The Kennedy Curse: Why America's First Family Has Been Haunted by Tragedy for 150 Years [Hardcover]

I picked up The Kennedy Curse by Edward Klein with much skepticism. The title, as well as the subject matter, suggested a book taken from the gossip pages of the newsstand rags. The early and rare Kennedy family photos on the cover and in the illustrated section of the book sparked my interested and I decided to give The Kennedy Curse a chance. There is plenty of gossip and sexually lurid details in this book, of course, but I was more struck by how well-written and researched it is. Klein covered JFK's 1960 political campaign and had interviewed many Kennedys through the decades and was a friend of Jacqueline Onassis for over a dozen years. Klein demonstrates more credibility than I expected and his writing style presents a book that is a joy to read and difficult to put down.

Klein clearly states the premise of his book: "The Kennedy Curse is the result of the destructive collision between the Kennedys' fantasy of omnipotence-their need to get away with things that others cannot-and the cold, hard realities of life" (p. 23). According to Klein, this "curse" stemming from some narcissistic, thrill-seeking gene originated several generations up the Kennedy family tree. He begins his book with a chapter on Patrick Kennedy (JFK's great grandfather) who arrived in America from the famine-stricken Ireland in 1849. On the other side of the family, Klein next covers John Francis Fitzgerald "Honey Fitz" (JFK's grandfather) who was an ambitious politician and mayor of Boston. The other chapters cover Joseph P. Kennedy, Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy, JFK, William Kennedy Smith, and JFK Jr. Klein focuses on the most controversial aspects of the lives he examines. Joseph P. Kennedy's harshness and Nazi leanings are described (one error I found was that Klein referred to Hermann Goering as Hitler's propaganda minister when, of course, it was actually Josef Goebbels, p. 111). Kathleen is painted in a little more positive light but is still shown as a conniving social climber out to get the Marquess of Hartington and, later, a married man. The sexual exploits of JFK and William Kennedy Smith are described in sordid detail (the 17-page chapter on JFK is almost completely on his sexual conquests while in office). Ted Kennedy appears as a dirty old man in the Smith chapter. The friction between JFK Jr. and Jackie O and, especially, the drug problems and emotional outbursts of wife Carolyn Bassette are the focus of the final chapter as well as the introduction. In fact, Bassette is painted in the worst light of all.

As well-written and interesting as this book is, the weaknesses are clear. There is no chapter on Chappaquiddick (only a few mentions) and hardly anything on RFK and his assassination. These two events probably sparked the idea of a "curse" more than anything else save, perhaps, for JFK Jr.'s plane crash. I also do not think Klein drove the "curse" premise home. Klein tries to demonstrate that it is the narcissism in the Kennedy family that brings about their misfortunes. If JFK was not so lackadaisical in security, he would have been better protected in Dallas or may not have made the trip at all. If JFK Jr. was not so bent on risky behavior to prove his worth, he would not have flown in poor weather July 16, 1999 and so on. A "curse," to me, seems to suggest that the Kennedys have no control in their downfall and that their fate is predestined. But, a lot of the family tragedies stem from their choices. Klein would state that it is the "curse" that determines their poor, sometimes fatal, choices, but I do not buy that. Kennedy apologists will jump on the idea that William Kennedy Smith, Ted Kennedy, etc. cannot help their deviant behavior because it is a family "curse." Most high profile families have tragedies on a higher scale than most (i.e. the Gettys). The Kennedys command much more media attention than most powerful families, so their trials and tribulations are always front page news. When one is rich and powerful and can have anything one wants, the successes are great and so are the potential pitfalls. Klein, to me, does not prove there is a "curse," and he certainly does not demonstrate that it began with Patrick Kennedy (who died young of tuberculosis) and Honey Fitz who had troubled times as all people do but nothing to suggest an evil affliction had been set. Caroline Schlossberg seems to be doing well and I don't think it is because she is breaking a "curse," she just conducts herself with dignity and does not become reckless with power. Although style-wise the book is well-written and a breeze to read, content-wise I found it to be lacking and not backing up the premise Klein so vehemently states.

"The Kennedy Curse: Why America's First Family Has Been Haunted by Tragedy for 150 Years" is a mewling, drippy tome of regurgitated material, alternately leering and worshiping the Kennedy family. It's hard to read this excruciating little book without feeling queasy.

The book traces the Kennedy family back to the immigrants escaping impoverished Ireland (a protracted and very dull chapter) to the assassination of JFK, to the death of JFK Jr. and his wife Carolyn. The genuinely tragic material (David Kennedy's psychological breakdown and drug OD, for example) is buried below more sentimental slop, the type of writing that perpetuated the Camelot myth in the first place.

New material isn't really to be found in this book; most of it can be found elsewhere. The only possible new material is his continuous negative coverage of Carolyn Bessette, whom Klein pours venom on continuously (even to the point of saying presumptuously what Jackie would have thought of her). The Kennedys themselves get off lightly; even Teddy and Joe are carefully whitewashed. Most of them aren't even dealt with; the book is surprisingly skinny, and most of the supposed tragedies Klein mentions are never really elaborated on.

Perhaps most absurd is Klein's desperate clinging to the myth of the "Kennedy Curse." Despite saying that they're narcissistic and thrillseeking, he claims that a supernatural curse is the only reason why the extended family could possibly have all these problems. Choosing to use cocaine, avoid basic safety measures, leave a girl in a submerged car, seduce the babysitter and ski backwards are not signs of a curse -- it's just recklessness, based on free choice. Why should I sympathize?

Many of the other deaths and problems are hardly unique -- alcoholism, cancer, strokes and various other problems. Sad, to be sure, but I doubt that if you counted all the relatives of ANY large family, that you would find anything different. He even claims the early death of immigrant Patrick Kennedy from tuberculosis must be the start of the "Kennedy curse." Again, far from unique.

Fans and foes of "America's first family" will find nothing new here, unless they happen to hate Carolyn Bessette. A literary bow-and-scrape, a drooling love letter to the Kennedy family in general, this book would serve a better existance as a paperweight.

This book doesn't need very much in the way of a review, because it is a quick read and the tale is in the title. I do, however, disagree with Klein's premise, which I find to be more of a fatuous PR ploy. There is no curse. That said, the book is readable, at least the first half, where Klein frequently quotes reputable historians, such as Doris Kearns Goodwin, as well as pertinent Irish historical references. When Klein discusses the infamous, but less important Kennedy's, like the rape trial of William Kennedy Smith, the text deteriorates (much like the family integrity) into speculation and less credible sources, such as Dominick Dunne.

The back cover suggests the book is "a detective story". It is more of a "defective" story, highlighting the Kennedy family flaws, certainly not providing good press for the Kennedy's. Much of the Kennedy men's brutish behavior is attributed to "narcissistic omnipotence". When you consider the rampant womanizing and indigenous alcoholism in the family, it would seem to be an oversimplification of the particular hubris that goes with politics, wealth and a free pass on responsibility for one's actions. I find it interesting that the so-called curse descends only on the male Kennedy's, with the exception of Kathleen, the oldest daughter.

In any case, the Kennedy men enjoyed a freedom that was unavailable to women at a time in American history when the public was still naïve about elected officials. This book is, if nothing else, a great romp of debauchery and lechery not seen since the days of pre-Revolutionary France, albeit virtually finished with the untimely death of JFK, Jr. His sister Caroline may yet prove the exception, but she is not infected with the swaggering bravado of her male counterparts. Given the intrinsic deception behind the whitewashed doors of Camelot, it is time to put the dead to rest and move on. Luan Gaines/2003.