Jack Schlossberg is the son of Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, the only grandson of President John F. Kennedy, and the nephew of the late JFK Jr. Jack is 33 years old and decided last year that he would run for Congress in New York. Obviously, he got some national attention because of his name and his family, but every time I paid attention to him, he didn’t seem ready for primetime. When he was asked about this Love Story: Carolyn Bessette and JFK Jr., his complicated answer was complete nonsense. Nevertheless, people were hopeful that he would at least make it into the Democratic primary. He didn’t.
Standing backstage at a dark, half-full club in Midtown Manhattan, Caroline Kennedy tried to look happy Tuesday night, even as it became clear that her son, Jack Schlossberg, would fall far behind in his bid to win a House seat.
“I think he’s done a great job,” Ms. Kennedy said of her son, praising his passion and eloquence, adding that she believed he had no regrets about his candidacy. “He just said he wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he didn’t try. Because he’s so worried about what’s going on.”
A few minutes earlier, the crowd – perhaps a hundred supporters, many young and some from outside the New York City district Mr. Schlossberg hoped to represent – sat mostly quiet as Mr. Schlossberg gave a brief speech, reading from a stack of papers. He joked about his age, chanted “Let’s go, Jack” and nodded to perhaps the most famous quote from his grandfather, John F. Kennedy.
“We all haven’t asked what our country can do,” Mr. Schlossberg said, concluding his speech, “and what we can do to help our city.”
He did not agree in his speech, and did not agree even till the end of the night. But the results were clear: Mr. Schlossberg would not go to Congress.
For a first-time candidate, Mr. Schlossberg had it all: a scion of the Kennedy family, once America’s best-known political brand. Young and handsome, like his grandfather, the ancestor of Camelot. He was well-connected, earning support from Democratic royalty like former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and was rich with old money, able to plow his fortune into a campaign that was, as he said, in part, about the evils of money in politics. And in an era when Democrats often compete with Republicans online, Mr. Schlossberg was a vibrant presence on social media, projecting a quirky and decidedly opinionated persona who drew attention whenever he posted.
When early polls showed him ahead of a crowded field of candidates in New York City’s 12th Congressional District, it appeared that Mr. Schlossberg had the race to lose. As it turned out, he lost it. Mr. Schlossberg, 33, once considered the favorite, finished third in the Democratic primary in one of the country’s most liberal districts, now held by retiring veteran Democrat Representative Jerrold Nadler. Micah Lesher, an assemblyman who was endorsed by Mr. Nadler, won the primary.
(from NY Times)
The NYT asked whether Jack’s loss is a sign of the loss of Kennedy-family influence in politics, or whether it is more about the current (Trump-dominated) political climate. But the Times also points out that Schlossberg ran a chaotic, unemotional primary campaign that alienated many Democratic voters. I think it’s good for our country and the state of modern/local politics that a Kennedy descendant can’t just walk into a primary and have everything handed to him immediately. It’s also a shame for the Kennedy family – if Jack had run a more sober, mature campaign, he potentially could have been a rising political superstar. I doubt Caroline Kennedy is that upset about this – the last thing she wants is a son in politics.
Photos courtesy of Cover Images.
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Jack Schlossberg, grandson of former United States President John F. Kennedy, films a video as US President Joe Biden departs the White House, featuring: Jack Schlossberg Where: Washington, District of Columbia, United States When: 06 September 2024 Credit: CNP/Pool via INSTARimages.com
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-Washington, District of Columbia – 20200818 Day two of the Democratic National Convention, a made-for-TV event. -Pictured: Caroline Kennedy, Jack Schlossberg -Photo: CNP/startraksphoto.com -081820_DNCC-Day02_009 This is an editorial, rights-managed image. For information on licensing fees and rights please contact Startraks Photo at sales@startraksphoto.com or call +1 212 414 9464. This image may not be published in any way, or considered to be defamatory, offensive, obscene or pornographic. Please consult our sales department for any clarifications required prior to publication and use. Startrax Photo reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this content. If you are infringing our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits derived from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the costs of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded Attribution: Caroline Kennedy, Jack Schlossberg Where: Washington, District of Columbia, United States When: 18 August 2020 Credit: CNP/startraksphoto.com
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-Washington, District of Columbia – 20200818 Day two of the Democratic National Convention, a made-for-TV event. -Pictured: Caroline Kennedy, Jack Schlossberg -Photo: CNP/startraksphoto.com -081820_DNCC-Day02_007 This is an editorial, rights-managed image. For information on licensing fees and rights please contact Startraks Photo at sales@startraksphoto.com or call +1 212 414 9464. This image may not be published in any way, or considered to be defamatory, offensive, obscene or pornographic. Please consult our sales department for any clarifications required prior to publication and use. Startrax Photo reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this content. If you are infringing our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits derived from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the costs of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded Attribution: Caroline Kennedy, Jack Schlossberg Where: Washington, District of Columbia, United States When: 18 August 2020 Credit: CNP/startraksphoto.com
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Journalist and grandson of John F. Kennedy Jack Schlossberg at the 2024 Democratic National Convention at the United Center. Featuring: Jack Schlossberg Where: Chicago, Illinois, United States When: August 19, 2024 Credit: Poole via CNP/INSTARimages.com
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2024 Democratic National Convention at the United Center Featuring: Jack Schlossberg, journalist and grandson of John F. Kennedy Where: Chicago, Illinois, United States When: August 20, 2024 Credit: CNP/Pool via INSTARimages.com
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