I’ve read a fair amount about the Kennedys, but this is the first nonfiction book I’ve read that tackled Joe, Sr. in any depth. Don’t go into this if you want to like the subject. I found Kennedy thoroughly unlikeable.
Ronald paints a picture of the man in all his roles - family man, womanizer, businessman, political appointee. The book gives us plenty of lead up to his appointment as Ambassador to England in 1938. It then takes us through his tumultuous 3 years in the position. Kennedy was totally unprepared for the job. A narcissist, he felt he knew better than the President and Secretary of State and often spoke out of turn. He was disloyal to Roosevelt as he had his own presidential ambitions. Like PM Chamberlain, he was convinced Hitler could be dealt with and managed and that a “German economic powerhouse wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.” He was continually of the opinion that fascism was better than communism as it would protect capitalist positions.
Ronald gives us a well rounded dissertation on the times. She shows us not just Kennedy’s positions, but also those of the other American politicians and ambassadors and the British politicians. She also adds in bits about the Kennedys’ social ambitions.
The book tends to dryness, but I felt that I learned a lot from it, especially concerning the build up to the war.
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

Ronald writes a forthright assessment of Joe Kennedy's brief but destructive time as US ambassador to England. Her prose is erudite and I appreciated her candor. For too long the name Kennedy has been enshrined, but she shreds the veneer and reveals Joe Kennedy for what he really was. He was completely out of his depth in foreign diplomacy and milked the title for the rest of his life. Kennedy was exceptional at making money, but his puffed up self importance was a shield for his many shortcomings. The book doesn't contain any new revelations, at least for me, but it's a good starting point for a reader who is well acquainted with the Kennedy clan.

Great read for a deep dive into the history of the making of an American political dynasty. Joe and wife Rose were the ultimate social climbers, and the reader is ultimately left with how characteristically narcissistic they both were with Joe engaging in multiple affairs and Rose frequently traveling alone away from family. In larger measure, he was on the wrong side of history as it relates to Hitler and the Nazi party, siding with Chamberlain that appeasement was the path forward and advocating letting Hitler have his way with Europe.

Adept at improving his personal fortune and propelling his children into the upper stratosphere of society, Joe was determined to create a context by which either he and/or a son would be elevated to the Oval Office. Ronald’s details concerning the complicated relationship between Kennedy and FDR (FDR just wanted him out of the country and out of his hair) are interesting in that we see how FDR was able to manipulate Kennedy while Kennedy continually thought it appropriate to rail against the president and tell him what to do.

Most deeply disturbing is daughter Rosemary’s fate. Relegated to a mental institution after years of violent moods, seizures and missing developmental milestones, Rosemary eventually underwent a lobotomy at her father’s direction. The author details the facts that only Joe visited her for many years, with her sisters only visiting after their father had passed on. Full disclosure, I received a complimentary ARC copy from NetGalley.

This was an interesting read about how self-centered, egotistical and narcissistic Joesph Kennedy was and that he wanted to be an Ambassador in England/St James because of wealth and name. He was initially welcomes but overall bombed/failed at the job because he believed more in commerce as a businessman for political gain. Thank goodness this kept him out of the political scene in Washington. His relationship with FDR was complicated and the two tolerated each other at best.

I did not know that much about JPK until reading this book, which was very dull in many spots and sometimes made my eyes glaze over. I did enjoy reading about the complicated relationships he tried to keep in the political scene that he did very little experience in, hoping that his wealth as a businessman would carry him over. Thank goodness JFK and RFK turned out quite different and were better/moral people that their father. Their assassinations are still sad, even though I only learned about them through school and books.

Still a recommended read for any history buff. I could tell this was well researched.

Thanks to Netgalley, Susan Ronald and St Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 8/3/21

A well researched, and presented, book into Joseph Kennedy's time as Ambassador to England. The reader must realize that this was a turbulent time immediately before and after the beginning of World War II. Kennedy was not a diplomat but a wealthy businessman who felt commerce should come first even if it meant appeasement to the Germans and Italians. However it suited Roosevelt's political purpose to keep him out of Washington and America and in the dark as to what was really going on behind the scenes.

