Kenneth O'Donnell
| Kenneth O'Donnell | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| White House Appointments Secretary | |
|
In office January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963 |
|
| President | John F. Kennedy |
| Preceded by |
Wilton Persons as Appointments Secretary |
| Succeeded by | W. Marvin Watson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Patrick Kenneth O'Donnell March 4, 1924 Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | September 9, 1977 (aged 53) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Resting place | Holyhood Cemetery |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) |
Helen Sullivan (m. 1947; her death 1977) Asta Hanna Helga Steinfatt (m. 1977–77) |
| Relations | Cleo O'Donnell (father) |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater |
Harvard University Boston College Law School |
| Occupation | Politicial consultant, Presidential aide |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Wilton Persons
as 3rd White House Chief of Staff
Kenneth Patrick "Kenny" O'Donnell (March 4, 1924 – September 9, 1977) was an American political consultant who served as the special assistant and appointments secretary to U.S. President John F. Kennedy from 1961 until President Kennedy's assassination in November 1963. O'Donnell was a close friend of President Kennedy and his younger brother, politician Robert F. Kennedy, and was part of the group of Kennedy's close advisors called the "Irish Mafia".
O'Donnell served as President Lyndon B. Johnson's aide from 1963 to 1965, and was a key campaign advisor for Robert Kennedy's 1968 presidential campaign.
Kenneth Patrick O'Donnell was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, and raised in Boston. Both of his parents were Roman Catholics of Irish descent. His father, Cleo O'Donnell, was the football coach for the Holy Cross Crusaders football team for two decades and later athletics director for all sports activities at the College of the Holy Cross. O'Donnell's older brother, also named Cleo, was a football star at Harvard during the 1940s.
During World War II O'Donnell served in the US Army Air Corps (1942–1945). After completing his service in the AAC, he studied at Harvard College 1946–1949. It was at Harvard that O'Donnell met Robert F. Kennedy, where they were roommates as well as teammates on the Harvard football team; O'Donnell became team captain in 1948. O'Donnell and Robert Kennedy remained close friends until the latter's assassination in 1968.
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Wikipedia