Corner retailstores, and trolleys to Boston.When they outgrew the BealsStreet house, the family movedjust two blocks away to Abbotts-ford Road, where they lived until1927.
Jack enjoyed many privileges whilegrowing up in Brookline, but healso faced many challenges whichhelped to shape him. From hisparents he learned loyalty to fami-ly, love of knowledge and reading,pride in his Irish Catholic heritage,and a desire for social acceptanceand position. Witnessing the frus-
trations ex-perienced byhis mentallyretarded sis-
ter, Rosemary,and grappling
with his own child-hood illnesses taught him
the value of perseverance, determi-nation, and compassion for others.And his older brother Joe—bright,competitive, and willful—chal-lenged Jack to develop, master,and have confidence in his ownstrengths and talents.
Though he left Boston on his roadto the White House, Kennedyfondly recalled his family's ties toMassachusetts. "There is withineach man a very special affectionfor the place of his birth," he wrote.Later he said, "The enduring quali-ties of Massachusetts . . . are an in-delible part of my life, my convic-tions, my view of the past, and myhopes for the future."
"I believe the timesdemand new inven-tion, innovation,imagination, deci-sion. ... My call is tothe young in heart,regardless of age "
Left to right: John andJoe Jr. in Navy uniforms,Palm Beach, Fla., May1942; "Coffee with theKennedys," a paid politi-cal program during JohnKennedy's senatorialcampaign, 1952; the Pres-ident and First Ladyarrive at one of the nu-merous inaugural balls,January 20,1961; JFKresponds to questionsduring his November 20,1962, press conference.
1960 JFK elected 35thPresident
1961 JFK signs bill es-tablishing Peace Corps
1962 JFK urges U.S. toput a man on the moon
Cuban Missile Crisis
1963 JFK proposessweeping Civil Rights Bill
JFK signs Nuclear TestBan Treaty
JFK assassinated inDallas, Texas
1969 Rose Kenne-dy dedicates JohnFitzgerald KennedyNational HistoricSite
PHOTO CREDITS: COVER, ©BETTMANWCORBIS, ROSE KENNEDY PORTRAIT, JOE JR.AND JOHN AS YOUNG BOYS, COURTESYJOHN f. KENNEDY LIBRARY FOUNDATION;ROSE KENNEDY WITH CHILDREN (ABOVE).BACHRACH STUDIO, BOSTON; ALL OTHERPHOTOS COURTESY JOHN F KENNEDYLIBRARY
Neighborhood Walking TourRose and Joseph Kennedy began their life together inBrookline, Mass., where they joined their early hopesand ambitions to the promise of this vibrant and grow-ing community. For 10 years these neighborhood streetslinked the daily life of John Fitzgerald Kennedy to thoseof neighbors, friends, and schoolmates. Much of theKennedy-era streetscape is preserved; the accompany-ing tour and map will guide you in the footsteps of ayoung boy whose future course encompassed the world.Most sites are not open to the public; please be considerateof property and privacy.
Q John F. Kennedy NationalHistoric Site83 Beats StreetFollowing their wedding in 1914,Rose and Joseph Kennedy madetheir first home in this modest,five-year-old Colonial Revivalhouse. At that time, it was the lasthouse on the lovely, sycamore-lined street. "Here," Mrs. Kenne-dy later remembered, "we hadlight and air." Four of their ninechildren were born while theKennedys lived here—Joseph Jr.,John (called "Jack"), Rosemary,and Kathleen. Like many Bostonwomen of that era, Mrs. Kennedypreferred to deliver her childrenat home. In 1917 Jack was born inhis parents' second floor bed-room, "in the bed nearest the win-dow, so the doctor would haveproper light."
Here the Kennedy children en-joyed family sing-alongs at theparlor piano, instructive discus-sions in the dining room, andnighttime book readings.
Q 51 Abbottsford RoadCorner of Abbottsford & NaplesIn 1920 the growing Kennedy
family moved to a more spacioushome on Abbottsford Road,where they lived until 1927. It re-flected Joseph Sr.'s successes asone of the nation's youngest bankpresidents, a shrewd investor inthe stock market, and a pioneer-ing producer in the motion pic-ture industry. From the largewraparound porch, the Kennedyclan— which expanded to includeEunice, Patricia, and Robert-greeted friends, neighbors, anddeliverymen passing by.
aint Aidan's RomanCatholic Church207 Freeman Street"On pleasant days, I took the chil-dren for walks," Rose Kennedyrecalled. "I wheeled one in a car-riage and two or three toddledalong with me. I made it a pointeach day to take them to church."The church that Mrs. Kennedyand her children visited daily —and the place the family wor-shipped each Sunday — was SaintAidan's, built in 191 1 by the pres-tigious Maginnis and Walsh archi-tectural firm. Jack was baptizedand served as altar boy here. Aparishioner remembered him as a
Nursery at the Seals Street home
delightfully irreverent child whowould "roller skate up to the chap-el door as fast as he could go, tearthe skates off, run in, go to confes-sion, come out, put the skates on,and off he'd go."
