Jean Kennedy Smith

Diplomat, Author

1928 –

 Credit »
64

Who is Jean Kennedy Smith?

Jean Ann Kennedy Smith is an American diplomat and a former United States Ambassador to Ireland. She is the eighth of nine children born to Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald and is their last surviving child. Her siblings include President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, longtime Senator Ted Kennedy, and Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy.

Smith is the founder of Very Special Arts, an internationally recognized non-profit dedicated to creating a society where those with disabilities can engage with the arts. In 2011, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, by President Barack Obama for her work with VSA and the disabled.

As Ambassador to Ireland from 1993-1998, Smith was instrumental to the Northern Ireland peace process as President Bill Clinton's representative in Dublin. She successfully advocated for the U.S. government to grant a visa to Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams which directly led to the IRA declaring a ceasefire in 1994. Irish President Mary McAleese conferred honorary Irish citizenship on Smith in 1998 in recognition of her service to the island.

We need you!

Help us build the largest biographies collection on the web!

Born
Feb 20, 1928
Brookline
Also known as
  • Jean Ann Kennedy
  • Jean Ann Kennedy Smith
  • Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith
Parents
Siblings
Spouses
Children
Religion
  • Catholicism
Nationality
  • United States of America
Profession
Education
  • Manhattanville College
Lived in
  • Boston

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

Citation

Use the citation below to add to a bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"Jean Kennedy Smith." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/jean_kennedy_smith>.

Discuss this Jean Kennedy Smith biography with the community:

0 Comments

    Browse Biographies.net