This was the first of a two-part documentary on the lives of Joe and Rose Kennedy and their nine children, particularly Joseph Jr., John, Robert, and Edward. It charted the course of the Kennedy's extraordinary political trajectory, an odyssey marked by both achievement and tragedy. This program focuses on Joe Kennedy Sr.'s drive to overcome prejudice against Irish Catholics and make his mark in the worlds of finance and politics. It chronicled Kennedy's success in business; his relationship with FDR; his appointment as ambassador to Great Britain; his son's rise to the White House.

Note: This is part 1 of a series of 2 parts.