The Legacy of John F. Kennedy Jr.
Making the Political Process Accessible to All Americans
With the 1995 publication of George Magazine, John F. Kennedy Jr. presented Americans with a unique concept: a publication that illuminated the political process and made it universally comprehensible by demonstrating it's functions in everyday life.
A Different Kind of Service
As the scion of America's most famous political dynasty, John F. Kennedy Jr. was the son of two icons, president John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
As co-founder of George, Kennedy the son ably rose to the challenge of distinguishing himself in his own right. He broke free from the expectation that he would seek public office and follow in his famous father's footsteps. Instead he opted to serve his country in a different way: by offering Americans a unique invitation and a means through which they could understand and involve themselves in the political process.
Ahead of His Time
As editor-in-chief of George, John F. Kennedy Jr. would define himself as culturally savvy and politically prescient. His uncanny grasp of the limitless possibilities of modern media was exemplified in an unprecedented and historic decision to launch George both in print and online.
Kennedy ambitiously sought to switch Americans on to politics by stripping away the aura of exclusivity and making it all accessible. He had the foresight to use the internet as a forum where Americans could connect and discuss their views. His goal was to create a non-partisan platform in which the full spectrum of political players could engage with the public.
With Kennedy at the helm, George's distribution numbers soared to 400,000 copies per month.
"Culture Drives Politics"
In the inaugural issue of George, Kennedy wrote, "Political figures are increasingly written about as the personalities and pop icons they have become. Politics has migrated in to the realm of pop culture and folks can't turn away."
He laid out his vision for George, describing it as "a lifestyle magazine with politics at its core, illustrating the points where politics converges with business, media, entertainment, fashion, art and science."
Kennedy also offered this insight,"Whether it's violence in movies or free speech on the internet, culture drives politics. The public arena is not a hothouse sealed off from the general climate. It parttakes of it, changes it and is changes by it."
Reflections of Kennedy's Vision
On July 16, 1999 John F. Kennedy Jr died in a plane crash at the age of 39. After his death, George remained in circulation until 2001.
In 2005, Harvard's Kennedy School of Government celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the Founding of George with a panel discussion that identified reflections of Kennedy's ingenuity at work today. Kennedy's vision was recognized in the informal presentation of politics on The Daily Show with John Stewart and in the astute use of the internet as a means to directly involve Americans in the political process as skillfully demonstrated by the Obama campaign in 2008.
John F. Kennedy Jr. was remembered by uncle Edward M. Kennedy thus, "He thought politics should be an integral part of our popular culture, and that popular culture should be an integral part of politics. He transformed that belief into the creation of George. John shaped and honed a fresh, often irreverent journal. His new political magazine attracted a new generation, many of whom had never read about politics before."
Further Reading
- Forum Honors 10th Anniversary of Founding 'George Magazine'
- The Harvard Crimson: IOP Honors George Magazine at Forum
John F. Kennedy Jr.
|
More in Politics & Society
Latest Articles