Ethel Kennedy's Bond With John F Kennedy Jr's Wife, Carolyn Bessette Explored Amid 'Love Story' Buzz

Ethel Kennedy, the matriarch of the high-profile Kennedy family, is back in the talks following the release of episode 5 of the FX series, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette. The current buzz surrounding Ethel centres on her portrayal in the show, which highlights her relationship with her nephew's wife, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. Also, it explores the legendary love story the former shared with her husband, Robert F. 'Bobby' Kennedy. Here's a look at the personality of Ethel Kennedy through her relationship with her niece-in-law.

When did Ethel Kennedy first meet Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy?

Ethel Kennedy first met Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy in September 1994. According to J. Randy Taraborrelli's book, The Kennedy Heirs, the meeting took place during Bessette's first visit to the Kennedy Compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. The encounter foreshadowed the bond between Ethel and Carolyn. Before the meeting, John F. Kennedy Jr. instructed Carolyn to address his aunt as Mrs Kennedy. At the meetup dinner, Ethel subjected Carolyn to the family's traditional current events quiz.

The game might have been Ethel's way of introducing Carolyn to the Kennedy family's antics and a subtle confirmation that the latter was accepted as part of the clan. During the quiz segment, Ethel asked Carolyn for her opinion on the federal assault weapons ban. When she said that she was unsure of her answer, Ethel reportedly told her that she "might want to read up on it." Ethel seemed as candid with Caroline as she was with the rest of the Kennedy family.

Ethel Kennedy gradually grew closer to and "protective" of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy

Despite a tense start between Ethel and Carolyn, the former eventually became protective of the latter. Following a high-profile public argument between John and Carolyn in a New York park, Ethel called her to Virginia for a heart-to-heart chat. At that time, Ethel offered Carolyn useful advice on navigating the pressures of being a Kennedy, according to The Kennedy Heirs. Ethel shared her own struggles with the Kennedy family's high expectations, advising Carolyn that the only way to survive was to look in the mirror and say, "I'm enough." She stated:

"I went through that with Bobby at first. Then I finally got it that the only way to survive in this family is to look in the mirror and say 'You know what? I'm enough.' Eventually it will sink in and no one can ever take that way from you. Not even the Kennedys."

Ethel served as the safe space and sphere of moral boosting and affirmation that Carolyn needed amid her highly publicised relationship with John F Kennedy Jr. Ethel told Carolyn that she was "more powerful" than any other woman her nephew had dated. She also urged Carolyn not to change who she was internally to fit the Kennedy family mould. In Randy Taraborrelli's book, he mentioned that while Ethel was "tough," she also tried to "protect" Carolyn. The line aptly summed up the duo's relationship.

More about Ethel Kennedy

Ethel Kennedy (1928-2024) was an American human rights advocate and a social activist. Often described as the matriarch of the Kennedy family, she was a central figure in one of America's most prominent political dynasties for over seven decades. Ethel married former U.S. Senator, Robert F. Kennedy in 1950, and together they had 11 children, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, and Rory Kennedy. Notably, Ethel was pregnant with Rory when her husband was assassinated in 1968.

Months after her husband's death, Ethel founded the Robert F. Kennedy Centre for Justice and Human Rights (now Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights) to carry on his work. Beyond her husband's assassination, she endured the loss of two of her children, David (1984) and Michael (1997), and her parents in a 1955 plane crash. Ethel Kennedy died at the age of 96 on October 10, 2024, following complications from a stroke.

What are your thoughts on Ethel Kennedy and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's bond? Let us know.

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