Kenneth Patrick O'Donnell ( March 4 , 1924 – September 9 , 1977 ) was an American political consultant and the special assistant and appointments secretary to President John F. Kennedy from 1961 until Kennedy 's assassination in November 1963 . O'Donnell was a close friend of President Kennedy and his younger brother Robert F. Kennedy , and was part of the group of Kennedy 's close advisers dubbed the “ Irish Mafia . ” O'Donnell also served as an aide to President Lyndon B. Johnson from 1963 to 1965 . He later served as an adviser to Robert Kennedy 's 1968 presidential campaign
assassination in November 1963
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
Kenneth O'Donnell