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Ethel Kennedy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
American human rights advocate (1928–2024)

Ethel Kennedy
Kennedy in 1968
Born
Ethel Skakel

(1928-04-11)April 11, 1928
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedOctober 10, 2024(2024-10-10) (aged 96)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Burial placeArlington National Cemetery
EducationManhattanville College (BA)
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Children11, including:
FatherGeorge Skakel
FamilyKennedy (through marriage)
AwardsPresidential Medal of Freedom
2014

Ethel Kennedy (née Skakel/ˈsk.kəl/SKAY-kəl; April 11, 1928 – October 10, 2024) was an Americanhuman rights advocate. She was the wife ofU.S. senatorRobert F. Kennedy, a sister-in-law of U.S. presidentJohn F. Kennedy, and a daughter of businessmanGeorge Skakel.

Early life and education

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Ethel Skakel was born on April 11, 1928, in Chicago, Illinois, to businessmanGeorge Skakel and Ann Brannack.[1] She was the sixth of seven children, with a younger sister named Ann and five elder siblings: Georgeann, James, George Jr., Rushton, and Patricia.[2]

George Skakel was the founder of Great Lakes Carbon Corporation, which later became a division ofSGLCarbon.[3] He was of Dutch descent and a Protestant[4][5][6] while Ann was of Irish ancestry and practiced theCatholic faith. Their children were raised Catholic, and Ethel, a devout Catholic herself, attended mass regularly throughout her life.[7][8]

Ethel and her siblings were raised inGreenwich, Connecticut. She attended the all-girlsGreenwich Academy and graduated from theConvent of the Sacred Heart inthe Bronx in 1945.[9] In September 1945, Ethel began her college education atManhattanville College, where she was a classmate of her future sister-in-lawJean Kennedy.[10] Ethel received a bachelor's degree from Manhattanville in 1949.[11]

Ethel first met Jean's brother,Robert F. Kennedy, during a ski trip toMont Tremblant Resort in Quebec in December 1945. During that trip, Robert began dating Ethel's older sister Patricia, but after that relationship ended, he began dating Ethel. She campaigned for Robert's older brotherJohn F. Kennedy in his 1946 campaign forCongress inMassachusetts' 11th congressional district and wrote her college thesis on his bookWhy England Slept.[9]

Marriage and family

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Robert and Ethel Kennedy in 1968

Robert Kennedy and Ethel Skakel became engaged in February 1950 and were married on June 17, 1950, in a Catholic ceremony at theSt. Mary Church in Greenwich, Connecticut.[12]The Boston Globe noted that the marriage "unites two large fortunes".[13]

After Robert graduated from law school at the University of Virginia, the family settled in theWashington, D.C. area, and Robert went to work for theJustice Department.[9] In 1952, Ethel and Robert moved into a rooming house in Boston, Massachusetts,[14] and she helped contribute to her brother-in-law John'sSenate campaign by organizing "tea parties" for potential voters.[15] Several months after the birth of Ethel's fourth child, her parents were both killed in a plane crash inUnion City, Oklahoma on October 3, 1955.[16]

In 1956, the Kennedys purchasedHickory Hill from Robert's brother John and his wife,Jacqueline.[17] The estate was situated on six acres inMcLean, Virginia, (west of Washington, D.C.) with a 13-bedroom mansion.[9] Robert and Ethel held many gatherings at their home and were known for their impressive and eclectic guest lists.[18] Ethel sold Hickory Hill for $8.25 million in December 2009.[19][20] The couple also owned a home inHyannis Port, Massachusetts, onCape Cod.[21]

In 1960, Ethel's brother-in-law John won thepresidential election, at which time he appointed Robert to the post ofattorney general.[9] Two years later, President Kennedy assigned Ethel and Robert to tour 14 countries on a 28-day goodwill trip. Though the trip was said to be informal, the host countries viewed Robert and Ethel as stand-ins for the President and theFirst Lady.[22]

