Book Review: "The Kennedy Curse: Why Tragedy Has Haunted America's First Family for 150 Years" by Edward Klein

The Kennedy Curse: Why Tragedy Has Haunted America's First Family for 150 Years by Edward Klein
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Amazon Book Description

Death was merciful to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, for it spared her a parent's worst nightmare: the loss of a child. But if Jackie had lived to see her son, JFK Jr., perish in a plane crash on his way to his cousin's wedding, she would have been doubly horrified by the familiar pattern in the tragedy. Once again, on a day that should have been full of joy and celebration, America's first family was struck by the Kennedy Curse.

In this probing expose, renowned Kennedy biographer Edward Klein-a bestselling author and journalist personally acquainted with many members of the Kennedy family-unravels one of the great mysteries of our time and explains why the Kennedys have been subjected to such a mind-boggling chain of calamities.

Drawing upon scores of interviews with people who have never spoken out before, troves of private documents, archives in Ireland and America, and private conversations with Jackie, Klein explores the underlying pattern that governs the Kennedy Curse.

The reader is treated to penetrating portraits of the Irish immigrant Patrick Kennedy; Rose Kennedy's father, "Honey Fitz"; the dynasty's founding father Joe Kennedy and his ill-fated daughter Kathleen, President Kennedy, accused rapist William Kennedy Smith, and the star-crossed lovers, JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. Each of the seven profiles demonstrates the basic premise of this book: The Kennedy Curse is the result of the destructive collision between the Kennedy's fantasy of omnipotence-an unremitting desire to get away with things that others cannot-and the cold, hard realities of life.



A glimpse into the life of the Kennedy's and the tragedy that has plagued this family for 150 years. The story begins in Ireland before Patrick Kennedy emigrated to the United States and follows his journey and beginnings in the US. The author then covers the story of how the Kennedy and Fitzgerald families, both Irish immigrants, had early political ties. The life of Joseph Kennedy Sr. and his role as the US Ambassador and the loss of his daughter Kathleen is covered in pretty good detail. While the assassination of President Kennedy is covered in brief, the Chappaquiddick incident and Bobby Kennedy's assassination are only briefly reviewed. There is, however, more detail into the life and eventual devastating plane crash of JFK Jr. that resulted in his death along with his wife Carolyn and sister-in-law Lauren Bessette in 1999. Each chapter of the book is devoted to a different Kennedy scandal or tragedy and suggests how the actions and the lifestyles of this high profile family has resulted in these tragedies and the belief in a "Kennedy Curse". The author does a great job of tying each of the family member's lives together and shows how interconnected the events appear, however, more as a result of a pattern of risky lifestyles and poor choices than from a true "curse" on the family. Compelling reading that didn't have that feel of tabloid journalism that plagues many of the books written on the Kennedy family. There are some excellent photos included in the book, some of which have not been widely publicized.