Camelot’s Revival – Part 2: Slow and Steady

(Picture 1) As 2001 continue to chug along, speculation around a Kennedy for President run in 2004 continued to grow and grow. As more Democratic politicians privately pressured JFK Jr. to give it at least some level of consideration. As the year went on, magazines such as Time, the New Yorker and even Kennedy's old magazine George continued to profit off the speculation with covers with titles such as "Kennedy for President?"

(Picture 2) JFK Jr. at first just tried to ignore the speculation and pressure, privately brushing off Democratic bigwigs like Daschle, Clinton and others. However, the media coverage surrounding him, as well as the speculation grew, and his now-pregnant wife Carolyn Bessette and sister Caroline told him to respond to the speculation just for the sake of brushing off the media.

At first, Kennedy tried using his tried and tested Kennedy charm and wit that he inherited from his late father. One day, whilst being hounded by reporters during a morning jog in Midtown Manhattan, JFK Jr. stated to the press:

"I could see myself on a hammock at a beach house on Long Island, so of course I could see myself in the White House one day."

Unfortantely for him and his family, this statement didnt calm down matters. In fact, it only caused the speculation to further grow, frusterating John, Caroline and Carolyn.

(Picture 3) By the time 2001 turned into 2002, the speculation had only grown and grown, with reporters hounding the Kennedy family on the daily about the matter. So, the elder Kennedys came in to John's aid.

His uncle, Ted Kennedy, is one of the most senior members of the Senate, being there for 40 years at this rate, and once ran for President himself in 1980. According to reports from news orgs such as the New York Times, the elder Kennedy had advised him to "weigh his options" and to "be very careful" when it comes to a decision like this.

The Kennedy family was also reportedly divided over this issue. Members such as Ted, Caroline, Carolyn and Ethel werent a fan of the idea, citing the fact that John's political career was in it's early years.

On the other hand, members such as Patrick, Joe II, RFK Jr., and even Maria Shriver urged John to go for it, citing the fact that he could be the only hope for Democrats in '04 against President Bush.

(Picture 4) In the early summer of 2002, John F. Kennedy Jr. had made his made up. In an interview with the New York Post, Kennedy had made it clear that he had no intentions of making any run for the Presidency in 2004. This came as for a short while, his private life was under scrutiny due to footage of his private wedding of himself and his wife Caroyln being leaked to the public, much to John's displeasement and Carolyn's anger.

While most understood his decision, some Democrats would later resent him for it, with long-time Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi later allegedly telling John that "you may have just costed us the White House".

(Pictures 5 and 6, not included in the collage)
The 2002 midterms then proceeded to went on about the same as in the original timeline, with Republicans maintaining control in both Houses of Congress, with little to no changes in the House and Senate.