Mary Jo Kopechne was found impeccably dressed in her final moments, clothed in dark blue trousers, a broad-sleeved shirt, and adorned with her jewellery – a ring and a pair of golden bracelets. She did not have her underwear on. This type of description is a common sight in Maureen Callahan’s book about the Kennedy men, manifesting an immoral fascination with morbid elegance.
Although such pulp writing can be engaging, Callahan’s claim to represent women and girls rightfully calls for less sensational and more thoughtful methods. A biography addressing the history of unpunished violence committed by successive generations of Kennedy men against women is much needed, requiring ethical precision and factual accuracy. Here are some realities straight from this history: JFK exploited young interns for sex, sharing them amongst his comrades. Despite this, he remains a highly revered figure in American history. Ted Kennedy caused a car accident under the influence of alcohol, which led to the agonising death of his passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne. Instead of saving her or calling for help, he left the scene and continued his political career for the next forty years in the US Senate. Joseph Kennedy II, following an accident that left local girl Pam Kelley paralysed for life, was only fined $100 before pursuing a career in politics.
These stories contribute to a common narrative of power abuse. However, Callahan dilutes its effect by incorporating her own conjectures, stale conspiracy theories and overuse of moral judgements. The fidelity of the Kennedy men to their wives might serve as a sizzling scoop but is fundamentally mundane. It isn’t the fact that they are replicas of their crude forebearers that holds importance, rather the problematic power structure that created them. Callahan overlooks this, highlighting the Kennedys as a blight within American politics and advocating their elimination. However, the solution isn’t as straightforward as she portrays it.