On November 25, 1956, Thanksgiving Day, Jack and Joe Kennedy finally sat down and discussed the prospect of Jack's running for president in 1960. The one great barrier, as Jack saw it, was his religion. Joe argued that times had changed and the country was no longer the Protestant's “private preserve.” Furthermore, Joe felt strongly that the new generation, the offspring of immigrants, would gladly vote for a Catholic.

The Personal Side of Public Life

That was all that Jack needed to convince him. Although he was only thirty-nine years old, he dreamed that in spite of his youth and inexperience he could win the nomination over older and more seasoned contenders. His confidence rested partly in his awareness that the public liked him. If anything, his public appeal lay in his celebrity-like status. He was from a rich and prominent family, and Americans could not help but wonder about the life of this wealthy Kennedy.

Shortly after his bid for the vice presidency at the Democratic convention, he glimpsed just how powerfully a politician could affect the sentiments of ordinary people. While Jack was sailing off the coast of Elba with his brother Teddy and a friend, Jackie went into premature labor and gave birth to a stillborn daughter. The family was unable to reach Jack for three days, but he flew home immediately upon hearing the news. The details of the tragedy had already reached the newspapers, and the public responded to Jackie and Jack's loss with sympathy. They received numerous letters from ordinary people expressing their sorrow, each one a testament to just how much Jack Kennedy had become a beloved politician in the eyes of many Americans.

Committing to Algerian Independence

Kennedy returned to the Senate after the election. His strength still lay in his knowledge of foreign affairs, and he was anxious to show the American public just how much he knew. In January 1957, he was appointed to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee — no small feat.

In his bid for the appointment, he went up against former vice presidential nominee Kefauver. Kennedy had an advantage — the support of Senate majority leader Lyndon B. Johnson — but it did take a bit of convincing, especially since Kefauver had four years' seniority over Kennedy.

Kennedy drew attention to himself with his unconventional opinions on Algeria's struggle for independence from France. The war had started in 1954, and by 1957 hundreds of thousands of French soldiers had been deployed to extinguish the conflict and bring the unruly colony back into line. The Eisenhower administration staunchly backed the French, but Kennedy was troubled. He meticulously researched the conflict, talking to people involved in all aspects of the dispute, and drew his own conclusions.

On July 2, 1957, Kennedy took to the Senate floor and challenged the Eisenhower administration's position. Kennedy argued that America's ideals conflicted with its actions; it advocated freedom and democracy, yet it helped the European nations keep the colonies from gaining independence. These policies risked alienating the colonies. Kennedy asserted that the United States should chart a course against imperialism, and he advocated helping the French and Algerians reach a settlement for Algeria's independence.

Kennedy's remarks caused an uproar. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles insisted the United States should keep out of the conflict, President Eisenhower reiterated his commitment to staying the course, and the French defense ministry was beside itself. The press seized the story. Editorials from the New York Times to Time magazine lambasted Kennedy's speech.

Kennedy was worried about the harsh reaction, but his father's response was reassuring. “You lucky mush. You don't know it and neither does anyone else, but within a few months everyone is going to know just how right you were on Algeria,” Joe Kennedy told him, and he was right. Politicians and press alike took a second look at Kennedy's remarks and decided the senator had a point. Kennedy published an article on the subject in the October issue of Foreign Affairs and chaired the Africa Subcommittee of the Foreign Relations Committee in the Senate.

Failure to Support Civil Rights

Once again, Kennedy had proven his strength lay in the foreign policy arena. While Kennedy spearheaded the call for freedom for Algeria, he was slower to embrace civil rights legislation in his own country. His political pragmatism led him to try to please those on both sides of the issue.

Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson led the way in securing the bill's passage, but political wrangling gutted it of any real power. Kennedy voted to keep a part of the bill that would have granted the attorney general expanded authority to go after civil rights violators. That provision did not make it into the final bill, but Kennedy's support earned him points with civil rights proponents. Much to their chagrin, however, Kennedy also voted for an amendment to the bill that would require a trial by jury in criminal cases; this provision was essentially useless since Southern white juries were sure to excuse violators.

Kennedy failed to anticipate just how much flack he would receive from civil rights activists and liberals. Roy Wilkins of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) publicly and privately criticized Jack for his vote. Other widely publicized criticism focused on his lack of moral courage. According to a senate colleague, Jack should “show a little less profile and a little more courage.” Although the criticism died down in time, the subject reemerged during his presidential campaign.

Taking a Stand Against Union Bosses

While Jack was in Congress, Bobby Kennedy served as chief counsel for the McClellan Committee, which was in charge of investigating labor unions' connections with organized crime. Jimmy Hoffa, the leader of the Teamsters union, was the committee's number one target. His connection with the Mafia and the mishandling of the union's pension fund caught the committee's attention.

Bobby was committed to justice for union members even if it hurt Jack's run for president in 1960. Not even the potential wrath of his father could dissuade Bobby from taking up the cause. Jack, although extremely hesitant at first, joined Bobby in his crusade against the union. In March 1958, Jack introduced a bill in the Senate that threatened to put a damper on improper union expenditures. The bill, however, failed. Nevertheless, his stance against union corruption cast him as an honest and caring crusader working toward the benefit of the people.