The book can be a little dry and difficult to read but is well worth it in the end. Everything is footnoted and easily referenced for the reader.

I have rated it 4 stars and recommend it to everyone with a liking for historical background on recent current events.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review.

received this from Netgalley for my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book looked at Joseph P. Kennedy's ambassadorship in Britain just before and right after the start of WWII.

I have never read anything about Kennedy before this book. I knew he was a very rich guy, but I never knew he was such a narcissist. I mean he thought he was entitled to so many different positions, until Roosevelt finally appeased him with this one in England. It was interesting to see how Kennedy thought his ambassadorship was preceived and the actual way it was. Most of the Brits at first liked him, but when Hitler started demanding lands back, most of his Brit friends started departing from him.

This book took a lot of research and you can tell, when you read it, that it was well researched. Just the amount of data Ronald had to go for had to be enormous. Roland didn't write this so that I came away thinking how great a guy Kennedy was. Yes, he set his family and future generations up for life. That said, he pinned his son's against each other, he was never ever faithful, he was a narcissist, had a gigantic ego, and was a womanizer. Plus, the Brits thought he was a pessimist because he kept telling them they couldn't win a war.

If you are interested in the Kennedy's or WWII, I think you would enjoy this book. Happy Reading 😊

The Ambassador is a book that covers Joseph P. Kennedy's time as ambassador to the United Kingdom from 1938-40 as Europe slipped deeper and deeper into war. It is not a kind book. As a matter of fact, any positives Ronald has to say about Kennedy throughout The Ambassador could probably fit comfortably in a long paragraph.

Kennedy combined a plain-spoken nature with an un-ambassador like ability to share his own opinions and beliefs as though they were stated fact, even when they contradicted US policy. He was close to Neville Chamberlain and other elites and these friendships personal and business led him to embrace policies and ideas that grew increasingly out of touch with the realities of Europe—most notably his belief that Fascism was the wave of the future. He was also an anti-Semite but that was hardly remarkable considering the time and circles he ran in.

Kennedy in Ronald’s telling is a man loyal to himself and his family, only paying head to figures such as FDR as much as he needed to stay in his position. It was all about making sure the Kennedy’s were somebodies in the great social events/society of London as he saw great things ahead for himself and his children. But his own tendency to act outside of official channels and against official advice threatened even the ambitions of the few he was loyal to.

A blistering critique of Joseph Kennedy’s time in London with barely a positive word uttered.

Although I knew that Joseph Kennedy, Sr was the Ambassador to the Court of St James in the time period just before World War II. I did not know how difficult and often acrimonious the relationship was between Kennedy and FDR. This also showed me a side of Rose Kennedy that I had not expected. I enjoyed this book very much. It also made me regret again the assassinations of JFK and RFK.

I have never taken the time to read about Joseph Kennedy and I was mesmerized by this well documented, extremely detailed biography of his Ambassadorial years .

If he is the man that Ms. Ronald described in this book, it shocks me to know that he survived in his position at the Court of St. James for as long as he did. I don’t in any way doubt the validity of the portrait she painted, but I am struggling to accept that such a man was chosen for this important position ( given his acknowledged shortcomings and lack of experience) . That choice, and the decision to keep him in his position, reflects directly on Franklin Roosevelt, of course.

Putting aside the partisan politics that permeates the Roosevelt- Kennedy relationship, the author demonstrates Mr. Kennedy’s pro-German sensibilities, which given the benefit of history, are disturbing.

I appreciated the opportunity provided by NetGalley to read this book in exchange for a candid review.

This book focuses on Joseph P. Kennedy’s plot to become the Ambassador to Great Britain and the amazingly poor performance by him once he is in the position. Roosevelt appointed him primarily to get him out of his hair in D.C. and Kennedy had not inkling on how to be diplomatic or the proper way of representing the interests of the United States. There is really nothing new here if one has read other biographies on Kennedy. It will be an informative book for those who have not or have read very little about the man.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.

