In the current US television commercials about heating oil from Venezuela, is Joe Kennedy a member of the "first family" Kennedys, and if so, how is he related to the late president, and what is his relation to the company behind the ads?

MonkeyOnALeash

"Joseph Patrick Kennedy II (born September 24, 1952 in Brighton, Massachusetts), named after his late uncle Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., is the eldest son of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Skakel Kennedy." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Patrick_Kennedy_II Not to be confused with: "Joseph Everett "Joe" Kennedy (October 8, 1930 – June 19, 1997) was a Georgia State Senator born in Claxton, Georgia, in Evans County." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Kennedy_%28Georgia_State_Senator%29 More on Kennedy: http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/03/13/kennedy/ The commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNE0os3f3VY The controversy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owdpbZ4ndvk Now for the funny side: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4Yy6hvCpMY Jan 16 08, 11:58 PM

themonarch

Joe Kennedy is the son of Robert Kennedy and John F. Kennedy is Joe's uncle from his father's side. In 1979, Kennedy established the Citizens Energy Corporation, a non-profit organization, to provide discounted heating oil to low-income families. In late 1985, billboards began to appear in the 8th Congressional District of Massachusetts exhorting citizens not to be "left out in the cold — Call Joe Kennedy". CITGO Petroleum Corporation is the primary provider of discounted heating oil to Citizens Energy, that is how Joe Kennedy is related to the Venezuelan oil company. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Patrick_Kennedy_II Jan 16 08, 11:59 PM

McGruff

That's the one. I thought he was Bobby's son, certainly looks like him, but I wasn't sure. Thanks, guys! Good complete answer here. Jan 17 08, 12:31 AM