Welcome to the world of American political royalty, where the name ‘Kennedy’ isn’t just a name—it’s practically a headline. It’s a saga filled with power, tragedy, and enough mystique to keep a whole town gossiping for decades. Well in this case it got the entire America gossiping for almost half a century.
So the rule started with Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., a sharp-witted businessman who decided to spice his boring ledgers up by diving into the diplomatic arena. A little ambition never hurt no one right? Guess Joe Kennedy had more than a little. He set the stage for what would become the Kennedy dynasty, a mix of greatness and, let’s face it, haunting misfortune.
Now, the history you’ve all come across in one movie or another. John F. Kennedy, the charming golden boy of American politics, and his counterpart in enigmatic allure, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Together, they started the notion of the power couple. Jacqueline really set the standard for White House glam and Halloween looks.
But it’s not just the glam and power this all-American family is known for. They’ve got a backstory rivalling even the Shakespearean tragedies. We’re talking about the infamous ‘Kennedy Curse.’ It’s like something out of a Hollywood script—a string of relentless tragedies that have darkened this sparkling family’s legacy for generations. So, grab your popcorn and settle in for the drama, because with the Kennedys, there’s never a dull moment.
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What Is The Kennedy Curse?
It all starts with Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., yes the businessman and a promising naval aviator in the midst of World War II. You’ve got the makings of a hero’s journey, right? Except this tale took a dark turn. His story soon ended in a war zone with a crash and from there started the trails of blood. He left behind a legacy that set the stage for what can only be described as a family curse. The ‘Kennedy Curse’,
Fast forward through the decades, and you’ve got assassinations, plane crashes, fatal accidents—you name it, the Kennedys have seen it all. What’s truly eerie is the way this curse seems to pick and choose, striking different family members across generations like some twisted game. It’s like fate had a vendetta against this iconic family. A vendetta that the family didn’t believe in at first, I mean c’mon, who believes in curses still? But a streak of tragedies this long makes you want to have a theory. This one was first entertained by Ted Kennedy. The author of ‘The Kenedey Heirs’ J. Randy Taraborrelli confirmed it in her conversation with People back in 2019. She began, “Generally, they did not believe in the curse,” adding, “It was Ted Kennedy who came up with the concept of the curse after Chappaquiddick.”
Randy elaborated, “he wondered if perhaps that explained the terrible things that had happened to the family, including the death of Mary Jo Kopechne.” As a family stricken with a blood fever this bad would. “they slipped into wondering if maybe there really was some kind of curse.” In memory of this iconic American Political Royalty and its tragic contribution to American dark history, let’s revisit the Kennedy Tragedies taken place so far.
1. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (1944): Plane Crash
Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., the first on the butchering block! The firstborn son of Joseph and Rose Kennedy, tragically lost his life at just 29. As a Navy pilot during World War II, Joseph was on a dangerous mission when his plane exploded over England on August 12, 1944. His death left a grave and the first of many more marks to befall the Kennedy family. It robbed them of their eldest son and a potential political heir.
2. Kathleen Kennedy (1948): Plane Crash
Kathleen ‘Kick’ Kennedy, the spirited bird of the Kennedy clan! Kath, who was known for her charm and charisma, had the world at her feet until fate intervened tragically. Paris to the French Riviera, a glamorous trip cut short by the ultimate fate of Kennedys. On that unfateful day of May 13, 1948, her plane took an unexpected nosedive, leaving behind only her free-spirited legacy, that too in news cuttings. Who knew a routine flight could rewrite history with such drama?
3. John F. Kennedy (1963): Assassination
Ah the most iconic one of the bunch! President John F. Kennedy, the heartthrob of American politics and pop culture, met his tragic end on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. It was a sunny day, moving ahead in a motorcade, and then bam! Lee Harvey Oswald pulls the trigger of the decade, writing history with a single shot. It was a bullet that pierced not only the President but the entire nation. You do remember the covered-in-blood Jacqueline Kennedy right? The emotions that the picture alone raises in an American’s heart is enough to say this death’s impact wasn’t subtle.
