JFK's only grandson is doing political coverage for this outlet. It's not a surprise
Jack Schlossberg has got a new gig.
The son of Caroline Kennedy and the only grandson of the late President John F. Kennedy will serve as a political correspondent for Vogue ahead of the 2024 general election. And while many younger followers of Schlossberg, 31, may be more familiar with his "silly" TikTok presence, the Kennedy family member is not shying away from his "family's legacy of public service."
"I take that very seriously, and I want to contribute in my own way. I have big dreams, but I also know that I’m trying to make a positive impact today," he told Vogue, who announced his new role on Wednesday.
Schlossberg went to Yale for undergrad and followed in his grandfather's footsteps to Harvard, where he graduated from its law school and also earned an MBA. Online, his social media is filled with quirky takes and impressions.
He told Vogue he plans to take the "fun" strategy in his new position.
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"If you're going to ask people to think about something serious, you need to make it entertaining or fun. That's what all the great leaders do," Schlossberg said. "You can't just hammer people with how bad stuff is. You've got to bring some positivity and good energy to the things you think are important."
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Schlossberg called his grandfather his "hero" and his administration a "blueprint" for how "progressivism can work in America."
He has gotten "really nerdy" by binging JFK's speeches, he said, and is proud of his grandfather's legacy, which has "inspired a whole generation of people to enter public service."
Schlossberg also reflected on his ability to connect with young people, especially online, where people respond better to authenticity.
"I'm just having a good time. I'm a fun, wacky guy," he said. "I'm a silly goose, a silly goose who's trying, just trying, to get the truth out there."
Ahead of the 2024 election, Schlossberg said he's "worried" that things "will actually go badly in daily life if Trump wins," adding: "That's looking more and more likely every day."
"People will lose their health care, voting rights will continue to be under attack, our elections will be way less safe, and we're going to pull out of all of our alliances," he said. "It's going to be a lot more work for younger people in the long run to have to clean that up than it is to show up and vote one day out of the year."
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He recognizes civil rights as one of young people's top concerns, and he is uneasy about issues like the environment and the high-stakes 2024 election. But Schlossberg still tries to "stay positive" about the political landscape.
"For some reason, these days, that’s a unique perspective. That says a lot about our media environment," he said. "To me, if you're going to talk about stuff, it's a responsibility to try to make it a little bit better."