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1、TheRisingPoliticianJFK'spoliticalcareerbeganwherehehadbeenborn–inMassachusetts,wherehisfatherhadnumerouscontacts,andwhereaprominentseatintheHouseofRepresentativeshadjustbecomevacant.Foratime,therewastalkofJFK'srunningforlieutenant-governor,butintheendhesettledonrunningfortheHouse's
2、EleventhDistrict,asprawlingareathatincludedmuchofEastBostonandCambridge.SaveforHarvardUniversityanditssurroundings,theEleventhwasapoordistrict,filledwithfactories,railwayyards,anddumps,andteemingwithIrishandItalianimmigrants.ItwasaheavilyDemocraticdistrict,sothekeytowinningtheelect
3、ionlayinwinningtheDemocraticprimary.Tothatend,JosephKennedy,Sr.pulledoutallthestops.UsinghisconnectionsintheBostonnewspapers,heplayeduphisfamily'scharitablework,theirstaunchCatholicism,andJFK'sstatusasawarhero.Afortunewaspouredintostreetcaradvertisingfortheyoungcandidate,andlocalpo
4、liticiansweremobilizedtolendtheirsupport.JFK'sopponentsaccusedhimofbeingarich,spoiledcarpetbagger,slummingforvotesinapoordistrict,butnoonecoulddoubthisenergyandenthusiasm.Gauntandpalefromhislongillnesses,heneverthelessmadecountlessappearancesandspeechesaroundthedistrict,marchedinpa
5、rades,andcanvassedthedistrict,shakinghandsandaskingforvotes."Wetookhimouttotaverns,"alocalorganizernamedPatMulhernsaidlater,"wetookhiminhotels,wetookhimuptotheSouthEnd,wemet'emonstreetcorners,wetookhiminclubrooms.Wetookhimeveryplace."Exhaustedandillwithafever,JFKtooktheprimaryeasil
6、yonJune17,1946.Thefallelectionwasaformality–JFKsweptpasttheRepublicancandidate,andinJanuaryof1947enteredCongressasthe"gentlemanfromMassachusetts."ThepoliticallandscapewaschangingwhenJFKreachedWashington.WorldWarIIwasover,andFranklinDelanoRooseveltwasdead.PresidentHarryTrumanwasdoin
7、ghisbesttoexpandtheliberalsocialprogramsofhispredecessor,buthefacedstaunchoppositionfromacoalitionofSouthernDemocratsandRepublicans,whoanticipatedwinningtheWhiteHouseinthe1948election.(Inactuality,Trumanwouldekeoutanarrow,comebackvictoryoverRepublicanThomasE.Dewey.)Ittooksometimefo
8、rtheinexperiencedandyouthf