This tragedy left everyone wondering about his unfulfilled promise of ‘Camelot’ and what might have been. JFK, the nation’s prince charming, became a legend, forever etched in American hearts with his untimely departure.
4. Robert F. Kennedy (1968): Assassination
Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the crusader for civil rights and all-around hero, faced a tragic end on June 5, 1968, in sunny Los Angeles, California. Right after his victory speech that filled the air with hope, a shot rang out, and suddenly, the dream was shattered. Bobby’s empathy and fire for justice were extinguished that day. Another fallen star \ feeding the curious legend of a Kennedy family curse.
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5. Ted Kennedy And The Chappaquiddick Incident (1969): Car Accident
Senator Ted Kennedy’s once-shining reputation was forever tarnished on that fateful day of July 18, 1969. A car accident on Chappaquiddick Island. The result? Mary Jo Kopechne lost her life. The aftermath of this tragedy was shadowed by unanswered questions and delayed reports that painted a bloody red over Ted’s political career and the enduring legacy of the Kennedys. It’s a story that lingers, a stain on the family’s red history.
6. David Kennedy (1984): Drug Overdose
David Kennedy, the son of Robert and Ethel Kennedy, tragically fell victim to a drug overdose on April 25, 1984, in Palm Beach, Florida. At just 28 years old, David’s struggle with substance abuse was a stark reminder of the dark impact of Kennedy’s family drama on the coming generation. His untimely death shed light on the very real and personal battles the royalty faced behind the glossy facade of fame and privilege.
7. Michael Kennedy (1997): Skiing Accident
Another son of Robert and Ethel Kennedy met his tragic end, and the cruelty of this one is just fate mocking the cursed family. On New Year’s Eve 1997, Michael Kennedy lost his life in a skiing accident in Aspen, Colorado. At 39 years old, Michael’s sudden death strung him to the long string of Kennedy misfortunes.
8. John F. Kennedy Jr. And Carolyn Bessette Kennedy (1999): Plane Crash
John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, and her sister Lauren Bessette tragically perished in a plane crash. The tragedy took place on July 16, 1999, off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard. Known for his aviation skills, Kennedy Jr. was piloting the plane at the time of the accident and something tells me, that even if he wasn’t, the plane would’ve found its roaring way down.
9. Kara Kennedy (2011): Heart Attack
Daughter of Senator Edward M. Kennedy and niece of Robert and John F. Kennedy, Kara Kennedy also met the tragic fate of her cousins. She tragically passed away from a heart attack on September 16, 2011, while working out at a gym in Washington, D.C. Her sudden and unexpected death was a shock all too familiar for the Kennedy family.
10. Mary Kennedy (2012): Suicide
People say too much of anything makes one go insanee and Kennedy family had the excess of almost everything. Mary Richardson Kennedy, the estranged wife of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., truly lost it all when she took her own life on May 16, 2012, at the age of 52. Her mental battles and struggle with her existence led to her tragic demise.
11. Christopher Kennedy Lawford (2018): Heart Attack
Christopher Kennedy Lawford, the nephew of President John F. Kennedy, also passed away from a heart attack on September 4, 2018, in Vancouver, Canada. With 63 years on him, Christopher had a pretty long life when compared to most of his family members. The fate still came to take its toll on the Kennedy family and it did
12. Saoirse Kennedy Hill (2019): Drug Overdose
Another one of Kennedy youngsters lost to substance abuse. Saoirse Kennedy Hill, granddaughter of Robert F. Kennedy, tragically passed away from an accidental drug overdose on August 1, 2019. Saoirse fell victim to addiction and lost her life to it at the tender age of 22. Her untimely death once again shone that stark light on the ongoing struggles faced by the younger members of the Kennedy family. The circumstances surrounding her death reignited public interest in what has been deemed the ‘Kennedy curse,’ but let’s be real, not everything can be blamed on a curse.
13. Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean (2020): Drowning
Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean, granddaughter of Robert F. Kennedy, who tragically drowned in a canoeing accident on April 2, 2020. The tragedy gets even more tragic when you get to know that she didn’t drown alone, along with her, her eight-year-old son Gideon drowned as well. Their death marks the last of what has been taken by the curse in the past 77 years.
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