On November 22, 1963, Ethel learned ofJohn's assassination from her husband. She had answered the phone, identified the caller asFederal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) DirectorJ. Edgar Hoover, and handed the phone to Robert, who then informed her of the shooting. Hoover had never called the Attorney General's home before.[23]

In 1964, Ethel supported her husband while he campaigned for and won a seat in theUnited States Senate, representing New York.[9] During the campaign, Robert was accused of "carpetbagging", and Ethel made light of the criticism by suggesting the slogan, "There is only so much you can do forMassachusetts."[24]

Ethel urged her husband to enter theDemocratic primary for the1968 presidential election. Biographer Evan Thomas portrayed her as Robert's "most consistent advocate of a race for theWhite House".[25]

Children

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Ethel Kennedy was frequently pregnant during her 18-year marriage, giving birth to 11 children:Kathleen in 1951,Joseph in 1952,Robert Jr. in 1954, David in 1955, Mary Courtney in 1956,Michael in 1958,Kerry in 1959,Christopher in 1963,Maxwell in 1965,Douglas in 1967, andRory,[26] who was born after her father was assassinated in 1968.[27] Kathleen served aslieutenant governor of Maryland from 1995 to 2003,[28] Joseph representedMassachusetts's 8th congressional district in theU.S. House of Representatives from 1987 to 1999,[29] and Robert Jr. ran for president in the2024 presidential election[30][31][32][33] before becomingU.S. secretary of health and human services.[34] Her grandson,Joseph Kennedy III, also served in the U.S. House of Representatives, representingMassachusetts's 4th congressional district from 2013 to 2021. Kennedy outlived two of her sons, David and Michael, who respectively died from a 1984 drug overdose and a 1997skiing accident.[9]

Husband's assassination

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Main article:Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy
Joan Kennedy, Ethel Kennedy andTed Kennedy in December 1968

Shortly after midnight on June 5, 1968, Robert F. Kennedy was mortally wounded bySirhan Sirhan at theAmbassador Hotel in Los Angeles; he died the following day at age 42. Ethel was present at the scene and was three months pregnant with daughter Rory at the time. PresidentLyndon B. Johnson declared aNational Day of Mourning. Ethel sent Johnson a handwritten note on June 19, thanking him and his wife, First LadyLady Bird Johnson, for the help they had given her and the Kennedy family.[35] After her husband's assassination, Ethel publicly stated that she would never marry again, wanting to focus on "furthering his work and legacy".[26] For a time, Ethel was escorted to dinners, parties, and the theater by singer and family friendAndy Williams.[36]

Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights

[edit]
Main article:Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights

Ethel Kennedy founded the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights (now known asRobert F. Kennedy Human Rights)[37] in 1968.[38] In February 2001, Kennedy visited Rodolfo Montiel and another peasant activist at their jail inIguala, presenting Rodolfo with theChico Mendes Award on behalf of American environmental group theSierra Club.[39] In March 2016, Kennedy was among hundreds who marched near the home ofWendy's chairmanNelson Peltz inPalm Beach, Florida, as part of an effort by theCoalition of Immokalee Workers, a farm workers' group, to convince the company to pay an additional one cent per pound of tomatoes to increase the wages of field workers.[40] Kennedy's daughter Kerry was president of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, according to the Fund's 2022 annual report.[41]

Later life and death

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Kennedy in 2000

During the late 1970s, with a renewed commitment to public service, Kennedy focused much of her time and energy on various social causes, including theBedford Stuyvesant Restoration Project.[42] In 1992, Kennedy and her son Michael made a cameo appearance on theNBC sitcomCheers in Boston.[43]

During the2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Kennedy endorsedBarack Obama.[44] She publicly supported and held fundraisers at Hickory Hill for numerous politicians that included Virginia gubernatorial candidateBrian Moran.[45] Kennedy hosted a $6 million fundraising dinner for Obama at Hickory Hill in June 2008. The $28,500-a-plate dinner was headlined by former Democratic presidential candidate andDNC chairmanHoward Dean.[46]

