My brother Bob doesn't want to be in government - he promised Dad

"My brother Bob doesn't want to be in government — he promised Dad he'd go straight." — John F. Kennedy

In this wry and memorable remark, John F. Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States, wove humor and truth together as only the wise can. Beneath the sparkle of wit lies a subtle and profound understanding of government, power, and the moral burden of public life. When Kennedy joked that his brother Bob — Robert F. Kennedy — had “promised to go straight,” he was not merely teasing his family; he was offering a tongue-in-cheek confession about the nature of politics itself. His jest implied that life in government, though noble in purpose, is so riddled with moral peril that entering it almost feels like a fall from innocence — a step into the shadows where idealism and compromise wrestle for the soul of every public servant.

To understand this quote, one must first see the world as Kennedy saw it. He came from a family of ambition and influence, born into wealth but schooled in duty. His father, Joseph P. Kennedy, had navigated the rough tides of business and politics, learning firsthand that the corridors of power are not sanctuaries of virtue, but arenas of temptation. The family joke — that joining government is the opposite of “going straight” — captures this tension perfectly. Kennedy knew that in politics, good intentions are tested by ambition, and purity of purpose is often stained by the compromises necessary to govern. His humor is the armor of a man who sees clearly the flaws of the system he serves, yet still chooses to serve it.

Throughout history, many have recognized this same paradox. The philosopher Plato, in his Republic, warned that those who love justice must be wary of entering politics, for the political world is full of corruption and deceit. And yet, he said, it is precisely because such evils exist that the virtuous must not abandon the field. In Kennedy’s jest, this same wisdom breathes again — the acknowledgment that while government is imperfect, it still requires good men and women to endure its imperfections. The remark is playful, yes, but behind the laughter is a question as old as civilization: Can a person remain good while wielding power?

Kennedy’s own life, and that of his brother Robert, would become an answer to that question. Though John joked that his brother wanted to “go straight,” it was Robert who would later enter government with a ferocity of conscience rare among politicians. As Attorney General, he fought against organized crime, defended civil rights, and sought to mend the moral fractures of a divided nation. His path proved that even in the murky realm of politics, one could strive toward integrity, even if perfection remained out of reach. Thus, the very humor of John’s remark became prophetic — a foreshadowing of the struggle that Robert would embrace: to bring decency and justice to a world that often rewarded neither.

This quote also reveals something profound about Kennedy’s understanding of the human condition. He recognized that humor and humility must walk hand in hand with power. By making light of government’s moral hazards, he stripped it of its false sanctity, reminding us that those who govern are still human — fallible, vulnerable, prone to the same errors as any man. In doing so, he invited the people to look upon their leaders not as gods, but as fellow citizens tasked with a difficult duty. For when we elevate politicians too high, we set them apart from the moral responsibilities we all share. Kennedy’s jest reaffirms that governance, at its best, is still a human enterprise — noble in intention, imperfect in execution.

The story of Robert F. Kennedy’s later transformation into a symbol of conscience gives this quote a deeper resonance. His life ended in tragedy, yet he stood as proof that the political realm, though corruptible, could still be redeemed by courage and empathy. He did not “go straight” in the literal sense of avoiding politics, but he sought to make politics itself straight — to restore its moral compass. This, perhaps, is the quiet moral beneath his brother’s joke: that it is not enough to laugh at the crookedness of power; one must have the strength to enter its halls and strive to make them just.

Thus, O listener, take from this jest the wisdom of its laughter. The world of power will always tempt and test the soul, but withdrawal is not the answer. To “go straight” in the truest sense is not to avoid the struggle, but to walk upright within it. The honest citizen, the faithful servant, and the just leader all face the same choice: to preserve their integrity while serving the common good. That is the lifelong discipline of democracy — to remain clean while working in the dust of the world.

Lesson: Even in humor, truth hides. Politics, though fraught with temptation, requires the courage of those who seek to do good in a crooked world. The test of character is not in avoiding corruption altogether, but in resisting it while striving to serve others faithfully.

Practical Action: In your own life, when faced with compromise or conflict between right and convenience, remember the Kennedys’ lesson: choose integrity. Laugh at the folly of power, but do not turn away from responsibility. Serve your community with humility, question authority with respect, and keep your conscience as your compass. For in a world that rewards expedience, the one who “goes straight” in spirit, even within crooked systems, becomes a beacon of hope to all.