The Two Jacks Blogathon–“Jack, Jackie and Mayor Quimby on ‘The Simpsons’ “

The Simpsons is well known for its classic homages, satires and parodies. Many of the citizens of Springfield, USA are classic archetypes of typical characters. The Simpson family, the core of the show, are a send-up of the ideal American family. Patriarch Homer is the breadwinner. Matriarch Marge is a homemaker. Then they have the classic “2.5” children–troublemaker Bart, brainy Lisa, and baby Maggie. Throughout Springfield there are dozens of other characters, many stereotypes of other tropes. One of these tropes is in the form of Springfield’s mayor, Mayor Joe Quimby.

In The Simpsons, Mayor Joe Quimby is an amalgamation of the fabled Kennedy family–perhaps the closest thing the United States has to “royalty” so to speak. John F. Kennedy’s (JFK) presidency and administration was referred to as “Camelot,” a reference to the King Arthur legend. In The Simpsons, Mayor Quimby speaks with a classic mid-Atlantic accent, reminiscent of JFK’s classic way of speaking. His wife, Martha, resembles the First Lady, Jackie. She wears her brunette hair in a bob and is often seen in a pink suit with matching pillbox hat–much like the outfit Jackie Kennedy famously wore when her husband was assassinated while appearing in a presidential motorcade in Dallas, TX on November 22, 1963.

Despite JFK’s carefully cultivated image of being a devoted husband and father, he was a known womanizer. His most famous “other woman” being Marilyn Monroe who famously sang “Happy Birthday” to him at his 45th birthday party in 1962. However, aside from Marilyn, JFK was linked with dozens of other women, including Anita Ekberg, Marlene Dietrich, and numerous White House assistants. JFK’s womanizing is lampooned often on The Simpsons, with Mayor Quimby’s constant affairs being one of his major character traits. In the episode, “Bart After Dark,” Bart begins working at the burlesque house, Maison Derriere. When Springfield’s more conservative denizens (Marge, Ned and Maude Flanders, and Rev. Frank Lovejoy and wife Helen) find out about the burlesque house, they organize a town hall meeting. Mayor Quimby is caught on camera entering the burlesque house. Later, during the song “We Put the Spring in Springfield” which is performed in support of the business, Martha is seen chastising her husband for frequenting it. This is reminiscent of Jackie Kennedy’s knowledge of her husband’s affairs and not particularly being supportive of them, but more or less looking the other way.

Another aspect of the Kennedy clan’s lifestyle that is parodied on The Simpsons, is Mayor Quimby’s lavish wealth. Much like the Kennedy’s famed “Kennedy Compound” in Hyannisport, Massachusetts, Mayor Quimby also lives in a coastal estate called the “Quimby Compound.” Another example of the Quimby wealth and the influence it can bring is through the introduction of Mayor Quimby’s nephew, Freddie. Because of his family’s wealthy background and name, Freddie has grown into an irresponsible and rude man. In “The Boy Who Knew Too Much,” Freddie pays a woman to attend an event with him and mocks the service staff. His behavior leads to him being accused of beating up one of the waitstaff. Despite Bart knowing that Freddie is innocent, he’s reluctant to speak up, as it would prove to Principal Skinner and his parents that he skipped school. Marge represents the opinion of the public who feel that despite Freddie’s potential innocence, a guilty verdict would do him and his family some good. The public is clearly tired of the privilege and nepotism that the Quimby name brings. This is clearly an homage to the special advantages that members of the Kennedy family receive for having the “right” name.

Throughout The Simpsons, there are also various allusions to Kennedy family scandals. Freddie Quimby’s assault trial refers to William Kennedy Smith’s rape trial. Freddie is also seen standing in a sex offender registration line at City Hall–another allusion to Kennedy Smith’s rape allegation. Finally, Ted Kennedy is spoofed in “The Simpsons: Road Rage” video game. When the player is driving erratically, Quimby says “you drive worse than cousin Teddy!” This is referring to the infamous scandal when Ted killed his passenger after driving off a bridge. Ted Kennedy, along with JFK, provide much of the inspiration for Mayor Quimby’s character–good or bad.

Other “tributes” to the Kennedys on The Simpsons are:

-Martha Quimby is related by marriage to movie star Rainier Wolfcastle. This is a clear homage to Kennedy family member, Maria Shriver’s marriage to movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger.

-Marge Simpson’s full name being Marjorie Jacqueline Bouvier. Her mother’s name is Jacqueline Bouvier.

-Mayor Quimby’s middle name is Fitzgerald, like John F. Kennedy’s.

-In “Marge in Chains,” Marge is accused of being an accomplice in JFK’s assassination, after Professor Frink states that her likeness was observed on the infamous grassy knoll.

-JFK appears in Lisa’s dream and laughs nervously when she mentions that she’ll see him in heaven.

-In “Gone Boy,” Bart watches the real Kennedy inauguration after falling into a nuclear bunker.

MARGE: Homer, look! A TV Guide owned by Jackie O!
STORE OWNER: You should see the crossword puzzle! She thought Mindy lived with “Mark.”
HOMER: Give her a break, her husband was killed!

LISA: Hey, Bouvier was was Jackie Kennedy’s maiden name.
MARGE: Really? I never knew that.
LISA: Well, what did you think her name was before it was Kennedy?
MARGE: Jackie O! Like Spaghetti-Os. I thought that was where her money came from.