The Kennedy Curse refers to a series of tragic events and misfortunes that have plagued the prominent American political family, the Kennedys. This curse has been associated with a pattern of untimely deaths, accidents, scandals, and other misfortunes that have affected multiple members of the Kennedy family over the years. The origins of the Kennedy Curse can be traced back to the patriarch of the family, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., and his relentless pursuit of power and wealth. Joseph Kennedy was a highly ambitious man who groomed his sons John F.
But it wasn't a coincidence he had invoked the idea of a curse.
Some people, including Ted Kennedy, have openly referred to the curse that befell the family, while others have blamed the ambitious patriarch Joseph Kennedy Sr. The death of Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean and her 8-year-old son Gideon, April 2, 2020 The mother and son disappeared while canoeing in Chesapeake Bay, near Annapolis, Maryland, on April 2, 2020.
Joseph Kennedy was a highly ambitious man who groomed his sons John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Edward M.
What is the Kennedy family curse?
September 4, 1931: The Kennedy Family at Hyannis Port. L-R: Robert Kennedy, John F. Kennedy, Eunice Kennedy, Jean Kennedy (on lap of) Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy (who was pregnant with Edward "Ted" Kennedy at time of this photo), Patricia Kennedy, Kathleen Kennedy, Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (behind) Rosemary Kennedy. The dog in the foreground is Buddy. Public Domain / JFK Library
Facebook Email Twitter Pinterest WhatsAppThey may be one of the most famous families in the US or even the world, but the Kennedy family curse has long haunted the political dynasty, causing some more conspiracy-minded folks to question whether they sold their soul at some point for a shot at power.
The descendants of poor Irish immigrants from Co Wexford, the family climbed the ladder all the way to the White House but not without several tragedies along the way. But is the Kennedy family cursed or are these unfortunate events simply coincidences that could happen to any large family?
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The Kennedy curse origin and cause
The Kennedy curse origin mainly comes from speculation and rumors built up over the years because of the vast number of unfortunate tragedies to have hit the ultra-successful Irish Catholic family and the number of tragic young deaths the family has had to endure.
Who put a curse on the Kennedys?
There is not a real answer for the exact person to have cursed the Kennedys if such a curse were to exist.
As a powerful family, they are sure to have made themselves an enemy or two and many believe that Joe Kennedy, the family’s patriarch, brought the tragedy upon himself and his offspring by the forceful way in which he pushed them to succeed.
Of Joe Kennedy’s nine children, one was confined to a home for the mentally ill, two were killed in plane crashes, two were assassinated in public office and one had his political career ruined by an accident that resulted in the death of a young campaign worker. That’s not even including the further tragedies that hit his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
In a book released by Les Williams earlier this year, “The Kennedy Curse: Shattered” claims that there is no Kennedy curse but simply an overpowering patriarch pushing his children to extremes.
“Joe Kennedy raised his children to believe that they were better than anyone else and that they had to win, every time and at any cost. His obsessive, driving ambition would influence the decisions his children made and the way they lived their lives and this controlling, overbearing approach would have disastrous consequences for the family over the years,” Williams writes.
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Do the Kennedy family themselves think they’re cursed?
The Kennedys themselves have never spoken much about the idea of a Kennedy family curse but they are also a family known for their secrets, the full details of JFK’s chronic back injuries and constant physical pain while he sat in the Oval Office only emerging as public knowledge in the past few months, even though the 35th President was close to death at times, so bad was his health.
Details have also only just recently emerged of the fate of the young Rosemary Kennedy whose life was all but destroyed by her father’s decision to submit her to experimental brain surgery that went drastically wrong.
Senator Ted Kennedy did once question whether a “curse actually did hang over all the Kennedys" during his own testimony about the Chappaquiddick incident in 1969. Ted has accidentally driven his car off a bridge, trapping his 28-year-old companion Mary Jo Kopechne, inside to die in the waters. He pleaded guilty to a charge of leaving the scene of the accident causing personal injury.
