Interesting read about the Kennedy family and their origins. Information that I was not aware of. I had always heard that Joseph Kennedy was a piece of work and this book only verifies this. There is nothing wrong with ambition, and he was a master at getting what he wanted. Very insightful reading of a very influential family. I would recommend this for those interested in history.

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I found this book incredibly interesting the author really kept me hooked until the end. very well written I highly recommend.

This book is my favorite kind of non-fiction: when a new layer is added to a widely held perception of history. The Kennedys have a shiny veneer as a "great American family," but I don't think I've ever seen much about Joseph P. Kennedy before this. His life could make for a fascinating movie a la Vice.

I thought The Ambassador: Joseph P. Kennedy at the Court of St. James's 1938-1940 was an interesting read. Four stars.

A very well researched book about about an ‘unusual’ man., Joe Kennedy. I found it to be an extremely interesting book but not one I could read for ‘hours at a time’. I ended up reading a few pages most days so it took me much longer than usual but I’m very happy I did read it.

The Ambassador: Joseph P. Kennedy at the Court of St. James's 1938-1940 by Susan Ronald is a fantastic biography of the patriarch of the Kennedy clan. I was nervous to read this book because I knew a little about Joe before starting it. However, it seems that in many people's eyes the Kennedys are to be idolized and Joe is far from an ethical or moral man. Ronald spent a lot of time researching Joe as well as others during this time frame. She lays it all on the table for us in an easy to read format. She digs in deep to the politics of the European issues as well as the American ones that were complicating matters. She lets us see all sides of Joe, not just the parts that the Kennedys want us to know about. Thank you #NetGalley for allowing me to give my honest and voluntary opinion on #TheAmbassador.

Not only are we getting to know Joseph Kennedy the Patriarch of the Kennedy family but also a lot of insight in the political situation of the time period just prior to World War II in Europe and US. Susan Ronald did a lot of research for this book and the book is interesting and easy to read but because there is so much information to absorb I had to take a break halfway and do some light reading.
Joseph P. Kennedy was in the first place a businessman who knew how to make money and in a lot of ways making money was his priority in his approach to dealing with the political situation. As a person he had a personality that you either love or hate not much in-between. In a way his behaver reminded me of Donald Trump. I recommend this book to anybody that is interested of that time period. Because the European leader’s acceptance of the fascist governments seeing this as a lesser problem then the communist, you feel that Hitler could have been stopped a lot faster if the European countries had reacted to the initial threat. Understandable that still recovering financially from World War I that they were hesitant to become involved in another war and did their most to try to keep peace even if that was doomed from the beginning.
In hindsight it’s easy to say what should have been done and criticize. Joseph P Kennedy isn’t the only American over the years who tried to tell the European counties what they should and shouldn’t do. A diplomat he certainly was not.
The book is not a flattering picture of Joseph and Rose Kennedy but probably rather a real one. Their sons took a different approach to politics and their beliefs. They might have followed up on his dreams of them becoming President of the United State but they did it on their own beliefs not their father’s

The Ambassador is about the head of the Kennedy clan, Joe Kennedy. Now, I like a few thousand other 70s babies have heard their fair share about the Kennedys. They were worshiped when John F. Kennedy was president, every woman of the 60s of a certain age wanted to dress like Jacqueline Kennedy, this book is not about any of the Camelot Era dreams, this book comes way before that.. Joseph Kennedy loved his kids and his family more than anything in the world, it wasn't that he was a touchy-feely father, it was that he wanted them to be the best, the closest of families, he ran his family as if they were a mob family, which in all honesty he sort of was. The Ambassador is about the time that Joseph Kennedy was US Ambassador to the Court of St. James.

I thought that I had known how arrogant, and conniving Joseph Kennedy was from numerous readings and things my father would say about him but Susan Ronald showed me things I never knew about Joseph Kennedy. I had no idea to what lengths his beliefs took him when it came to fascism, how he had no problem with what Adolf Hitler was doing to the millions of Germans and Jewish people he despised. I was sickened by so many of Joseph Kennedy's actions. This is no adverse response to the author and her writing. Susan Ronald did a deep dive into Ambassador Kennedy's life, thoughts, and actions and I am sure this could not have been an easy job to research for this book and still did a wonderful job of getting his personality, thought process, and love for his family into this well-written book.
I appreciated Ms. Ronald doing this deep dive, It was a fascinating, emotional read for me. This book was far from being dry like so many Histories are when it comes to people of the past. The one thing I can say about Joseph Kennedy is that he was not boring, even if he was insufferable.

