<p>Photo of the Kennedy family promoting their "Kennedy Teas" during the 1952 campaign for US Senate in Massachusetts at WNAC-TV, Boston. Pictured are John F. Kennedy, Rose Kennedy, Eunice Kennedy, Patricia Kennedy and Jean Kennedy.  Eunice is speaking and showing off her "Kennedy skirt".
</p><p>The family wanted a way to <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.nps.gov/jofi/womensvote.htm">reach out to women voters</a> and felt that if women were able to meet the candidate and talk with him and members of his family, it would influence their votes. Henry Cabot Lodge was the incumbent Senator from Massachusetts and had held that seat for some time.  It was <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141030224516/http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/2008/02/18/pauline_fitzgerald_the_force_behind_famed_jfk_tea_parties/">Pauline</a> "Polly" <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141030224640/http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/2008/02/18/pauline_fitzgerald_the_force_behind_famed_jfk_tea_parties/?page=2">Fitzgerald</a>, related though Rose Kennedy, who planned and organized the teas throughout Massachusetts. There were 33 tea parties held during the campaign-women who were registered voters received <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://jfkplusfifty.wordpress.com/tag/the-kennedy-teas/">engraved invitations</a> when there was a tea party in their area.  The teas were held using silver services and china; some women lent tablecloths, china and silver to be used at the parties.
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Those who came to the tea parties often came dressed in their best; they were able to meet and talk with Congressman Kennedy, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/apO83l1X4E-OkDnQE_KheQ.aspx">his mother</a>, and his sisters over a cup of tea and cookies.  When Henry Cabot Lodge acknowledged his defeat, he placed the blame for it on "those damn tea parties".
WNAC-TV
1952
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