John Fitzgerald Meets His Match

And His Career Goes Up in Smoke

Jul 4, 2006

John Fitzgerald attempts to run again for Mayor of Boston but some nasty rumors concerning himself and an actress/cigarette girl forces him to retire from politics.

James Michael Curley's second lecture, also aimed at John Fitzgerald, had an unusual name: "Great Lovers: from Cleopatra to Tootles." This lecture was directed at some "unsubstantiated" Fitzgerald rumors-much like those that would revolve around Johnny's political icon grandson some years later.

The Fitzgerald rumors concerned Johnny and his association with a blond cigarette girl and actress named Tootles Ryan. However, before Curley could deliver his poison prose, Fitzgerald suddenly seemed to lose all interest in political position, at least for now. Johnny Fitzgerald withdrew from the race for Mayor of Boston.

The Declining Years

As years passed, Fitzgerald ran for various other political offices but never won another election.

In time, John "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald formed a close friendship with another son of Ireland. The man had at one time been one of his political rivals. Patrick "P. J." Kennedy was, not surprisingly, a saloonkeeper. The alliance thickened when Fitzgerald's beautiful daughter, Rose, married Kennedy's ambitious son, Joseph. The union produced three sons: John F., Robert, and Edward "Teddy" Kennedy.

Johnny and John

As Johnny Fitzgerald grew older he spent many hours observing the progress of his grandson and namesake, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. He was surely overjoyed when, in 1948, the young man decided to run for Congress from Johnny's old district.

Together Grandfather Johnny and young John spent many hours laying plans for young John's political career. Johnny's grandson won the senate election and at the victory celebration Honey Fitz danced an Irish jig upon a tabletop. While he danced he sang "Sweet Adeline." Johnny Fitzgerald was 85 years old.

Unfortunately, in 1951, Johnny "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald died. Nine years later his beloved grandson took his seat in the White House as President of the United States. In remembrance to his grandfather the new president renamed the presidential yacht The Honey Fitz.

Klein, Edward. The Kennedy Curse: Why Tragedy Has Haunted America's First Family for 150 Years. St. Martin's Press, New York, 2003.

Wallechinsky, David. Irving Wallace. The People's Almanac. Doubleday & Company, Inc. Garden City, New York, 1975.

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