Ambassador

The most political of the famous Kennedy women, Jean Kennedy Smith was named U.S. Ambassador to Ireland three years ago by President Clinton. 

She has taken her role extremely seriously, expanding it as necessary to fulfill her objectives. Jean Kennedy Smith took a deep interest in the peace process, and used her good offices whenever possible to facilitate that peace. “Jean may well be the best politician of all the Kennedys, but she needed this position in Ireland to really show that,” said her friend Arthur Schlesinger. 

Jean Kennedy Smith is following in the footsteps of her father, Joseph Kennedy, Sr., who served as Ambassador to Britain. Besides her tireless work on Northern Ireland, the ambassador also finds time to give to charities and other worthy causes, including that of the mentally disabled. She hosted a group of Irish mothers of mentally disabled children on the birthday of her own mother, Rose Kennedy, before she died last year. 

Since the time Jean Kennedy Smith visited Ireland with her brother, former President John Kennedy, in 1963, it seems she has been destined to play a strong role in Irish affairs.