His son Ted Kennedy Jr was also said to be “heartbroken”, however, by the 2015 book from his brother, former Rhode Island Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy, named “A Common Struggle: A Personal Journey Through the Past and Future of Mental Illness and Addiction", in which he blames the mental health for many of the tragedies that occurred within the family.
Detailing his own struggles with addiction and mental health issues, Patrick Kennedy highlights two incidents in particular which he feels could have been avoided if the Kennedy family had had a more open approach to talking about mental health. The first went back to Rosemary Kennedy and the forced lobotomy his grandfather Joseph P. Kennedy ordered to control his aunt’s outbursts.
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“She could have lived a life very free of disability,” Patrick lamented to People magazine.
The second was the death of Robert F. Kennedy’s fourth son David, who fatally overdosed at 28, a death Patrick believes was linked to PTSD following the assassination of his father.
“David lost his father so violently and then, having to watch it all on television,” Patrick says of his uncle RFK’s assassination.
“I don’t think anybody understood that [PTSD] was a real injury that, if untreated, would kill him.”
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Some of the main events that caused Kennedy curse speculation:
Rosemary Kennedy is institutionalized, 1941: Worried that his daughter’s mood swings would tarnish the family reputation, Kennedy patriarch Joe kicked off the Kennedy family curse by forcing Rosemary Kennedy to undergo a lobotomy. The lobotomy instead left her unable to walk or speak well, and as a result, Rosemary remained institutionalized until her death in 2005.
The death of Joseph Kennedy Jr., August 12, 1944: The elder brother of JFK and RFK and the son previously picked for the presidency by Joe Kennedy meets his untimely death when his bomber aircraft explodes over East Suffolk during the Second World War as part of Project Anvil.
The death of Kathleen 'Kick' Kennedy Cavendish, May 13, 1948: JFK's sister and the wife of Marquess of Hartington, died in a plane crash in France.
JFK and Jackie Kennedy lose a child, August 9, 1963: Patrick Bouvier Kennedy died of infant respiratory distress syndrome two days after his premature birth. Jackie missed the funeral because she was still recovering from the C-section at Otis Air Force Base.
The assassination of President John F. Kennedy, November 22, 1963: After a 15-year break, the Kennedy family curse strikes again and President John F. Kennedy is assassinated as he rides in an open convertible through Dallas, Texas. While conspiracies continue to run amuck on the real cause for his assassination and who exactly was behind his death, Lee Harvey Oswald was the man officially arrested for the crime, himself assassinated just two days later by nightclub owner Jack Ruby.
The assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, June 6, 1968: JFK's younger brother and his attorney general was assassinated after winning the California Democratic primary. The gunman, Sirhan Sirhan, remains in a prison in California.
The death of RFK’s son David Kennedy, April 25, 1984: David Kennedy, the fourth of RFK's eleven children, died in a Florida hotel room after overdosing on cocaine, painkillers, and antipsychotic medicine. Patrick Kennedy has claimed that David suffered from PTSD following his father’s death.
The death of RFK’s sixth child Michael Kennedy, December 31, 1997: Michael Kennedy is killed in a skiing accident in Colorado.
JFK’s only son, John Jr, dies in a plane crash, July 16, 1999: John F. Kennedy Jr, JFK's only son, died while flying his light aircraft to the holiday island of Martha's Vineyard. He reportedly became disoriented during the night flight and crashed into the ocean. Authorities put the accident down to a “pilot error.” Only one child of JFK and Jackie Kennedy Onassis is still living, Caroline Kennedy, the former US ambassador to Japan.
The death of Robert Kennedy’s estranged wife, May 16, 2012: Mary Kennedy, the estranged wife of Robert Kennedy Jr, is found after reportedly hanging herself at her New York home. A family funeral was held in the Kennedy compound despite the fact that Mary could not visit there for several years before her death.
The death of Saoirse Roisin Kennedy Hill, August 2, 2019: Saoirse, the 22-year-old daughter of Courtney Kennedy and Paul Hill (of the Guildford Four) and granddaughter of Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy, was found dead on the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. Her death has been ruled an accidental overdose.
