Irish in America

愛爾蘭裔天主教徒（Irish Catholics)在美國直到二戰前都是非常受歧視的。因為美國是個基督教為主的國家。這是事實。肯尼迪的父親是先發了財，買了官，然後培養了自己的兒子從政。在當時的環境下，肯尼迪能選上總統還是很不容易。大概相當於現在猶太候選人當選總統一樣。至於下麵說的美國很多英裔總統，絕大多數是蘇格蘭裔，地位比愛爾蘭天主教徒地位高得多，而且很多都是英國的貴族後代。

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Americans

Irish Catholics were popular targets for stereotyping in the 19th century. According to historian George Potter, the media often stereotyped the Irish in America as being boss-controlled, violent (both among themselves and with those of other ethnic groups), voting illegally, prone to alcoholism and dependent on street gangs that were often violent or criminal. Potter quotes contemporary newspaper images: