This week marks 100 years since the birth of John F. Kennedy, who, at age 43, became the youngest person ever elected to the presidency, only to be assassinated less than three years into his term. Kennedy's great-nephew, Rep. Joe Kennedy, joined Jim Braude on Greater Boston to discuss his great-uncle's legacy.
“He's somebody that … inspired an awful lot of people across this country and around the world, but he's also a person,” said Kennedy. “He was a dad and a son and brother and a father."
“The vision that President Kennedy had for America — the way that he tried to practice politics, recognizing that there are connections that we share as Americans, as human beings. I think real leadership finds those connections, strengthens them, celebrates them and channels them to take on a big challenge. I don't think that's the way the current president of the United States addresses politics.”
One of the biggest congressional battles that has been waged since President Donald Trump has taken office is the American Health Care Act, which the house has passed and is now in the hands of the senate.
“That bill is an act of malice, not an act of mercy,” said Kennedy, recalling House Speaker Paul Ryan’s recent claim. “When you define success as taking health care away from 23 million people ... gutting what insurance actually means — the quality of care that's actually delivered — and destroying it, when you say that we can pass a $600 billion tax cut onto the wealthy by cutting $880 billion for health care for families who are working paycheck to paycheck ... that's not who we are as a nation. It’s not who we are as a people and America can do better than that.”
Kennedy went on to praise Gov. Charlie Baker’s outspoken criticism of the health care bill.
“I think that he has a unique opportunity to explain to other … Republican leaders … what this bill will do to their state and what it will do for health care across the country,” he said. “Massachusetts is the leader in the nation when it comes to health care reform and we need folks here regardless of party, because regardless of party, this bill is going to destroy what health care means for all Americans.”
Kennedy, a former state prosecutor, also waded into the ongoing controversy over claims of Russian interference in the presidential election and the actions Trump has taken in recent weeks, including firing former FBI Director James Comey.
“I have very strong concerns, based on what is publicly available, that you could certainly make a credible case that he did obstruct justice,” Kennedy said. “The crux of this inquiry here is whether President Trump decided to put his interests and the interests of his family in front of the interests of the American people ... I have grave concerns that he has [crossed a line]. That investigation, though, needs to play out, which is why we need to have confidence in the way that investigation is held.”
Despite the democrats currently being in the minority and fighting an uphill battle in both chambers, on the subject of leadership, Kennedy did not waver.
“I've got full faith and confidence in Leader [Nancy] Pelosi,” he said. “There's no one that I have greater confidence in to fight for the American public and the values of the American people … and to make sure that we do the best we possibly can under very tough circumstances. It’s where she’s at her best.”
