Description:

Kennedy Robert

Robert F. Kennedy Writes Family Friend and Political Supporter Richard Flood during John F. Kennedy’s 1952 Senate Campaign


John F. Kennedy’s brother and campaign manager corresponds on campaign stationery with family friend and Lowell, Massachusetts attorney Richard Flood during Kennedy’s 1952 Senate campaign.


ROBERT F. KENNEDY, Typed Letter Signed, to Richard R. Flood, August 27, 1952. On colorful “John F. Kennedy for U.S. Senator” stationery.  1 p., 8.5" x 11". Expected folds; very good.


Complete Transcript


Dear Dick:

            Thank you very much for your letter received this morning.

            I will keep you informed of what we can do from here.


                                                                        Sincerely,

                                                                        Bob

                                                                        Robert F. Kennedy


[Handwritten Postscript:] P.S. You will hear within a couple of days.

 


Historical Background


In 1952, Massachusetts Congressman John F. Kennedy challenged Republican incumbent Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. for a seat in the U.S. Senate. Robert F. Kennedy managed his older brother’s campaign. The contest again pitted the long-established Protestant Republican Lodge family against the newer but well-established Irish Catholic Democratic Kennedy family. In 1916, Lodge’s grandfather had held off a challenge by Kennedy’s grandfather, Boston Mayor John F. Fitzgerald, for Lodge’s seat in the U.S. Senate.

 


Kennedy launched his campaign early in 1952 and visited every village and town in Massachusetts at least once in the course of the year. Meanwhile, Lodge devote his energies to convincing a reluctant Dwight D. Eisenhower to win the Republican presidential nomination over Robert A. Taft. Lodge succeeded but created enemies among Taft supporters in Massachusetts. Kennedy also benefitted from the support of Catholic Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin, who though a Republican, refused to campaign for Lodge because of his friendship with the Kennedy family.

 


The Boston Post had planned to support Lodge, but Joseph P. Kennedy, John’s father, arranged for a $500,000 loan to the struggling newspaper in return for its endorsement of his son. In the election, although Eisenhower won the state by more than 200,000 votes, Kennedy narrowly upset Lodge by 70,000 votes and a 3-percent margin.

 


Kennedy’s victory marked the end of the Lodge dynasty in Massachusetts politics and the beginning of the Kennedy dynasty. Kennedy family members and friends controlled the Senate seat until Ted Kennedy’s death in 2009.

 


Richard R. Flood (1914-1969) was born in Massachusetts and graduated from Harvard College in 1939 and from its law school in 1946 as of 1942. Flood served as a lieutenant in the Navy during World War II. He received a master’s degree from the Harvard Business School cum laude in 1947. Admitted to the Massachusetts bar in 1948, he established a practice in Lowell, Massachusetts, and was a partner in the firm of Flood, Valentine, and Foisy until his death.

 

 


WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!
Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. ***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SHIPMENT TO BE SENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE ON FILE WITH INVALUABLE, YOU WILL NEED TO INFORM US OF THIS AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED FOR YOUR WINNINGS*** Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000