Latest news with #Kennedys
Indian Express
4 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
The Kennedy curse: The tragedy of America's royal family
On this day 26 years ago, John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn, and her sister Lauren vanished into the Atlantic Ocean, capping the 20th century with one more tragedy for the Kennedy family. John Jr.'s death was particularly cruel in its irony. The boy who had captured America's heart as a three-year-old saluting his father's coffin died piloting a plane into the dark waters off Martha's Vineyard. He was heading to a wedding – a celebration that soon became a wake. In less than a century, the Kennedys have lived through more public misfortune, scandal, and sudden death than seems plausible for any one family. Plane crashes. Assassinations. Overdoses. Suicides. Their story, full of promise and pain, is one America cannot stop telling. In 1969, Senator Ted Kennedy – who had already lost four siblings by then – asked aloud whether 'some awful curse did actually hang over all the Kennedys.' Fifty-five years later, that question still lingers. The Kennedy saga begins with Joseph Kennedy Sr., a wealthy businessman who dreamed of political greatness for his children. His eldest son, Joseph Kennedy Jr., was the golden child, groomed to become America's first Catholic president. A Harvard graduate and Navy pilot, Joe Jr. volunteered for a dangerous World War II mission in 1944, piloting a bomb-laden plane over Nazi-occupied France. The plane exploded, killing him at the age of 29. 'Now the burden falls on me,' his younger brother John F. Kennedy told a friend, as the family's political hopes shifted to the sickly second son. That burden would define the rest of his life. John was not supposed to be president. He suffered from a chronic illness, lived much of his childhood in hospitals, and was given the last rites more than once. But he was also fiercely resilient. The historian Robert Dallek described Kennedy's decision to hide his condition from the public as 'the quiet stoicism of a man struggling to endure extraordinary pain and distress and performing his presidential (and pre-presidential) duties largely undeterred.' John made it to the White House as the youngest President in American history. A little over one thousand days later, he became the youngest President to die. On November 22, 1963, Kennedy was travelling through Dallas, Texas in an open air car with his wife Jacqueline, Texas governor John Connally, and Connally's wife Nellie, when he was fatally shot by Lee Harvey Oswald, a former US Marine. The images are seared into American memory: Jackie's pink suit stained with blood, the frantic rush to Parkland Memorial Hospital, the nation watching in stunned silence as Walter Cronkite announced that the President was dead. Five years later, history struck again with cruel precision. In 1968, third son and Presidential hopeful, Robert F. Kennedy was shot in the kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, just after winning the California primary. His wife, Ethel, pregnant with their eleventh child, watched as he collapsed to the ground. He died the next day. Joe, John and Robert are perhaps the most famous of the Kennedys to succumb to early and shocking deaths, but they are far from the only ones. Kathleen Kennedy, Joe's daughter, lost her husband in World War II, then died herself in a plane crash four years later. John and Jackie lost two children in infancy—one in 1956 and another in 1963. Robert's son David died of a drug overdose in 1984. Another son, Michael, died in a skiing accident in 1997. More recently, the deaths have come in cruel succession: Kara Kennedy (heart attack), Mary Kennedy (suicide), Saoirse Kennedy Hill (overdose), Maeve Kennedy McKean and her young son (drowned during a canoe trip). Each death has its own story. Each has added to the myth. To some, the Kennedy curse has a point of origin. In 1941, Joe Sr.'s daughter Rosemary, whose mood swings and rumoured scandals threatened the family's image, was subjected to a lobotomy at her father's insistence. The procedure went horribly wrong, leaving her with the intellectual capabilities of a 2-year-old, unable to walk or talk. Rosemary spent decades in private institutions, hidden from public view. For those who believe in curses, this act—an ambitious father silencing his daughter to protect his legacy—is the Kennedy family's original sin. Others look to Joe Sr.'s financial dealings and wartime flirtations with fascist regimes. Still others believe the curse stems from the family's unrelenting pursuit of power, at whatever cost. But maybe it isn't a curse at all. 'Virtually every family has its own silent tragedy. Large families are likely to have a larger number of tragedies. Highly publicized families have more highly publicized tragedies,' Theodore C. Sorensen wrote in the New York Times after John Jr.'s death. With Joe Sr.'s nine children producing 29 grandchildren—Robert alone had 11—the Kennedys' size makes their losses statistically less surprising. Others point to recklessness. 'They fly their own single-engine planes when they could afford a crew of airmen. They ski without poles on the hardest hills of Aspen on the last run of a December afternoon. They coax their way into the military in hopes of facing combat. It is and always has been the Kennedy way,' Boston Globe reporter Brian McGrory wrote in 1999 There is another theory, one rarely explored by the family themselves. In Ask Not: The Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed, journalist Maureen Callahan argues that the curse is not myth or misfortune – it's misogyny. Across generations, Kennedy women and the women who married into the family have faced early death, psychological torment, and silence. 'Whatever grievous harm a Kennedy man may have done to her,' she writes, 'the message remains clear: She was asking for it. It was her fault.' In some ways, the Kennedys are not unique. In India, the Nehru-Gandhi family has endured three major assassinations. In Pakistan, the Bhuttos, father and daughter, both died violently. In Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was murdered along with most of his family. Around the world, political dynasties often end in blood. Ultimately, the Kennedys faced their own share of joy and sadness. And while they have undoubtably suffered devastating loss, as Sorensen writes, 'they have also been endowed with good genes, good brains, good looks, good health and good fortune, with both instincts and opportunities for serving their country and helping those who are less fortunate.'
