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Posted on 04/06/2004 6:13:46 AM PDT by Gothmog
Jackie Kennedy knew about her husband's extra-marital hanky-panky and even considered having affairs of her own, according to a new book, but felt that life without JFK would have been ``a wasteland.''
``She wanted me to know she was not naive or dumb, as people in the White House thought,'' said Dr. Frank Finnerty, who treated Jackie for an injured foot and later became the first lady's confidante.
``She said the Secret Service was covering up for her husband.''
Jackie reeled off the names of JFK's various women - none of whom Finnerty recognized, with the exception of Marilyn Monroe - ``who seemed to bother her the most,'' the doc said.
The latest dispatches from Camelot come courtesy of Vanity Fair writer Sally Bedell Smith, whose new book, ``Grace and Power: The Private World of the Kennedy White House,'' is excerpted in the May VF, 10 years after Jackie died of lymphoma.
Smith says Finnerty also revealed the first lady was unhappy with her sex life with the president because ``he just goes too fast and falls asleep.''
But with the doctor's help, she came up with ways to spice things up.
``Kennedy never thought she would go to that much trouble to enjoy sex,'' the doctor said. ``This impressed him.''
But not enough, apparently, to get the president to stop his womanizing.
Smith adds a new name to the roster of JFK paramours: Helen Chavchavadze, who was a 27-year-old brunette divorcee who trysted with the Commander-in-Chief after he followed her home from a party.
``I never knew if Jackie knew but I felt uncomfortable about her,'' Chavchavadze said. ``I was never someone who had extramarital affairs. It was not my style, but it was irresistible with Jack.''
Smith also spoke to Tony Bradlee, who was married to ex-Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee - and the sister of JFK's ``romantic friend'' Mary Meyer.
Bradlee told Smith about a time when JFK chased her around the yacht Sequoia during his booze-fueled 46th birthday cruise.
``I was running and laughing as he chased me,'' she said. ``He caught up with me in the ladies room and made a pass. It was a pretty strenuous attack, not as if he pushed me down, but his hands wandered.''
Smith said Jackie knew about her husband's sexcapades in the White House, Palm Beach, Malibu, Manhattan and Palm Springs and confided as much to certain administration officials like Adlai Stevenson.
``But publicly, she stoically chose to ignore her husband's infidelities,'' Smith writes. `` `All Kennedy men are like that,' she once told Ted Kennedy's wife, Joan. `You shouldn't take it personally.' ''
Tony Bradlee said Jackie contemplated ``maybe doing it herself,'' but she doesn't think she ever cheated on Jack.
On their 10th anniversary, Jackie wrote to a friend that without her husband, her life would have been ``all a wasteland.''
Need more? Vanity Fair hits the stands April 13.
Soon to be followed by "The Sky is Blue" and "Rain is Wet".
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Daood! Don't be a fuddy duddy. Mail a check to or you can use PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com |
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The Kennedy family is basically the same as the Clinton/Blythe/whatever family, but with enough money left over from Grandpa's criminal enterprise that they were able to skip the trailer park chapter.
This book sounds in part like figments of the author's imagination.....Fact: During the early White House years, Jackie took a short sabbatical to sort things out and to decide if she would stay with Jack. Old Joe made her a handsome $$ gift to change her mind as stay on as First Lady - the rest is history.
All this is not to say that Jackie was just fine with Jack's behavior (I think the Marilyn affair was quite hurtful), but their marriage was "nuanced" shall we say.
As to her relationship with the other Kennedys after Jack's death, I would say that Jackie limited and monitored her kids' contact with their Kennedy cousins rather than prevented it. In this, she was wise. I know she visited the other Kennedys at Hyannisport from time to time with her kids.
Jackie was a complicated person, but she did do a good job with her kids against considerable odds.
What is funny is that the Kennedy family is done for -- and forever. When Cahhapquidick K is done that ends it. The Clintons -- even IF (huge IF) Hitlery makes it to higher office that ends it. Why, because Machiavallian principles are a one trick pony. They get one shot at it and that's it. Can you imagine anyone supporting Amy Carter? Chelsea Klinton? No, ain't gonna happen. Because the thin paper of their parentage can't stand under the weight of history.
The Bush family has principles -- agree with them, disagree with them, they STAND for something. That is a legacy that crosses generations (I don't know what will happen with the daugters, but Jeb and others can carry the torch.
The Kennedys cursed themselves through their evil lives. The Bushes thrive through their superior morality.
I had a neighbor who, when a teenager, baby-sat for a couple out in Hyannis one summer. She said that all the men in the Kennedy circle were like that and would even hit on her and the other teenagers who were sitters for the wealthy families!
A cool million...which was a pittance for him, with all his ill-gotten gains. And well worth the $$$s. He got what he wanted, a son in the White House. Didn't matter which son. I almost feel sorry for Jack, all he wanted out of life was to nail as many women as he could, and live the playboy lifestyle. But someone had to fullfill the "Kennedy Legacy".
Jack paid the price with his life, because you don't get into bed with the mafia, then cross them. I guess if you're were drunk with power, you think you are immune. Big mistake, even for the Kennedys.
I think it may have ultimately been a hollow victory for ole Joe. Kind of difficult to bask in the glory of getting what you want at ALL COSTS when you can't speak.
Some may say it was payback for the lobotomy he ordered for his poor daughter. As they say, what goes around, comes around.
It's really a sad story, almost has the makings of a Shakespearian tragedy.
However, we still have Chappy Teddy, and his agenda.
Instead of letting the so called "Kennedy legacy" RIP, he's still plugging away, thinking in some pathetic way he may be worthy of his daddy's approval. I guess getting away with murder was not enough for him, and he's still DRUNK with power, so to speak. Pathetic.
At the end of the day, what's left is all the women who payed the price for being involved in the "Kennedy legacy"...Mary Jo, Marilyn, Judy Campbell, Rosemary Kennedy...the list goes on and on.
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