I was born and brought up in an Irish-Catholic family in Massachusetts. I was introduced to politics at age 9 watching the conventions in 1960 and saw JFK elected to my families delight. It took Reagan to loosen the grip the democrats held on my parents. Thanks to JFK for many others they'll die before going republican.
Now that is starting to happen.
The GOP is starting to get it. If you replay JFK's speeches, and then play the ones by RR or W, you will see there is little difference.
People who loved what JFK stood for have to be GOP now. And many of them see it - if it is pointed out.