Jean Kennedy Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jean Kennedy Smith
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Kennedy c. 1953
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| United States Ambassador to Ireland | |
| In office June 24, 1993 – September 17, 1998 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | William H. G. FitzGerald |
| Succeeded by | Mike Sullivan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jean Ann Kennedy
February 20, 1928 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | June 17, 2020 (aged 92) New York City, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Stephen Edward Smith
(m. 1956; died 1990) |
| Children | 4, including William |
| Parents | Joseph P. Kennedy Rose Fitzgerald |
| Relatives | Kennedy family |
| Education | Manhattanville College (BA) |
Jean Ann Kennedy Smith (February 20, 1928 – June 17, 2020) was an important American diplomat, activist, and writer. She served as the United States Ambassador to Ireland from 1993 to 1998.
Jean was a member of the famous Kennedy family. She was the eighth of nine children born to Joseph P. Kennedy and Rose Kennedy. Her siblings included President John F. Kennedy and Senators Robert F. Kennedy and Edward M. Kennedy. Her sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded the Special Olympics.
As Ambassador to Ireland, Jean Kennedy Smith played a big role in helping to bring peace to Northern Ireland. She also founded Very Special Arts (VSA). This group helps people with disabilities get involved in the arts. In 2011, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest award a civilian can get in the United States.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Jean Ann Kennedy was born on February 20, 1928, in Boston, Massachusetts. She was one of nine children in the large Kennedy family. Her parents were Joseph P. Kennedy and Rose Kennedy.
Her siblings included Joseph Jr., John F. Kennedy, Rosemary Kennedy, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Patricia Kennedy Lawford, Robert F. Kennedy, and Ted Kennedy. Jean was known as one of the quieter Kennedy children.
She went to Manhattanville College and graduated in 1949. While there, she became friends with her future sisters-in-law, Ethel Skakel and Joan Bennett.
Working for Change
After marrying Stephen Edward Smith in 1956, Jean Kennedy Smith became very involved in her brother John's political career. She helped him with his campaigns for Congress, Senate, and president. She and her siblings would go door-to-door to meet voters.
Very Special Arts
In 1974, Jean Kennedy Smith started an organization called Very Special Arts. Today, it's part of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. VSA creates art and education programs for young people and adults with disabilities.
By 2011, VSA's programs helped many students in the United States and other countries. Jean traveled all over the world for VSA. She spoke up for people with disabilities and helped them get involved in art. She also wrote a book called Chronicles of Courage: Very Special Artists in 1993.
U.S. Ambassador to Ireland
In 1993, President Bill Clinton chose Jean Kennedy Smith to be the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland. Her father had also been an ambassador, serving in the United Kingdom.
As ambassador, Smith was very important in the Northern Ireland peace process. This was a time when people were working to end conflict in Northern Ireland. She helped bring different groups together. She even encouraged the U.S. government to give a visa to Gerry Adams, a leader involved in the peace talks. Many believe this helped lead to a ceasefire in 1994.
In 1998, the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, gave Jean Kennedy Smith honorary Irish citizenship. This was to thank her for her great work for the country. The Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, told her she had helped make life better for everyone in Ireland.
Jean Kennedy Smith retired as ambassador on July 4, 1998. This was a few months after the important Good Friday Agreement, which helped bring peace to Northern Ireland.
Awards and Later Life
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Jean Kennedy Smith received many awards for her work. These included the Gold Medal Award from the Éire Society of Boston in 2007. In 2009, she and her brother Ted Kennedy received the Tipperary Peace Prize.
In February 2011, President Barack Obama gave her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest award for a civilian in the United States. She received it for her work with people with disabilities. In March 2011, she was added to the Irish America magazine's Hall of Fame.
In October 2016, Smith published a book about her family called The Nine of Us: Growing Up Kennedy.
Personal Life
Jean Kennedy married businessman Stephen Edward Smith on May 19, 1956. They had two sons, Stephen Jr. and William. They also adopted two daughters, Amanda and Kym.
Stephen Edward Smith passed away in 1990. Jean Kennedy Smith died at her home in Manhattan on June 17, 2020. She was 92 years old and was the last surviving of the nine Kennedy children.
See also
In Spanish: Jean Kennedy Smith para niños
