Kennedy, Joseph


Kennedy, Joseph (Patrick)

(1888–1969) financier; born in Boston, Mass. (father of John Fitzgerald Kennedy). A Boston banker and movie financier (1926–30), he made millions on insider stock deals, but set tough standards as President Roosevelt's chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (1934–35). Recalled in disgrace as a pro-German ambassador to Great Britain (1938–40), he retired from public life but financed the careers of his charismatic sons.