In 2012, Kennedy appeared in a documentary about her life, directed by her youngest child, daughter Rory. The documentary, entitledEthel, covers Kennedy's early political involvement, her life with Robert F. Kennedy, and the years following his death when she raised 11 children on her own. It features interviews with Kennedy and her children interspersed with family videos and archival photos.[47]

PresidentJoe Biden with Kennedy's coffin at her funeral, October 2024

In her later years, Kennedy resided at theKennedy Compound in Massachusetts and in Palm Beach, Florida.[48][49] She died in Boston on October 10, 2024, at age 96,[50] after being hospitalized for a stroke she had the week prior.[51] Kennedy's funeral was held four days later at Our Lady of Victory Church inCenterville, Massachusetts.[52] On October 16, a memorial service was held at theRoman CatholicCathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C., with eulogies given by PresidentJoe Biden and former presidents Barack Obama andBill Clinton.[53] Kennedy is buried atArlington National Cemetery alongside her husband, Robert.[54]

Legacy and awards

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In 1981, PresidentRonald Reagan honored Kennedy with the Robert F. Kennedy medal in theWhite House Rose Garden.[55] In 2014, a bridge over theAnacostia River in Washington, D.C., was renamed theEthel Kennedy Bridge in her honor, in recognition of her advocacy for environmentalism and social causes in the District of Columbia.[56] That same year, Kennedy was awarded thePresidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama for her dedication to "advancing the cause of social justice, human rights, environmental protection, and poverty reduction by creating countless ripples of hope to effect change around the world".[57][58]

In popular culture

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Ellen Parker portrays Kennedy in the 1983 miniseriesKennedy, set during theKennedy presidency.[59]Marnie McPhail portrays Kennedy in the 2002 television filmRFK.[60]Kristin Booth portrays Kennedy in the 2011 miniseriesThe Kennedys, set during the Kennedy presidency,[61] and its 2017 sequelThe Kennedys: After Camelot.[62]