If you ever wondered who the patriarch of the Kennedy Clan was, or wondered how so many of the Kennedy Boys were involved in Politics this is a must read for you. If you are into Biographies, this book is for you. If you are into learning from the past, this book is definitely for you. I promise it is worth the read.

For two years, Joseph P. Kennedy served as the Ambassador to Great Britain. He was there from 1938-1940, during a pivotal time in history. Hitler was gaining power and the political scene was tense.

At first, Kennedy was welcomed by the British, but soon he was treated as an outsider by both the British and the White House. He was not loyal to Roosevelt and often misrepresented the political situation regarding Hitler. His ego was such that he took no advice from others with more experience. He was an anti-Semite and sympathized with the Fascist party, both of which were not conducive to his position as Ambassador. His naïveté concerning Hitler was one of his failures as an Ambassador.

Kennedy was also unfaithful to his wife on numerous occasions. About the only positive thing about Kennedy was that he did love his children, especially his sons. He was exceptionally ambitious, and groomed his eldest son for a future presidency.

I grew weary of the political jockeying throughout the book as it often made for very dry reading. However, the personal aspects of Kennedy and the family were very interesting. I learned just enough about the family to encourage me to read more about them individually.

I highly recommend this one to history lovers and those fascinated with the Kennedy family. It was well researched and I found the footnotes as interesting as the book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advanced copy and offer my honest review.

Susan Ronald is a fantastic writer! I can count on one hand the authors that I have read where the research into the subject is phenomenal! Ms. Ronald falls into that group (Hampton Sides, Erik Larson).

I enjoyed the book immensely. Susan Ronald brought me right into the era of Joseph Kennedy. I came away knowing more, understanding more and I also figured out that Joseph Kennedy was a narcissist, money hungry, and desirous of everything that fame and money brings. He was not a very nice man, and in this book that came thru abundantly clear! 3.5⭐

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and Susan Ronald for the eARC/ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
#netgalley #TheAmbassador #SusanRonald

Excellent book about an influential but flawed man. With all the recent books about Churchill, etc that have come out recently, The Ambassador, enhances our knowledge of the period and the players. I highly recommend it.

Reading this book I was unpleasantly surprised to see similarities between one of my favorite political families--the Kennedys--and my decidedly most-hated political families--the Trumps. Joseph Kennedy proved early on that the transition from business to politics is not as easy as it looks, regardless of how brash and outspoken you are.

True, Kennedy actually made his own fortune and came from an already-established political pedigree (mayor father-in-law, local politician father), but like Trump, he sought political favor to advance his own family.

Regardless of the realities this book exposes (unfortunately, I lost respect for the Kennedys, though I've never been a rah-rah Kennedy person anyway), it is excellently researched, balanced, and fair. The short chapters keep the narrative moving, but I still got bogged down on occasion. It doesn't help that I've been reading so many psychological thrillers that anything requiring concentration is a little beyond me.

The book did help me realize that the Kennedy curse comes from a legacy of competition, taking chances, and always needing to be the best. #TheAmbassador #NetGalley

What a thoroughly-researched, well-written book about the patriarch of the Kennedy dynasty, Joe Kennedy. Ruthless and driven, Kennedy was brutal in his expectations and aspirations, stopping at nothing to achieve what he wanted. I had always known Kennedy was often cruel with ambitions for his children and family that were beyond ambitious. Until I read this book, I didn’t know the half of it. Incredible. Loved reading this book and can’t wait to purchase it for my spouse who loves all things Kennedy. This is an incredible book. I’m grateful to St Martin’s Press for the copy of this magnificent book.

I’ve always been in awe of the Kennedys; from my earliest memories of JFK's assassination, the lovely Jackie's regal stance, and the continued sad events that follow the meandering Kennedy trail. I’ve often wondered what America would be like today if JFK and Martin Luther King lived a full life. Such sad losses and the repercussions continue.
Imagine my surprise to learn that the patriarch of the Kennedy clan was a self-centered, egotistical, boosting, and clueless man in all facets of life: sanctity of marriage, political, and personal. Joseph P. Kennedy presented the facade of being a good and loving father, while secretly (even from Rose, the mother) approving a lobotomy on 23- year old Rosemary, who then lived in isolation for 20 years. This finally changed when Papa Joe suffered a debilitating stroke and the remaining Kennedy clan was able to make family decisions.
Setting my personal opinion aside, I was completely enamored at the flamboyant and completely clueless life Joe Kennedy was able to live while being blessed with such impressive children. I applaud the author, Susan Ronald for her determined research, in-depth and across the board, to present a multi-faceted look at such a single-dimensioned person. How he fumbled through life, creating millions, dabbling in various trades, putting up a royal and well-informed front, Joe was the original “Jack (Joe) of all trades, master of none”.
Sadly, his bumbling and interference caused a multitude of bad choices throughout the world when he held some degree of power in the years leading into World War II. His damage to the Jewish people, numerous countries, and countless lost lives are irrefutable.
This is a well-researched, gently written biography about a man who could have been, who eventually brought hope into the world through his children.
Sincere thanks to St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The publishing date is August 3, 2021.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

