John Francis Kennedy (politician)

{{short description|American politician}}

{{other people|John Francis Kennedy}}{{Infobox officeholder

|image =

|imagesize = 150px |

| name = John Francis Kennedy

| birth_date =August 1, 1905

| birth_place =Boston, Massachusetts

| death_date =May 13, 1994 (aged 88)

| death_place =South Boston, Massachusetts

| nationality =American

| party =Democrat

| spouse =Dorothy Williams

| title = Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts

| term_start = 1955

| term_end = 1961

| governor = Christian A. Herter
Paul A. Dever

| predecessor =Foster Furcolo

| successor = John T. Driscoll

| alma_mater =

}}John Francis Kennedy (August 1, 1905{{Cite journal |work=Boston Globe| title = 1955-1956 Public officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts | page= 25. | publisher = Commonwealth of Massachusetts| location = Boston, MA | date = 1955 }} – May 13, 1994){{Cite journal |work=Boston Globe| title = John F. Kennedy, state treasurer for three terms in 1950s; at age 89 | page= 71. | location = Boston, MA | date = May 15, 1994 }} was the Treasurer of Massachusetts from 1955 to 1961.

Kennedy worked as a supervisor in the miscellaneous small parts stockroom{{cite news | title = OBITUARY John F. Kennedy, 88, former state treasurer | page= 106. | newspaper = The Boston Herald| location = Boston, MA | date = May 15, 1994 }} for Gillette in Canton, Massachusetts, before seeking public office. Kennedy first sought the office of Treasurer in 1952, losing the Democratic primary to Foster Furcolo. Kennedy sought the office again in 1954, defeating the party endorsed candidate (Clement A. Riley) and a third candidate (William F. Carr) in the Primary.{{cite news

|title=Bay State Race Tightens

|newspaper=Christian Science Monitor

|date=September 15, 1954

}} Kennedy then defeated Republican Augustus Gardner Means to win the office.{{cite news

|title=Kennedy Spices Treasurer Tilt

|newspaper=Christian Science Monitor

|date=August 27, 1958

}}

Kennedy's electoral success is widely seen to be a result of him having the same name as then-Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy. Kennedy's campaigns consisted of him spending $200 total ($100 for the primary, $100 for the general election) and bypassing a party convention to directly compete in the primary. After serving three terms as Treasurer, Kennedy sought the office of Governor of Massachusetts in 1960. Kennedy finished in 5th place (of 7 candidates) with 8.85%.

The 1960 Massachusetts primary included six John Kennedys seeking various office. John Kennedy of Canton (The State Treasurer) sought the office of governor. John B. Kennedy of Saugus and John M. Kennedy of Boston both sought the office of state treasurer. John Kennedy of Braintree sought the office of Norfolk county commissioner. Two John Kennedys (from Everett and Plymouth) both sought seats in the Massachusetts State House.{{cite news

|title='John Kennedy' Takes Over Mass. Primary

|publisher=UPI

|date=September 20, 1960

}} In the State Treasurer's race, Kennedy of Saugus finished third and Kennedy of Boston finished 5th in a six-man field.{{cite news

|title=Tally Nails Down O'Connor's Win

|newspaper=Christian Science Monitor

|date=September 27, 1960

}}