Toronto Star
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
The Mitfords, one of the most fascinating families in history, get a period drama of their own
There are certain families that will forever fascinate us. The Kennedys. The Hiltons. The Kardashians. And, over in England, there are the Mitfords. Moneyed members of the British aristocracy, David Freeman-Mitford, 2nd Baron Redesdale, and Sydney Bowles spawned six daughters who each led remarkably bold lives and ascended to worldwide fame — and white-hot scandal — as they rebelled against the strictures of a sexist time. (Their father, for instance, refused to send them to school.)
Bloomberg
06-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Trump Tariffs Get Personal for the Harris Tweed Makers of the Hebrides
In December 1957, Reverend Murdoch MacRae traveled from his parish on Lewis and Harris, one of the Outer Hebridean islands off the north west of mainland Scotland, across the Atlantic Ocean to confront the US Federal Trade Commission in Washington. President Dwight D. Eisenhower's tariffs on woolen imports were threatening an exodus of the island's workers whose hand-woven tweed jackets, trousers and caps — beloved by Americans from Wall Street bankers to the Kennedys and Hollywood actors — were the lifeblood of the local economy. Little did MacRae know that his successful mission to shield islanders from US protectionism would be undone almost 70 years later by the son of a fellow Lewis native, Donald Trump. 'Trump might portray himself as a man of Scottish heritage, he might have used the family Bible at his inauguration,' says Iain Martin, a fourth-generation weaver, but 'that man doesn't care. He's out for himself, nobody else.'
CNN
05-05-2025
- Business
- CNN
Former VP Mike Pence accepts award from Kennedys for Jan. 6
Former VP Mike Pence accepts award from Kennedys for Jan. 6 Former Vice President Mike Pence accepted the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for his actions on January 6. Pence refused to overturn the election after President Trump's repeated pressure. Kennedy's daughter, Caroline Kennedy, and grandson Jack Schlossberg presented the award. 00:36 - Source: CNN Vertical Politics of the Day 15 videos Former VP Mike Pence accepts award from Kennedys for Jan. 6 Former Vice President Mike Pence accepted the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for his actions on January 6. Pence refused to overturn the election after President Trump's repeated pressure. Kennedy's daughter, Caroline Kennedy, and grandson Jack Schlossberg presented the award. 00:36 - Source: CNN Trump supporters on third term Comedians Davram Stiefler and Jason Selvig regularly attend Trump rallies, speaking with the President's supporters for their podcast, 'The Good Liars Tell the Truth.' They tell CNN's Laura Coates there was 'constant forgiveness for anything' that President Trump does, including a possible third term. 01:31 - Source: CNN How businesses are waiting out tariffs With Trump's new tariffs in place on products from countries like China, many businesses are looking at bonded warehouses as a way to legally avoid paying the extra dues, for now. CNN's Julia Vargas Jones explains how they work. 01:01 - Source: CNN Van Jones speaks with Black Trump supporters CNN senior political commentator Van Jones speaks with a group of African Americans in South Carolina who explain why they voted for and continue to back President Donald Trump. 02:44 - Source: CNN Vanessa Yurkevich explains Trump's big move that could raise prices President Trump ended the de minimis exemption, a major shipping loophole that allowed shipments of goods worth $800 or less to come into the United States duty-free, often more or less skipping time-consuming inspections and paperwork. CNN's Vanessa Yurkevich explains what this move will mean for US consumers and prices. 01:01 - Source: CNN How much the Trump family stands to earn from $2B crypto deal CNN's Erin Burnett and chief data analyst Harry Enten look at how much money the Trump family stands to make from a major crypto deal. 01:52 - Source: CNN Fareed's take on Trump's executive order record Fareed Zakaria breaks down President Donald Trump's first 100 days executive order record and compares it to that of former President Franklin D. Roosevelt. 00:58 - Source: CNN Fighting Trump's transgender military ban Lt. Nic Talbott is a member of the US Army Reserve and the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against President Donald Trump's ban of transgender people serving in the military. CNN's MJ Lee spoke to Talbott about his military career being in limbo. 02:01 - Source: CNN HHS releases controversial report on transgender children The US Department of Health and Human Services has released a 400-page review of treatment for gender dysphoria in children but did not disclose who authored or reviewed the report. CNN's Ben Hunte explains. 00:57 - Source: CNN Would you date someone with a different political POV? Can you separate the political context from your romantic life? CNN's Audie Cornish speaks with her show crew and with Orna Guralnik, a psychoanalyst and star of Showtime's Couples Therapy. 01:17 - Source: CNN Manu Raju breaks down Senate vote on Trump tariffs CNN's Manu Raju reports on the Senate rejecting a resolution that would have effectively blocked the president's global tariffs by revoking the emergency order Trump is using to enact them. 01:19 - Source: CNN Anderson on the exodus from DOJ's civil rights division CNN's Anderson Cooper examines the fallout of a massive number of workers leaving the Department of Justice civil rights division in the wake of the Trump administration outlining its agenda for the department's priorities. 