While I've read plenty about the younger Kennedys, this is the first book I've read about Joseph Kennedy, Sr., and I found it quite enlightening. While the book includes a bit of backstory, about Joe Kennedy and his forebears, it focuses on the years when he was ambassador to the Court of St. James from 1938 to 1940.

The book was fascinating in its portrayal of Kennedy, although certainly not flattering! Ignorant, conceited, pretty much a loose cannon. While his ego fooled him into thinking that everyone admired and was impressed by him, it seems as if the dominant question was "how do we get around this fool without causing any lasting damage to our relationship with the U.S.?" And, for President Roosevelt and the State Department, "how do we neutralize this fool?" They did not want him back in the U.S. with a grudge against FDR until the election was over, thinking it was much better to keep him out of the country, but they had to be concerned with damage control as well.

I was fascinated by this book, partly because it dealt with someone I knew very little about, but also because I thought it shed a good bit of light on the upbringing, personalities, and priorities of Jack, Bobby, and Ted Kennedy. In addition, I'm always intrigued by political maneuvering, and I quite enjoyed the competing issues for both FDR and Kennedy - how could they get what they wanted, with a minimum of political and diplomatic damage?

The book is not at all a dry recitation of events, and was a good read. I enjoyed it.

I've had an "obsession" with the Kennedys for many years now. I've read a bunch of books, watched multiple documentaries, followed conspiracy theories, etc. I was excited to see a book dedicated to the patriarch, Joe, available on Netgalley. I went into The Ambassador already knowing that I had a strong dislike for Joseph P. Kennedy and this book did absolutely nothing to change my mind from that opinion. To be clear, I've read exactly 50% of this book and don't tend to read anymore. The book is obviously well researched but in terms of a biography it comes off dry and more of a research paper. I would read pages and pages that had nothing to do with Kennedy only to be given one or two sentences on what he reported to Roosevelt which inevitably was not even close to the truth because his narcissitic personality only allowed for rewriting or retelling of the truth so that his ideals or he himself were put in the proper light. His inaction and his inability to see Hitler for who he was was disgusting and outrageous. I can't stomach anymore especially knowing how it ends anyway. Maybe some day I'll come back to it but definitely not at this time. Thank God he never became president himself.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Susan Ronald, and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

I have long been a fan of the Kennedy family, perhaps America’s first political dynasty. While much of my focus has been on JFK and his assassination, Susan Ronald opened my eyes to another angle worth exploring. Joseph P. Kennedy, the patriarch of the Kennedys, used power and influence to sway opinions, both in and out of the political arena. When he was given the role of US Ambassador to the Court of St. James’s (United Kingdom), it was the job of a lifetime. However, as Ronald argues effectively throughout this tome, it came with significant consequences for the country, the president, and world history. Ronald puts forth strong arguments and keeps the reader enthralled throughout as she lay the groundwork for how Kennedy’s ambassadorship changed history, not entirely for the better.

Susan Ronald opens the book offering the reader some great backstory on the Kennedys and how Joseph helped build his empire on both American coasts. His love of the movie industry helped make him a household name, though his focus was making money rather than making sure every American could recite his name at the drop of a hat. As his family grew, Kennedy found ways to build walls around himself, keeping his wife, Rose, at a distance when it suited him. However, He always wanted his eldest, Joe, Jr., and John (Jack) close to the action, hoping to pave the way for their successes in the years that followed.

With his eye on the ambassadorship in the United Kingdom, Kennedy lobbied Franklin Roosevelt (FDR) for the appointment. Many people know Kennedy was wealthy, but a position like this would require more than cutting a cheque to cover the costs. He would need to be a diplomat and one with power to persuade. Kennedy did all in his power to show that his influence could be used properly in Europe and that his connections would effectively help the Americans build stronger ties with their allies. Reluctantly, FDR agreed to the appointment in 1938, but tried to leash Kennedy to ensure things flowed smoothly.

