The Kennedy Heirs

John, Caroline, and the New Generation - A Legacy of Tragedy and Triumph

By: J. Randy Taraborrelli

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

From New York Times best-selling author J. Randy Taraborrelli comes The Kennedy Heirs, his most revealing Kennedy audiobook yet.

A unique burden was inherited by the children of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy and his celebrated siblings, Senators Robert and Ted Kennedy. Raised in a world of enormous privilege against the backdrop of American history, this third generation of Kennedys often veered between towering accomplishment and devastating defeat. In his revelatory new audiobook, acclaimed Kennedy historian J. Randy Taraborrelli draws back the curtain on the next generation of America’s most famous family.

John Kennedy, Jr.’s life in the public eye is explored, following the Kennedy scion as he faced the challenges posed by marrying his great love, Carolyn Bessette. Riveting new details are shared about the couple’s tragic demise - and why Ethel Kennedy advised Carolyn not to take the trip that would ultimately end her life. John’s sister, Caroline Kennedy, had her own complicated relationships, including a marriage to Ed Schlossberg that surprised her mother, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and an unexpected bond with her mother-in-law, Mae Schlossberg.

Additional stories, many shared here for the first time, illuminate the rest of the Kennedy dynasty: Kara Kennedy, Ted’s daughter, and her valiant battle against lung cancer; how Ted’s wife, Vicki, introduced a new era of feminism to the Kennedy family; the lifelong struggles with addiction faced by Bobby Kennedy Jr., and Patrick Kennedy; the unexpected way pop star Taylor Swift helped Conor Kennedy heal after the death of his mother, Bobby’s wife Mary; and Congressman Joe Kennedy III’s rise to prominence. At the center of it all is the family’s indomitable matriarch, Ethel Kennedy - a formidable presence with her maddening eccentricities and inspiring courage.

Based on hundreds of exclusive first-hand interviews and cultivated over 20 years of research - including numerous Oral Histories from the JFK Library and the Edward M. Kennedy Institute - The Kennedy Heirs is an epic drama of ambition, scandal, pride, and power.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 J. Randy Taraborrelli (P)2019 Macmillan Audio

The research and details of this family.

I thought I knew much about the
Kennedys. I learned a lot. The narrator was very good.

Excellent!

Excellent. One of the best books I’ve read or listened to on the Kennedy’s. And I’ve read quite a few.

Knowing with out knowing the Kennedy’s

My mother and her sister were always thanking about the Kennedy’s like they’ve been there friends.
Mr Taraborrelli book, was a nice, interesting and
Elegant way to say Hi- to a family a did not known much since my mother passed away.
Yes, I recommend this audio book!

The Kennedy heirs

What an awakening. Even though living through much of this time, at 86, I feel as though I have missed so much of history during my time. This was well written and very down to earth. I have always been a fan of the Kennedy family so I loved this book.

Interesting Book of 70+ Years Spanning Kennedys

It’d be easy to think this literary offering might be more of the “same” info about this celebrated dynasty … but NO, J Randy Taraborrelli is a seasoned American journalist and celebrity biographer who exposes much information from behind the scenes (gleaned from interviews, private sources, etc.) Near the beginning, he states that he doesn’t cover ALL members in the Kennedy family but frankly, he doesn’t seem to leave many out. Included are scenes like Jackie and Caroline’s unusual first get-together luncheon with Mae Schlossberg; Patrick Kennedy’s memory of mother Joan entertaining on a concert stage to thousands; Ethel’s unexpected “smoke and mirrors” comment regarding Carolyn Bessette (after her initial visit to the compound); Andrew Cuomo’s frequent friction with his wife Kerry’s family; an attempted kidnapping of little Rory Kennedy during her childhood; Many generations are written about herein with much data that was new to me and many revelations occur incorporating the good, the bad and the secrets … also births, deaths, tragic losses.

P.S. Additionally, there’s mention of risky behaviour by some Kennedy youths in a Jeep the summer of 1973: the vehicle was rushed around in tight circles so quickly that it overturned and a local girl (18-year-old Pamela Kelley, David’s girlfriend) ended up thrown from the vehicle and was paralyzed for life from the chest down. Although this book does not acknowledge the legal settlement which ensued, I googled it and the pittance which she received for what became 5 decades more of her life ahead was horrendously inadequate considering the cost of living increases which have exploded upwards since then. The Kennedy’s broad-reaching MASSIVE financial worth is well disclosed by Taraborrelli so I’m disappointed there was no court-ordered review issued for set intervals because Pamela ended up in dire straits monetarily. I write this because it’s so unfair —to my thinking— that the paraplegic suffered without appropriate update attention and follow-up ... therefore I’ve protested by removing a star from the overall-stars-rating (my apologies to the author). I understand that accidents can happen but c’mon, she did not receive anywhere near even a million dollars for half a century in a wheelchair!

This is a reasonably fast-paced and thorough good book, though, and it’s jam-packed with interesting and/or fascinating tidbits to discover.