Taylor Swift was inspired to write "Starlight" after seeing a photo of Robert and Ethel Kennedy. The song is from the perspective of Ethel Kennedy, mentioning meeting "Bobby on the boardwalk" (Robert F. Kennedy) and saying "we could get married / have ten kids and teach 'em how to dream" (referencing the eleven kids they would have).[63]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^Batcher, David; Hunt, Amber (December 2, 2014).Kennedy Wives: Triumph and Tragedy in America's Most Public Family. Lyons Press. p. 72.ISBN 978-1-4930-1671-6 – viaGoogle Books.
  2. ^"A Dynasty Strained".The New York Times. November 19, 2013.
  3. ^"Home : SGL Group – The Carbon Company". SGLCarbon. RetrievedNovember 24, 2014.
  4. ^David, Lester (1971).Ethel: The Story of Mrs. Robert F. Kennedy. World Publishing Company. p. 4.
  5. ^Sheenan, Susan (November 3, 1969). "Heaven Still Has Pearly Gates, Angels, For Ethel".The Palm Beach Post. p. C-4.
  6. ^Hilty, James (2000).Robert Kennedy: Brother Protector. Temple University Press. p. 54.ISBN 1-439-90519-3.
  7. ^Carlson, Adam (April 13, 2020)."Kennedy Matriarch Ethel Turns 92 as Son RFK Jr. Shares Throwback Photos with Birthday Tribute".People. RetrievedJune 7, 2023 – via Yahoo! Finance.
  8. ^Martin, Douglas (October 10, 2024)."Ethel Kennedy, Passionate Supporter of the Family Legacy, Dies at 96".The New York Times. RetrievedOctober 10, 2024.
  9. ^abcdefg"Ethel Skakel Kennedy". John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.
  10. ^McMullen, Troy (August 26, 2009)."The Last Kennedy: Jean Kennedy Smith".ABC News.
  11. ^"Ethel Kennedy".Biography. May 25, 2021.
  12. ^"On This Day: Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Skakel marry in 1950".IrishCentral.com. June 17, 2019.
  13. ^Oppenheimer 1994, p. 170
  14. ^Oppenheimer 1994, p. 194
  15. ^Oppenheimer 1994, p. 193
  16. ^Schlesinger, Arthur Meier Jr. (2002).Robert Kennedy and His Times. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, p. 87
  17. ^Rasmussen, Frederick N. (April 10, 2004)."Ethel Kennedy selling Hickory Hill".The Baltimore Sun. RetrievedNovember 14, 2023.
  18. ^Leonard, Mary (October 21, 2003)."'Shock' over plan to sell RFK home".The Boston Globe.
  19. ^Clymer, Adam; Natta, Don Van Jr. (July 11, 2011)."Family of Robert F. Kennedy Rethinks His Place at Library".The New York Times.
  20. ^Gowen, Annie (December 1, 2013)."Tech entrepreneur's renovation of Hickory Hill signals new business guard remaking D.C."The Washington Post. RetrievedAugust 5, 2020.
  21. ^Oppenheimer 1994, p. 242
  22. ^Oppenheimer 1994, p. 287
  23. ^Oppenheimer 1994, p. 352
  24. ^Schlesinger, Arthur M. Jr. (1978).Robert Kennedy and His Times. p. 668.
  25. ^Thomas, Evan (2002).Robert Kennedy: His Life. Simon & Schuster. p. 23.ISBN 978-0743203296.
  26. ^ab"Who is Ethel Kennedy? Facts you need to know".IrishCentral.com. June 28, 2018.
  27. ^Anderson, Lisa (July 18, 1999)."A child of tragedy postpones her wedding".Chicago Tribune. RetrievedOctober 11, 2024.
  28. ^"Former President George H. W. Bush to vote for Hillary Clinton: Politico".CNBC. September 20, 2016.
  29. ^"'Kennedy' Name Returns To Congress As Joe Kennedy III Wins 4th District". CBS News. November 6, 2012.
  30. ^"Robert F. Kennedy Jr. files paperwork to run for president as a Democrat".CNN. April 5, 2023.
  31. ^Garrity, Kelly (April 5, 2023)."Robert F. Kennedy Jr. running for president in 2024".Politico. RetrievedApril 5, 2023.
  32. ^"Statement of Candidacy".Federal Election Commission. April 5, 2023. RetrievedApril 5, 2023.
  33. ^"Robert F. Kennedy Jr. files paperwork to run for president as a Democrat". CBS News. April 5, 2023.
  34. ^Seitz, Amanda (February 13, 2025)."Vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is sworn in as Trump's health chief after a close Senate vote". Associated Press. RetrievedFebruary 13, 2025.
  35. ^Califano, Joseph A. (2015).The Triumph & Tragedy of Lyndon Johnson: The White House Years. Touchstone. p. 304.ISBN 978-1476798790.
