Much of what is presented about Joseph P. Kennedy the father of the late president paints a very dark picture of the man. Perhaps the most popular is that he was a bootlegger during prohibition and was in partnership with gangsters such as Frank Costello and even Al Capone.

Not to say that it's false, but has any of this ever been proven?

[ March 23, 2004, 06:06 PM: Message edited by: Ghostdancer ]

I believe it's all fairly well documented, it was all just very hush-hush back in his day. I've seen the claims of Kennedy Sr.'s past in [credible] history documentaries on TV, as well as on the web.

The book, The Sins of the Father[/URL] by Ronald Kessler looks like it has been well researched and the facts laid out for all to see. I'd not mind reading it!

Kell

It is generally accepted to be truth. It's certainly one of the biggest legends about the Kennedy family. In the book Bound By Honor written by Bill Bonanno, the son of Mafia boss Joe Bonnano, son Bill claims his father was present and/or participated in some of Joseph Kennedy's bootlegging runs.

I have always been interested in the history of the Kennedys, and ol' Joseph P. was quite a Mafioso for an Irishman. LOL I have read a number of books about them. Joseph was certainly bent on having a presidential son. He finally managed it. Money was power, and he never forgot that. I pretty much believe most of the stories of his exploits in bootlegging.