John Francis 'Honey Fitz' Fitzgerald

Rise to Political Power in Boston

Thomas Fitzgerald — known to all of Boston as "Honey Fitz" — was born on February 11, 1863, in the North End of Boston, the son of Irish immigrant parents. Charismatic, irrepressible, and possessed of an instinctive feel for the rhythms of immigrant urban politics, he rose through the Democratic Party machinery of late nineteenth-century Boston to become one of the city's defining political figures. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1895 to 1901 before setting his sights on City Hall.

Fitzgerald was elected Mayor of Boston in 1905 and served from 1906 to 1908, then won the office again and served from 1910 to 1914. His political base was anchored in the working-class Irish Catholic neighborhoods of the North End and lower Roxbury, and he cultivated loyalty with a personal warmth and accessibility that became the template for Boston machine politics.

The Man Behind the Legend

The nickname "Honey Fitz" captured both his honeyed oratory and his sweetness of manner with voters. He was famous for bursting into his campaign song — a sentimental Irish-American standard called "Sweet Adeline" — at rallies, banquets, and on any other occasion that presented itself. The habit became so associated with him that the song was practically his personal anthem.

His career was not without controversy. He waged fierce political battles with rival boss Martin Lomasney and faced persistent accusations of patronage and machine-style corruption that were commonplace in the era. A federal investigation during his second mayoral term contributed to his political difficulties, though he remained a beloved figure to his Irish Catholic constituency.

Legacy as Kennedy Patriarch

Honey Fitz's most enduring legacy is genealogical and dynastic. His daughter Rose Fitzgerald married Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. in 1914, and from that union came the Kennedy dynasty: President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Senator Edward M. Kennedy, along with daughters whose descendants have populated American public life for over a century.

Fitzgerald lived long enough to see his grandson elected to Congress in 1946 — a moment that must have represented the fullest vindication of everything he had strived for. He died on October 2, 1950, in Boston, at the age of 87, just as the Kennedy political saga was beginning its ascent toward the White House. His children included Rose, Agnes, Thomas Jr., Eunice, John Jr., and Frederick.

How is Honey Fitz related to President Kennedy?

Thomas "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald was the maternal grandfather of President John F. Kennedy. His daughter Rose Fitzgerald married Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., and their son John became the 35th President of the United States.

Why was Thomas Fitzgerald called "Honey Fitz"?

Thomas Fitzgerald earned the nickname "Honey Fitz" for his honeyed speaking style and winning personal manner. He was also famous for spontaneously singing "Sweet Adeline" at political gatherings throughout his career.