  36. ^Brownstein, Bill (October 15, 2012)."A fascinating portrait of Ethel Kennedy".Montreal Gazette. RetrievedNovember 14, 2023.
  37. ^"Ethel Kennedy Fast Facts".CNN. January 28, 2013. RetrievedOctober 10, 2024.
  38. ^Santel, James (December 16, 2014)."Introducing Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights" (Press release).Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. Archived fromthe original on February 18, 2015. RetrievedJune 10, 2021.
  39. ^"Ethel Kennedy visits activists".The Irish Times. February 9, 2001. RetrievedOctober 11, 2024.
  40. ^"Ethel Kennedy leads farmworkers' protest near home of Wendy's billionaire chairman".Fox News.Associated Press. March 13, 2016.
  41. ^"Annual Report 2022"(PDF).Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights.
  42. ^"Ethel Skakel Kennedy".John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
  43. ^Oppenheimer 1994, p. 652
  44. ^"Ethel Kennedy Endorses Barack Obama". Barackobama.com. February 2, 2008. Archived fromthe original on February 6, 2008. RetrievedFebruary 2, 2008.
  45. ^Gardner, Amy (April 29, 2009)."Kennedy Matriarch to Host Moran Event".The Washington Post. Archived fromthe original on May 31, 2012. RetrievedJune 7, 2023.
  46. ^"$6 million dollar fundraising dinner for Barack Obama".New York Daily News. Archived fromthe original on December 30, 2011. RetrievedNovember 24, 2014.
  47. ^"A Mother with Moxie: A New Documentary Explores the Life of Ethel Kennedy by Her Filmmaker Daughter".Vogue. October 17, 2012. RetrievedJune 7, 2023.
  48. ^Casey, Michael; Leblanc, Steve (October 10, 2024)."Ethel Kennedy, social activist and wife of Robert F. Kennedy, has died".Associated Press. RetrievedOctober 10, 2024.
  49. ^Seelye, Katharine Q.; Martin, Jonathan (August 1, 2019)."Granddaughter of Robert F. Kennedy Dies After Overdose at Family's Compound".The New York Times.
  50. ^Kennedy, Robert F. Jr [@RobertKennedyJr] (October 10, 2024)."My mom, Ethel Skakel Kennedy, passed peacefully into Heaven this morning. She was 96. She died in Boston surrounded by many of her nine surviving children and her friends" (Tweet) – viaTwitter.
  51. ^Siemaszko, Corky (October 10, 2024)."Ethel Kennedy, matriarch of the famous family, dies at 96".NBC News. RetrievedOctober 10, 2024.
  52. ^Kazakiewich, Todd (October 14, 2024)."Relatives, dignitaries pay tribute to family matriarch Ethel Kennedy at funeral".WCVB-TV. RetrievedOctober 14, 2024.
  53. ^Baratz, David."Ethel Kennedy honored at memorial service by Presidents Biden, Obama and Clinton".USA Today. RetrievedOctober 16, 2024.
  54. ^Hallemann, Caroline (November 25, 2024)."Ethel Kennedy is Laid to Rest in Arlington National Cemetery".Town & Country. RetrievedNovember 26, 2024.
  55. ^Weisman, Jonathan (July 24, 1999)."JFK Jr. visited White House at invitation of Nixon, Reagan".The Baltimore Sun.Archived from the original on September 18, 2015. RetrievedOctober 18, 2015.
  56. ^DeBonis, Mike (May 21, 2014)."Ethel Kennedy Bridge is dedicated, at long last".The Washington Post. RetrievedNovember 24, 2014.
  57. ^"President Obama Names Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom".whitehouse.gov. November 10, 2014. RetrievedNovember 24, 2014 – viaNational Archives.
  58. ^"Obama awards Presidential Medal of Freedom to 18".San Francisco Chronicle. RetrievedNovember 24, 2014.
  59. ^"Kennedy {parts 1, 2, and 3 of 7} (tv)".Paley Center for Media. RetrievedOctober 11, 2024.
  60. ^"RFK".Viennale. RetrievedOctober 11, 2024.
  61. ^Brioux, Bill (April 8, 2011)."Controversial 'Kennedys' features big Canadian contingent". CTV News. RetrievedOctober 11, 2024.
  62. ^Teixeira, Bianca (April 13, 2017)."Kristin Booth Is the Best Reason to Watch 'The Kennedys After Camelot'".Sharp. RetrievedOctober 11, 2024.
  63. ^"How Ethel Kennedy inspired Taylor Swift's song 'Starlight'".Today. October 10, 2024. RetrievedDecember 28, 2024.

Further reading

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External links

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I.
P. J. Kennedy
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