03:56 - Source: CNN Trump says he won't bring back Abrego Garcia President Donald Trump acknowledged that he could secure the return of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man who was wrongly deported to El Salvador, but refuses to do so. The comments appear to contradict previous remarks made by him and his top aides who say the US does not have the ability to return Abrego Garcia because he is in the custody of a foreign government, despite the Supreme Court's ruling that the Trump administration must 'facilitate' his return. 00:56 - Source: CNN Republicans share views as Trump's poll numbers sink CNN's Manu Raju asks Republican lawmakers about their thoughts on President Donald Trump's policies amid his sinking poll numbers. 02:05 - Source: CNN Trump details call with Jeff Bezos over tariff charges US President Donald Trump told reporters about his call with Amazon co-founder Jeff Bezos saying he was 'a good guy,' following a spat earlier in the day between the White House and e-commerce giant. Two senior White House officials told CNN that Trump called Bezos to complain about reports that the company was considering displaying the cost of US tariffs on its website, a move that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called a 'hostile political act.' Amazon spokesperson Tim Doyle said in a statement, 'The team that runs our ultra-low cost Amazon Haul store considered the idea of listing import charges on certain products. This was never approved and is not going to happen.' 00:13 - Source: CNN
CBS News
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Book excerpt: "I Am Maria" by Maria Shriver
We may receive an affiliate commission from anything you buy from this article. In her new memoir, "I Am Maria: My Reflections and Poems on Heartbreak, Healing, and Finding Your Way Home" (to be published April 1 by The Open Field), Maria Shriver – the daughter of Kennedys, broadcast journalist, and former first lady of California – uses poetry to explore a woman in search of herself. Read some selected poems below, and don't miss Lee Cowan's interview with Maria Shriver on "CBS Sunday Morning" February 23! "I Am Maria" by Maria Shriver Prefer to listen? Audible has a 30-day free trial available right now. Beyond a shadow Beyond the words Beyond the picture of what a loving nurturing mother Is supposed to look like Act like Talk like Touch like There is you I couldn't find anyone like you in my picture books No mothers looked like you Dressed in pants like you Had hair like you Played football like you Smoked cigars like you Yet I knew you loved me I knew you wanted more for me than you had been given I knew you wanted for me everything you had been denied Beyond a shadow I know you loved me The way you smiled at me and cheered for me The way you pushed me I know you loved me Do you know how much I loved you Beyond a shadow you were my everything I understand so much more about you today You too were scared You too longed to be seen You too longed to be held My heart breaks for you As I've come to learn we cannot give what wasn't given to us As you grew older you softened You allowed me in My heart breaks for my mother But no one let her in But no one held her No one comforted her No one told her she was enough Her journey was relentless Her energy unbridled I understand now and I'm so sorry Beyond a shadow I know you loved me Beyond a shadow I loved you I've been wanting to talk to you lately to tell you You are not what I planned You may not give a damn but I thought you should know You are not what I expected I thought as long as I had my compass pointing north All would be good But I learned that my heart doesn't know north My life has led me on a path written in invisible ink Longing for more from a soul I didn't know yet So here we are Life Without a compass without a map Only my heart guiding me forward It wonders Am I ready to be known in a new and deep way? Am I strong enough to open my heart and divulge what lies within? Life you say that's what you are all about Let's see how the universe responds When I pull back the curtain on my soul They are everywhere The fragments of me In the closet in the drawer in the ceiling looking down The fragments of me are all over the land They are in Chicago In Maryland In the hall at my school In my bedroom Where I broke into two What about you Are you shattered Are you fragmented In pieces as well Is your life here on earth A heaven or hell Do you vacillate Between power and impotence Wanting nothing or wanting it all Do you stare down on yourself dissociated from life When you close your eyes do you pray for the relief of a knife Tell me tell me Are you the coward the hero a player of hearts Do you know who you are or have you vanished from your life Stand up show yourself stop hiding here and there Go pick up the pieces They're everywhere It's a mess it's a shambles You are here and you are there Don't you see Don't you care that you're everywhere It's up to you Up to you to piece together your life Up to you to make sense Up to you to go back Back to where it began Go back to your birth Go back if you can Go back to Hyannis Go back to your room Go back Tell him you know and no longer feel shame Tell her you love her and pray for her pain Go back pick up the pieces Make yourself whole Go back to the fragments They're the key to your soul Excerpted from "I Am Maria" by Maria Shriver, published by The Open Field, an imprint of Penguin Life, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Copyright © 2025 by Maria Shriver. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. Get the book here: "I Am Maria" by Maria Shriver Buy locally from For more info:
