Debra, I already knew about her husband and two of her sons (as well as some extended family members, such as JFK and JFK Jr), but I learned reading her obit that her parents both died in a plane crash.
I thought about showing the photo of her shooing away members of the media as she kneeled over her dying husband, but I was afraid it might come across as exploitive, so I went with something light, that fun 1960s side of her that sometimes forgotten about.
Hello Kirk, I had to read about Ethel Kennedy, and mostly found the positive activist work in which she was involved. However, there were some odd stories about virtually abandoning her son Bobby, Jr., and this was the first time I came across the name Lem Billings, who has kind of an amazing story as JFK's gay best friend. There seems to be no end of all kinds of gossip about that family.
By the way, she had eleven children, so the one in the photo was only a small sample. It's amazing if they could survive the hairspray and vinyl fumes, which must have been concentrated in that household. --Jim
Jim, I never gave much thought one way or another about Ethel Kennedy (thought I've given a lot of thought about her husband, who I find even more interesting than the Kennedy that became President) until about 20 years ago when I read a book by J. Randy Taraborrelli titled Jackie, Ethel, Joan: The Women of Camelot. Since Jackie has the mystique and Joan is the trainwreck, I expected Ethel to be the least interesting of the three wives. Ah, I should've known better. At least in Taraborrelli's telling, Ethel comes across as quite a character and had tragedy not intervened, in terms of unpredictability and just sheer entertainment value, might have made a Betty Fordish First Lady (even more so since Betty never dressed like a go-go dancer.) Obviously not a substantial reason to vote her husband into the White House, but he had some other things going for him.
And yes, Jim, there's been negative things written about her, so this post, like any post I do about someone who just died, is not an all-embracing endorsement of her as a human being (and who am I to make such an endorsement?) but simply I found that person interesting and want to mark their passing.
I can't figure out who she was but a tube drifted into my mind a few minutes after reading your post and ii looked the so ng up on YouTube. And yes.... that was it!
In order to keep the hucksters, humbugs, scoundrels, psychos, morons, and last but not least, artificial intelligentsia at bay, I have decided to turn on comment moderation. On the plus side, I've gotten rid of the word verification.
So admirable.
ReplyDeleteMitchell, I find those Kennedy wives every bit as fascinating as their husbands.
DeleteCryptic but I get it.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, I sometimes think I should rename this blog Tales from the Cryptic.
DeleteShe survived a lot of tragedy. RIP
ReplyDeleteDebra, I already knew about her husband and two of her sons (as well as some extended family members, such as JFK and JFK Jr), but I learned reading her obit that her parents both died in a plane crash.
DeleteI thought about showing the photo of her shooing away members of the media as she kneeled over her dying husband, but I was afraid it might come across as exploitive, so I went with something light, that fun 1960s side of her that sometimes forgotten about.
She was a fair age! Now I have that song going through my head! I wanna be.....
ReplyDeleteAh, Ananka, you got the title! Congrats!
DeleteHello Kirk, I had to read about Ethel Kennedy, and mostly found the positive activist work in which she was involved. However, there were some odd stories about virtually abandoning her son Bobby, Jr., and this was the first time I came across the name Lem Billings, who has kind of an amazing story as JFK's gay best friend. There seems to be no end of all kinds of gossip about that family.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, she had eleven children, so the one in the photo was only a small sample. It's amazing if they could survive the hairspray and vinyl fumes, which must have been concentrated in that household.
--Jim
Jim, I never gave much thought one way or another about Ethel Kennedy (thought I've given a lot of thought about her husband, who I find even more interesting than the Kennedy that became President) until about 20 years ago when I read a book by J. Randy Taraborrelli titled Jackie, Ethel, Joan: The Women of Camelot. Since Jackie has the mystique and Joan is the trainwreck, I expected Ethel to be the least interesting of the three wives. Ah, I should've known better. At least in Taraborrelli's telling, Ethel comes across as quite a character and had tragedy not intervened, in terms of unpredictability and just sheer entertainment value, might have made a Betty Fordish First Lady (even more so since Betty never dressed like a go-go dancer.) Obviously not a substantial reason to vote her husband into the White House, but he had some other things going for him.
DeleteAnd yes, Jim, there's been negative things written about her, so this post, like any post I do about someone who just died, is not an all-embracing endorsement of her as a human being (and who am I to make such an endorsement?) but simply I found that person interesting and want to mark their passing.
I had to look her up. Ethel Skakel. 😄 96 years young. I hope I make it that far.
ReplyDeleteEthel played a lot of tennis, Mike. Maybe that will help.
DeleteGuess we'll never know indeed.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to speculate, Lux.
DeleteI can't figure out who she was but a tube drifted into my mind a few minutes after reading your post and ii looked the so ng up on YouTube. And yes.... that was it!
ReplyDeleteThe title of my posts can mean many things, Anonymous.
Delete