Joseph P. Kennedy won his varsity letter in baseball at Harvard; in the last game, despite his being struck out, he seized the winning ball which should have been awarded to the team captain. This incident seems to sum up his character: if he believed himself entitled, he grabbed for it. He felt he deserved recognition from high places and campaigned for Roosevelt in anticipation of a reward. He did not get what he wanted but he saw the job as ambassador to Britain as a way to rise. He was not equipped with the personality needed for such a position. He lacked a decent understanding of world affairs, unlike his second son. He saw fascism growing across Europe but failed to see the need for engaging in conflict with these countries. He called for neutrality for America while he attempted to strengthen his business interests. He lived up to the description of “loose cannon.” He alienated the majority of the English people. He manipulated the press and spoke disparagingly about the American President. He talked too much, appearing vulgar and coarse to some and charming to others. Referred to as “Jittery Joe,” he was regarded as a coward. Susan Ronald provides detailed and well-supported incidents in his tenure as ambassador along with analyses of how he viewed a situation and how others viewed him. His tunnel vision of life and aggressive nature turned off many; however, it set his own family on a destiny of historic proportions.

I always knew he was a terrible choice for Ambassador to Great Britain, but was actually shocked about how he was truly a horrible human being. Incidentally, Rose doesn't come off so well either. He was only interested in himself and the advancement of his family, and his lies, deceptions and anti-Semitism showed absolutely no loyalty to his country and to Britain. Impressed by the author's research and access to newly available documents. History always wins and should teach us lessons.

My Interest

I have stated many times my life-long interest in the Kennedy family, which I inherited from my parents and my paternal grandmother. I have a substantial library of books on them, and though I no longer buy that many on the family, I found this one on Net Galley and received it in exchange for an honest review. [I do not make any money off this blog. Even my Amazon links are merely for readers' convenience.]

The Story

Joe Kennedy's story is well known--father of the famous Kennedy sons: President John F. Kennedy, Attorney General/Senator Robert F. Kennedy, Senator Edward M. Kennedy and his namesake, Joe. Jr--killed in World War II  He is equally well-known for his daughter Kathleen ("Kick") who married their heir of Duke of Devonshire, "Billy," Marquess of Hartington, Eunice who founded The Special Olympics, Pat who married British actor Peter Lawford, Jean married to the head of the Kennedy business empire, Steven Smith, (and mother of the once-notorious William Kennedy Smith) and Rosemary--the daughter he tried so hard to protect, yet agreed to lobotomized. Until the lobotomy, however well-intentioned it might have been, being Rosemary's father was perhaps Joe's most admirable role. He loved her so.


Joe Kennedy's best-known trait was his ruthlessness. This book does an excellent job of showing that. He was also a pioneer in the use of public relations. Americans knew of that big family of Joe and Rose Kennedy before he became head of the new SEC or Ambassador, let alone before Jack became a Senator or President, because of his relentless self-promotion.

Today we would say that the "optics" were good for Joe Kennedy to serve as Ambassador to the "England" [The Court at St. James]--the gregarious big Irish-Catholic American family not only showed America's love of home and family but also showed that an Irish Catholic was as good as anyone else. Even as late as the 1930s this was not always the case.  The family was interviewed sailing for England--the very young Bobby and Teddy being the stars of the interview. Rosemary and Kick were shown leaving with Rose for their debut at Buckingham Palace--a move that delighted Irish Catholic Americans only a generation or two removed from what they saw as British treachery in Ireland. Equally engaging was the image of little Teddy with his family after receiving his First Holy Communion at the Vatican. Joe Jr, "Kick," and Jack all became darlings of the aristocratic social round--Kick even bagging one of the most eligible bachelors of her generation. The Irish Catholic Kennedy family were "society," not servants.

