WI: Major Billy Cavendish, JFK's Brother-in-law, not KIA?

When Joe Kennedy went to Britain as U.S. ambassador, he brought his wife and several of their children. One of them was his second daughter Kathleen (known as "Kick"). She was JFK's favorite sister, and became one of the leading debutantes in Britain. She fell in love with William ("Billy") Cavendish, the son and heir of the Duke of Devonshire.

However, Cavendish was a Protestant and the Kennedys were Catholic, so there was no marriage. Kick returned to the U.S. with her father. In 1944, she wangled passage to Britain, and she and Billy married in spite of previous obstacles.

Four months later Billy was KIA with the 5th Battalion, Coldstream Guards in Belgium. Kick remained in England, and died in a plane crash in 1948.

So: WI Cavendish had survived the war?

His father died in 1950, and he would have succeeded to the dukedom. This in itself would make little difference...

But what would be the effect on The Kennedys of an immediate marital alliance to a very prominent British aristocrat? There would be as much publicity about it as there was for JFK's associations with Peter Lawford and Sinatra.

Would it affect JFK's career up through 1960? Any effects would be subtle, but the potential for significant change over time seems to be there.

Billy, Kick, and their children would probably be frequent guests at the Kennedy White House. That would certainly be picture-mag stuff, and possibly annoy some people.

How would the connection affect the later careers of Ted and Bobby? And the Kennedy brand?

Also bear in mind: Billy was a Tory - had even been a Conservative MP. He would take the Tory whip in the Lords, and might even get a ministry.
 
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