The death of Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean and her 8-year-old son Gideon, April 2, 2020: The mother and son disappeared while canoeing in Chesapeake Bay, near Annapolis, Maryland, on April 2, 2020. Maeve's body was recovered on April 7, while Gideon's was discovered on April 8.
*Originally published in August 2017, last updated in November 2021.
What do you think? Does a Kennedy family curse exist? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
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JFK’s only son, John Jr, dies in a plane crash, July 16, 1999: John F. Kennedy Jr, JFK's only son, died while flying his light aircraft to the holiday island of Martha's Vineyard. He reportedly became disoriented during the night flight and crashed into the ocean. Authorities put the accident down to a “pilot error.” Only one child of JFK and Jackie Kennedy Onassis is still living, Caroline Kennedy, the former US ambassador to Japan.
Kennedy for political careers. Despite his success as a businessman and ambassador, Joseph Kennedy's actions and connections led to controversies and scandals that would follow the family. The Kennedy Curse gained significant attention with the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 and his brother, Robert F. Kennedy, in 1968. These shocking events shattered the hopes and dreams of a nation and gave birth to countless conspiracy theories. The assassinations of the Kennedy brothers were devastating blows to the family and were seen by many as the culmination of the curse. In the years that followed, the Kennedy family continued to face tragedy and misfortune. Edward M. Kennedy, the youngest brother, was involved in a fatal car accident in 1969, leading to the death of Mary Jo Kopechne. This incident tarnished his reputation and political career. Additionally, members of the Kennedy family have struggled with substance abuse and mental health issues, further adding to the narrative of the curse. It is important to note that many tragic events that have affected the Kennedys can be attributed to their high-profile status and involvement in politics. The family's position in the public eye has made them targets of violence and controversy. However, the continuous occurrence of misfortunes over multiple generations has fueled the belief in the Kennedy Curse, leading to speculation and fascination in popular culture. While the Kennedy Curse has no scientific or supernatural basis, its allure and impact on American history and culture cannot be denied. The tragedies that have befallen the Kennedys have left a lasting mark on the family and the nation as a whole. Whether one believes in curses or not, the Kennedy Curse serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the unpredictable nature of fate..
Reviews for "The Kennedy Curse: Myth or Reality?"
- Emily - ★☆☆☆☆
"The Kennedy Curse" was a complete waste of my time. I picked up this book expecting an intriguing exploration of the famous Kennedy family and their alleged curse, but instead, I found a poorly researched and sensationalized account. The author's writing style was dull and repetitive, making it difficult to stay engaged. Moreover, the book lacked any substantial analysis or critical thinking, relying instead on speculation and rumors. Overall, I was sorely disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to anyone interested in learning about the Kennedy family.
- Michael - ★★☆☆☆
As a history enthusiast, I was excited to delve into "The Kennedy Curse" and gain a deeper understanding of one of America's most iconic families. However, I was quickly let down by the author's bias and lack of objectivity. It felt like reading a tabloid article rather than a scholarly work. The author cherry-picked events and anecdotes to fit their predetermined narrative, giving an incomplete and distorted picture of the Kennedy family. I expected more nuance and critical analysis, but instead got shallow sensationalism. If you're looking for a well-researched and balanced account of the Kennedys, this is not the book for you.
- Sarah - ★☆☆☆☆
"The Kennedy Curse" was an absolute disappointment. I had high hopes for this book, but it turned out to be a regurgitation of conspiracy theories and baseless rumors. The author made no effort to provide evidence or factual support for their claims, leading to a book that reads more like fiction than non-fiction. It's a shame because the Kennedy family is indeed fascinating, and there is so much potential for a captivating and insightful exploration. Unfortunately, this book missed the mark completely. Save your money and look for a more reputable and well-researched account of the Kennedys.
- John - ★★☆☆☆
I found "The Kennedy Curse" to be similarly disappointing. The author seemed more interested in creating a scandalous narrative than in presenting a balanced and well-researched account. The book lacked depth and critical analysis, leaving me with more questions than answers. Additionally, I found the writing style to be unimpressive and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged. While there were some interesting anecdotes, they were overshadowed by the overall lackluster approach. I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking a comprehensive and unbiased understanding of the Kennedy family.