“My brother Bob doesn’t want to be in government – he promised Dad he’d go straight.”
- May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963
- American
- Politician
- As the 35th President of the United States, he overcame the Cuban Missile Crisis and averted nuclear war, and promoted the Apollo program, laying the foundation for American space exploration.
Quote
“My brother Bob doesn’t want to be in government – he promised Dad he’d go straight.”
Explanation
This humorous, offhand remark by John F. Kennedy is a playful comment about his younger brother Robert F. Kennedy (commonly known as Bob), who would later become a prominent U.S. senator and a presidential candidate. At the time of this quote, Robert Kennedy had not yet entered into the political spotlight in the same way as his older brother, John, and this statement reflects a lighthearted, familial dynamic within the Kennedy family.
Kennedy’s remark, though a casual joke, also reflects the family’s deep sense of loyalty and respect for one another. The “promise to Dad” is a reference to the family patriarch, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., who had ambitions for his sons in business and public life but likely wanted them to pursue paths that were “straight”—meaning respectable and legitimate—rather than getting involved in potentially scandalous or morally dubious enterprises. The humor in the comment lies in the contrast between Bob’s initial reluctance to join government, despite his natural talents and familial connections, and the fact that he would eventually embrace a significant career in public service.
On a deeper level, this quote highlights the internal tension and sometimes self-deprecating humor that the Kennedy family exhibited in dealing with the pressures of public life. While John Kennedy himself was already heavily involved in government, Bob’s reluctance to do so early on may have been both a personal choice and an acknowledgment of the family’s complex relationship with politics. Robert Kennedy’s eventual entry into the public sphere and his role as attorney general under his brother’s presidency showed that, despite his early reservations, he had a strong sense of duty to his country. In retrospect, this quote can also be seen as a subtle commentary on how the family’s sense of responsibility and dedication to service ultimately outweighed any initial hesitations.
This remark also serves as a reminder of the Kennedy family’s sense of humor and camaraderie—qualities that, alongside their intense political aspirations, helped shape their public image and their contributions to American politics and society.