Q Dexter School Site/Nobleand Greenough LowerSchool175 Freeman StreetBecause Joseph Kennedy wantedhis sons to associate with prominentfamilies, he transferred both Joe Jr.and Jack from a public school to theDexter School in 1924. The boyswere the only Irish Catholics at thisprivate, nonsectarian school, whichprepared students for eminent col-leges.
At Dexter, Joe Jr. excelled in aca-demics. Though Jack did well in his-tory and English, his strengths weresports and leadership; by age nine,he was quarterback and captain ofthe Dexter football team, on whichJoe also played. When the Kennedyboys were hassled for being Irish orCatholic, Joe often responded withfists, while Jack stayed on the side-lines, quietly betting marbles thathis brother would win the fight.
Saint Aidan's Roman Catholic Church
0 Coolidge CornerCorner of Beacon & HarvardCoolidge Corner was a retail hub ofBrookline and a frequent destina-tion of the Kennedy family. With"one child in his kiddycar and.. .one or two others on each side,"Rose Kennedy would sally forth toshop at the Five and Dime, thebank, or the 1898 S.S. Pierce build-ing. Here, the Beacon Street rail andelectric trolley lines helped connectthis typical streetcar suburb todowntown Boston, where much ofthe Kennedys' social, cultural, andpolitical life was centered.
0 Edward Devotion School347 Harvard StreetJack attended the Edward Devo-tion School through the thirdgrade. The school, named for anearly benefactor of Brookline'spublic schools, was known for ac-ademic excellence. Jack was anacknowledged daydreamer; at agesix, he ran home to warn hismother that his teacher was com-ing to discuss his idleness. Jack'sdefense: "You know, I'm gettingon all right, and if you study toomuch, you're liable to go crazy."
About Your Visit
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John F. KennedyNational Historic Site
Visitor Center
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Getting to Brookline
Longfellow NHS
BostonNHPVisitorCenter
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Kennedy NHS/ m
Frederick LawOlmsted NHS i
John F. Kennedy Libraryand Museum
O Rapid Transit System(selected tines and stops)
Gift to the American PeopleThe Kennedys moved from 83Beals Street in 1920. In 1961 thetown of Brookline placed a com-memorative plaque in front ofthe house; in 1965 the house wasdesignated a National HistoricLandmark. The following yearRose Kennedy chose to memori-alize her son and his contributionsby preserving his birthplace andboyhood home. The Kennedyfamily repurchased the house andRose Kennedy enlisted decoratorRobert Luddington of the JordanMarsh retail store, to help recre-ate the home's 1917 appearance.Working from her remembrances,Mrs. Kennedy and Mr. Ludding-ton assembled household furnish-ings, photographs, and significantmementos, which were thenplaced in the principal rooms ofthe house. Rose Kennedy record-ed her personal reminiscences offamily life in the house, and theseevocative audiotapes are used to-day as part of the visitor tour.
The Kennedy family donated thehouse to the National Park Serv-ice as a "gift... to the Americanpeople," and the site was openedto the public in 1969.
The site is open seasonally, Wed-nesday through Sunday, from 10a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call or visit thepark's website for current hoursof operation. Tour tickets andpublications are available in thebasement level visitor center. Anadmission fee is charged for per-sons 18 and over.
How to Reach the SiteBy Subway: Take the Green Line("C"-Cleveland Circle) trolley tothe Coolidge Corner stop. Walkfour blocks north along Harvard
Street, turn right onto Beals Street,and continue to #83. By car FromExit 18 (eastbound) or Exit 20(westbound) on I-90/Massachu-setts Turnpike, follow the Allston/Brighton exit ramp, merge ontoCambridge Street, and proceedone mile. At the fourth trafficlight, turn left onto Harvard Streetand proceed for about one mile.Turn left onto Beals Street andcontinue to #83.
AccessibilityThe site is located in a residentialarea with limited street parking.Watch for traffic on neighbor-hood roadways. Use of stairs isnecessary to access the basementvisitor center and the historicrooms of the birthplace. Nowheelchair access is available tovisitors at this time.
More InformationJohn Fitzgerald KennedyNational Historic Site83 Beals StreetBrookline, MA 02446617-566-7937www.nps.gov/jofi
John Fitzgerald Kennedy NationalHistoric Site is one of more than390 parks in the National ParkSystem. Visit www.nps.gov tolearn more about parks andNational Park Service programs.
John F. Kennedy Libraryand MuseumContinue exploring PresidentKennedy's life, leadership, andlegacy at this presidential archiveat Columbia Point in Boston.For more information call tollfree 1-866-JFK-1960 or visitwww.jfklibrary.org.