Sadly, Ambassador Joe Kennedy was often more an embarrassment than an asset. In terms of policy,  Joe was more interested in his own growing reputation than in the interests of the administration he represented in London. He allied with "Peace in our time" Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain instead of with Churchill [out of office then] or other politicians more in tune with FDR's policies. Joe Kennedy was not a man for details. He meddled, badly, took credit for the ideas of others, and used his friendship with Clare Booth Luce of Life Magazine to hype his own views and proposals, including his so-called "Kennedy Plan" for Jewish resettlement. He would later turn defeatist on the UK's chances of winning the war. FDR's staff decided he was dangerous and his stint as Ambassador was ended.

My Thoughts

This was an easy, but engaging read. There is so new (new-er) information that has not been seen much before  The author, happily, does not dwell on the entire Kennedy saga which has been told in great depth too many times. She focuses solely on Joe's professional life (i.e., the building of his fortune through liquor imports, Hollywood, and the stock market) then on his tenure as Ambassador. She adds enough family details to give a good portrait of the man.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this arc in exchange for my honest review.
The Ambassador is a well written and super interesting biography detailing the time Joe Kennedy spent as an ambassador to Great Britain. If you love reading in great detail about a specific time period of someone’s life and are interested in the Kennedy patriarch, this book is for you!

The Kennedy family is endlessly fascinating to read about. Their lifestyle was just so different from anything most of us can imagine. Joe Kennedy was not the right choice for Ambassador to the Court of St. James by any stretch of the imagination. I've always felt Joe Kennedy was an opportunist and a pretty sketchy guy, but this book sheds new light on the depths of his political depravity. An engrossing read that peels back the Kennedy veneer.

A well-researched and well-sourced look at a very tumultuous period of US History. It, unfortunately, brings in to stark relief what a reprehensible human being Joe Kennedy was.

A well written book covering the subject very well. Having read many books on WW2, I have an good understand of the time frame and events of the time. Susan does a good job of building the book to read like a story and not just an academic or lecturing the reader. The book flows very well and allows the reader to feel like they get to know the players. If you have read very little history or on WW2, I think you might miss some of the important events and how the players reacted. Over all if you enjoy history and WW2, I would recommend adding this book to your reading list.

As a lover of history books I have a few bad habits - one, I pile up tons of books on different topics and over think reading order or priority. "What to read first - this history of the Russian Revolution or this biography of Lenin?" Two, I pick things that are just massive and span eras or lifetimes and take just as long to read. This was a great change of pace and enjoyable read that I would recommend to just about anyone. It is focused on a familiar period of time but in an area I haven't read a ton about. The focus on this small period of WWII and in Kennedy's life and career was always interesting and will definitely lead me to explore more in related areas of history. I think this story has some commonalities to things in the current day as well - the conflicts that arise between economic focused and people/social focused policies. The idea that improving a nation's economy will inevitably solve many ills that citizens face was just as much of a force then as it is today.

Well written, easy to read narrative style, and a memorable story. Definitely recommended.

I read this book from cover to cover in fascination of the things I learned about Joe Kennedy. The storyline details and actual quotes made the book more credible and extremely hard to put down. I feel more knowledgeable pertaining to the Kennedy family since reading this wonderful book. Thank you for choosing me as a reviewer.

After reading The House of Kennedy and Logevall's JFK biography this summer and other JFK and RFK biographies in the past, I was excited to learn more about the father that made it all possible. This biography, like Logevall's JFK biography, is focused on a period of time rather than a whole life, and in this case that period is small, yet pivotal number of years. While Joe Kennedy's term as ambassador have touched on in other Kennedy books I have read, this book definitely reveals a lot more details about his tenure, and the events that led to WW2 from that perspective, than any other I have read. I surprisingly never remember reading that Joe Kennedy's dream for his family was to have a greater impact that the Adams in American history, but this is an important detail mentioned early in this book that serves as a great framework for viewing the events that occurred throughout the time period covered. Joe Kennedy was a man of great ambition who ultimately came up short in his dream to be president himself, and this book gives a great picture of why he came up short but also how he set up his family for future glory and power at the same time.