Joseph P. Kennedy’s reputation as a savvy businessman, diplomat, and sly political patriarch is well-documented.  But his years as a Hollywood mogul have never been fully explored until now. In , Cari Beauchamp brilliantly explores this unknown chapter in Kennedy’s biography.  Between 1926 and 1930, Kennedy positioned himself as a major Hollywood player. In two short years, he was running three studios simultaneously and then, in a bold move, he merged his studios with David Sarnoff to form the legendary RKO Studio.  Beauchamp also tells the story of Kennedy’s affair with Gloria Swanson; how he masterminded the mergers that created the blueprint for contemporary Hollywood; and made the fortune that became the foundation of his empire.