Chief Washington aide for JFK’s initial term as Congressman. He was offered the job in part because he was Joe, Jr.’s Harvard roommate and had been promised a job on the eldest Kennedy son’s Washington staff should Joe actualize his desire to win national office.
Reardon’s performance as office chief was not held in high esteem by his office colleagues. Although possessing much potential, another JFK staffer said he “had brain but unfortunately he didn’t use it that much. I used to get annoyed with him. He just wouldn’t apply himself. Much of the time, he wasn’t in the office.”
[23,p.138]