The “Old Money” Family The Kennedys Destroyed: The Cabot Family [Video]

This gilded age family of Boston’s elite – The Cabot Family – once stood as the unchallenged kings and queens of “old money” – yet, with each calculated move, the Kennedys began their ascent, replacing the Cabots where they were strongest—on the political battlefield.

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How The Kennedys Went From “New Money” To “Old Money”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXg4HenGY9U

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How The Kennedy Women Turned Their Family Into “Old Money”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMaN-A5Klsg

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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Introduction
2:03 Chapter 1: The Kingdom of The Cabots
5:38 Chapter 2: How The Cabots Got Their Start
10:16 Chapter 3: Taking Over Boston
14:19 Chapter 4: The Cabots vs. The Kennedys
22:59 Chapter 5: The Legacy of The Cabots

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In the gilded age of Boston’s elite, the Cabot Dynasty stood unchallenged, their wealth, political might, and social sovereignty defining “old money” grandeur in the city’s upper echelons.

Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., a man of considerable ambition and cunning, was captivated by the Cabots’ untouchable status.

Fueled by a mix of admiration and burning jealousy, Kennedy embarked on a relentless quest to dismantle the Cabot stronghold.

He envisioned his sons not just as heirs to his burgeoning fortune but as chess pieces in a grand strategy to usurp the Cabots’ throne.

With each calculated move, the Kennedys began their ascent, challenging the Cabots where they were strongest—on the political battlefield.

Kennedy’s strategic positioning within major industries and the deliberate grooming of his sons for political success laid the groundwork for a formidable family dynasty.

The critical turning point came with John F. Kennedy’s 1952 Senate race against Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.

In this contest, JFK leveraged his family’s growing financial and political clout to secure a seat long held under Cabot control.

This victory marked a significant blow to the Cabot’s political stronghold and heralded the rise of the Kennedys to national prominence.

The rivalry between the Cabots and Kennedys was not merely a personal vendetta; it was emblematic of the broader societal shifts of the era.

This contest underscored the dynamic interplay of wealth, power, and emerging social currents, reflecting the changing landscape of American politics.

As newer immigrant groups, like the Irish Catholics represented by the Kennedys, vied for recognition and influence, they clashed with the established Protestant elite, embodied by the Cabots.

Despite their rivalry, both families profoundly shaped Boston’s social and political landscape.

The Cabots continued their philanthropic legacy, heavily investing in the arts, education, and health care, thus nurturing Boston’s cultural and social sectors.

Their ongoing contributions ensured that their influence remained ingrained in the city’s development.

Meanwhile, the Kennedys, through JFK’s presidency and the subsequent political engagements of his brothers, became national symbols of American politics and public service.

The story of these two families illustrates the profound impact that wealth and power can have on community and national policy, marking their indelible imprint on the history of one of America’s oldest cities.

Thus, the storied rivalry between the Cabot and Kennedy dynasties is more than a tale of two families. It is a reflection of the evolution of American society, where old world traditions and new world ambitions converge, forever altering the trajectory of a city and its people.