Joe Kennedy, Sr sought secret deal with De Valera on Irish ports during the War

Kennedy Senior was seriously flawed and on the wrong side of history. He didn't want the US to enter WWII, for one example. Understandable on one level, but -- need I go on? His womanizing sent a message to his sons that it was OK to do that, 24/7. Mariln Monroe was just one later collateral damage casualty.

Despite being mercilessly demonized by those who hate him because he was opposed to the United States getting involved in Europe's disastrous 1939 war (for that he's been smeared as "pro-Nazi" "anti-semitic" "a coward" and an "appeaser") and also because he was far too good as an Irish-Catholic at making lots and lots of money, there is no question that Joseph Patrick Kennedy, the Patriarch of "America's family" has been the most successful American of Irish ancestry to date. The fact that the Irish-American community has failed to celebrate his remarkable life and accomplishments says more about them than it does about him.

JFK was not the first Catholic to run for president. Al Smith was Irish and Catholic and ran for president in 1928.