While Kennedy was keen to use his new role to cement European connections, he was fond of offering his opinions when it came to the brewing unrest on the European continent. As the Germans and Italians rose to power, Kennedy repeatedly espoused views that fascism was not entirely problematic, as long as it kept communism from rising. This was not official American foreign policy and there are numerous instances when FDR offered angered rebukes about his ambassador. Kennedy was, perhaps indirectly, trying to formulate US policy on his own and speaking as the government mouthpiece while doing so. Using his ties within the British government, Kennedy sometimes could be seen to shape politics at Westminster in a time when a united front was needed against the boisterous Germans and equally troubling Italians.

Appeasement appeared to be the theme of the day, as Kennedy supported his British counterparts while they dealt with the fascist uprising. FDR did not take the easiest approach and recall his ambassador, for many reasons. With an upcoming election in 1940, FDR sometimes surmised that it was better to keep Kennedy away, so as to prevent him from making a run for the Democratic nomination. While war inched closer, Kennedy pushed his views, but was eventually rebuffed when FDR-supported Churchill returned to the prime ministership. Kennedy was no longer the great political statesman and bided his time while FDR turned attention elsewhere. Kennedy had overstayed his welcome and was soon on his way back, with little to show and no overt support from his own government.

Ronald effectively portrays Joseph P. Kennedy’s rise to power as being one in which the man thought that he could use his influence to change opinion, no matter what his superiors wanted. While this did occur repeatedly, the clash between Kennedy and official US foreign policy never seemed to be properly resolved. Kennedy dictated what he wanted, the State Department issued their version, and the two wafted next to one another, while Europe stood on shaky ground. Ronald shows how this gamble to send Kennedy to Europe paid off more to keep him out of the Administration’s hair than to keep things steady and calm. Joseph Kennedy had an agenda and would not leave without pushing it in one direction or another. That it caused a great deal of turmoil in the late 1930s is clear to many, though could it have been halted without ruining FDR’s chances at an unprecedented third term in office? That’s a mystery best left to the alternate historians.

While this was by no means a light and quick read, Susan Ronald makes it highly enjoyable for the reader who has an interest in this sort of thing. Her attention to detail and thorough analysis provides the reader with something intriguing to read. Much of the instability within Europe is well-known, but Ronald’s perspective offers readers a great insight into what happened and how Kennedy played a key role in its development. With chapters that are easily digested and a captivating narrative, the story advances well and the curious reader is provided some wonderful nuggets. Susan Ronald is clear in her arguments and does leave the reader with something on which to chew as they consider what might have been. I’d gladly read more of her work, as this offered a great perspective on pre- and early-war analysis.

Kudos, Madam Ronald,, for an insightful book. I am glad I took the time to read it and hope to find more of your work soon.

While initially this sounded fascinating, as I've read the first several chapters I've discovered I'm not actually that interested in the Kennedy's or this particular aspect of history. Susan Ronald is very thorough, covering each person's perspectives and background to adequately convey the significance of each interaction. Unfortunately, it reads a little dense to me, and I feel like it's assumed I know information even as it's being shared. I expect this book would be much better for people more interested in Joe Kennedy or already more familiar with this time period.

I have tried for quite a while to read this one and I have realized the problem is me and not the book. I have simply burned myself out on reading about the Kennedys at this time.

While I have not finished the book (and hope to still in the future), I want to note that what I have read so far is well-researched and seems quite thorough. The Kennedys will never shed their allure I don't think, and this seems to be a good addition to the vast collection already out. Kennedy is easily one of the most dislikable guys of the era, and yet his family still holds our attention.

I will update this when I come back to it in the future.

I have read numerous books about the Kennedys since John F. Kennedy was the president back in the early 60s, but never a book about his father, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. This was a real eyeopener as I had not read anything about the family dynamics of Joe, Rose and all the children. Joe was a womanizer and both he and Rose were social climbers who wanted to be part of the high society of London. Joe was sworn in as US Ambassador to Great Britain just before the beginning of World War II. He started out being very well liked but soon was not liked at all. I enjoyed reading about the children's lives and problems and there was a lot of information that I had not read before.

Overall, I really enjoyed this very well-researched and well-written book about the famous Kennedys. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this fascinating book.