Quotes from Jean Kennedy Smith

While I cannot comment in detail about the inter workings of the State Department, it is a matter of public record that I recommended a visa for Gerry Adams to visit the United States. I believe then, and I continue to believe now, that this step did help to advance the peace process in Northern Ireland.

Our life did not seem unusual to me at all. Anything that happened that was special, like visits from dignitaries, was always explained as part of Dad's work.

I always thought it is a bit of a balloon, how rich we are.

I think coming from a big family, it helps you to keep your sense of humor about certain things... even politics.

My husband has been very supportive of me, and we've shared a lot. Yes! We've had a lot of laughs. You have to have them. He makes life fun. That's important, isn't it?'

Next to President of the United States, Ambassador to Ireland is surely one of the best jobs an Irish American can hold.

We cannot give up hope. It's our most important gift.

It is sometimes difficult to comprehend that I am the only member of our original family still living.

My father was a very powerful influence, well, always, through our life. He taught us very much that... we were very lucky and that we should make a contribution to country, that we were fortunate to live in America.

I tried to explain in 'The Nine of Us' how we grew up with politics. At meals we talked about what was in the newspaper. We talked politics non-stop! Campaigning for our brothers was a part of our lives.

I don't buy from any one special designer.

Mother and Dad were destined to have a gaggle of children. We would not have been complete if they had stopped at two or four or even six. Nine of us we had to be.

When I protested because they wouldn't buy me new skates or if someone complained a teacher gave too much homework, Dad would respond: There's no whining in this house. It was his way of saying: there is no place in this house for feeling sorry for yourself.

I don't ever remember a dinner party, a cocktail party in our house ever. It was always family.

I think I'm fairly demanding, probably. You have to feel that when you're appointed to a job you have to do the job.

I think everyone acknowledges Teddy is the person in the Senate who speaks for Ireland.

After Joe passed away in the war, it seemed only natural that Jack and Bobby and then Teddy might pursue office as well. Public service was part of our DNA from our earliest years.

It is certainly accurate, as it has often been said and as his letters reveal, that Grandpa supplied his tenth college reunion with alcohol in 1922 at the height of Prohibition.

I feel I was very fortunate to be in the position to do something positive, to make a contribution to change. It gave me terrific satisfaction.

We can't be dominated by ruthless terrorism and the American principle is that we never will be.

I'm not in public life except by accident.

In Bronxville, New York, we went to public school there, before London. Mother had a great belief in public school. She said it was very good for us to meet all the neighborhood kids.

We need strong gun laws. How can people even ask a question about it? Gun control is so important.

When I looked at my mother, I always saw a bit of Ireland. And I suppose when I look to Ireland, I see a bit of my mother - her faith, her wit, her endurance.