Joseph P. Kennedy II

Joseph Patrick Kennedy II was born on September 24, 1952, in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. He is a member of the Kennedy family, being the eldest son of Ethel (née Skakel) and Robert F. Kennedy. His paternal grandfather was Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., and his maternal grandparents were George Skakel and Ann Brannock. Kennedy is related to several prominent political figures, including his uncle, John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, and his uncle, Ted Kennedy, a U.S. Senator.

Kennedy's siblings include a total of ten children, making him the second of eleven children in his family. His childhood was spent alternately between the family's residences in McLean, Virginia, and Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. During his early years, Kennedy experienced behavioral challenges, which resulted in expulsion from multiple private schools due to issues related to temperament. The assassination of his father occurred when he was 15 years old.

For his education, Kennedy initially attended Milton Academy, a preparatory boarding school in Milton, Massachusetts. He left Milton when he was unable to take leave to work on his uncle Ted Kennedy's 1970 Senate campaign. He completed his high school education at Manter Hall, a tutoring institution in Cambridge, Massachusetts, graduating in 1971. He enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley in 1972 but did not complete his studies there, dropping out the same year. In 1973, following a significant car accident, he returned to academic pursuits and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Massachusetts Boston in 1976.

In his early career, Kennedy worked for several months in San Francisco within a federally funded program aimed at combating and treating tuberculosis in the African American community. Mayor Joseph Alioto of San Francisco commended his contributions to community health initiatives. He resigned from this position in 1973 and returned to Massachusetts.

In 1979, Kennedy founded Citizens Energy Corporation, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing discounted heating oil to low-income and elderly families in Massachusetts. The organization was established to address the economic burden of heating expenses during the 1979 oil crisis. By 1984, Citizens Energy served approximately 250,000 families with low-cost heating options. Under Kennedy's leadership, the organization transitioned in 2010 to focus on renewable energy projects, generating profits to support energy assistance programs for those in need.

Kennedy’s political career includes his tenure as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts. He was elected in 1986 to represent the state's 8th congressional district, succeeding Thomas Phillip "Tip" O'Neill Jr., who retired after serving since 1953. Kennedy's campaign received endorsements from The Boston Globe and O’Neill, and he won the Democratic primary with 53% of the vote. He subsequently won the general election with 72% of the vote.

Kennedy was re-elected in subsequent terms, securing 80% in 1988, 72% in 1990, 83% in 1992, 99% in 1994, and 84% in 1996. His legislative priorities included expanding access to credit, promoting fair lending practices, creating affordable housing, and advocating for public health and safety measures. He served on the House Banking Committee and the House Veterans' Affairs Committee. During his tenure, he focused on issues such as credit reform, mortgage fairness, veterans' healthcare, and financial regulation.

In 1998, Kennedy announced his plans to retire from Congress, citing personal and family considerations. His final term ended in January 1999. His last speech on the House floor emphasized themes of unity and forgiveness amid debates concerning presidential impeachment proceedings.

Following his congressional service, Kennedy returned to operate Citizens Energy, guiding it into renewable energy projects and large-scale solar initiatives. As of 2019, the organization completed significant community solar projects, including the Sunrise PowerLink Transmission line, producing 30 megawatts of power primarily aimed at supporting low-income communities.