He became a member of the Democratic Party and ran for office in the House of Representatives in 1946. After receiving that nomination, he held a position in the Senate in 1952. A year later, he married Jacqueline Lee Bouvier and together they had two children. Kennedy won the Pulitzer Prize in 1957 for his book Profiles in Courage. This biography, written by JFK, outlined a number of his political heroes throughout history. Then after an unsuccessful attempt to win the nomination for vice president under Adlai Stevenson, JFK put forth his effort into preparing to run for president in the presidential election of 1960. (Funk and Wagnell, p. 354-55) .
John F. Kennedy won the presidential election of 1960, but not without the help of the organized crime families. But this was not the beginning of Kennedy's involvement with organized crime. The Kennedy family connection to organized crime dates back to his father, Joseph P Kennedy. Joseph Kennedy was known to have been in business with Frank Costello, a well-known mobster on the east coast. Together, they owned illegitimate liquor businesses, created as a front business to cover up a slew of other illegal activities, which were taking place behind the scenes. Costello was known to have been involved in bookkeeping, bootlegging, as well as ownership of illegal casinos and slot machines in various locations. After Costello's death, questions were brought upon the Kennedy family and their involvement in the underworld. They denied all allegations to their connection with organized crime of any manner. .
During his race for the Presidency in 1960, John F. Kennedy's chances of winning did not seem likely. It has been said that one night in November, JFK placed a call to Mayor Richard J. Daley of Chicago. Richard J. Daley explained to Kennedy that with the help of a few close friends, he could obtain the vote in Illinois. The fixing of ballot boxes in Kennedy's favor was not only limited to the state of Illinois, but other states as well.
