Family members have died in war, been killed in plane crashes, succumbed to addictions, and more.
Joseph P. Kennedy II son of RFK downplayed the “curse” in the 1990s.
They were much more pragmatic about the whole thing.'"
Read on for a look at the most troubled Kennedy family marriages.
Rose and Joe Kennedy
Rose and Joseph Kennedy were the matriarch and patriarch of the Kennedy clan.
Despite their busy lives, Joe found time to have numerous affairs.
The highest profile was with Hollywood superstar Gloria Swanson, which the “Sunset Blvd.”
star revealed in her memoir “Swanson on Swanson.”
The actor was surprised to find that Rose treated her very well.
“Was she a fool … or a saint?
Or just a better actress than I was?”
Instead of leaving her powerful husband over his infidelity, Rose hunkered down.
Kerry Kennedy and Andrew Cuomo
Kerry Kennedy is one of several daughters of Robert F. Kennedy.
In the early 90s, she married Andrew Cuomo, the son of former New York Governor Mario Cuomo.
It was a traditional crush."
However, behind the scenes, this marriage was anything but idyllic.
They attended couple’s counseling throughout the decade, starting in their second year of marriage.
They had three children, and Cuomo’s political work left Kennedy to raise them mostly herself.
She finally filed for divorce in 2002.
In 2021, Cuomo resigned from the New York governorship amid abuse allegations.
“I come from a big family and the Kennedys are a big family …
It feels fun,” she toldPeople.
That winter, though, the family’s Christmas party required guests to be vaccinated.
“His opinions are not a reflection of my own.”
Behind the scenes, however, their marriage was occasionally strained.
JFK reportedly had affairs while in office, including with blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe.
Biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli toldPeoplethat Jackie considered divorce.
Jackie told Monroe, “Marilyn, you’ll marry Jack, that’s great …
I’ll move out and you’ll have all the problems.”
He would go on to become a Congressman for just two short years, from 1997 to 1999.
Furthermore, not only did they divorce, but he had the marriage annulled in secret.
She didn’t find out for years that he’d done so.
Rauch wrote a book called “Shattered Faith” about the marriage and the annulment experience.
“How can anyone say this marriage didn’t happen?
The annulment process is so hypocritical and so dishonest,” she told the outlet.
If you duck that, you send your children a very bad message.
“There was a real marriage,” she confirmed.
“It was a marriage that failed, but as grown-ups we need to take responsibility for that.”
He then met Patricia at the 1952 Republican National Convention, and they struck up a relationship.
After all, that was still a rarity in the early 1950s.
Patricia’s brother was happy to have a connection to Hollywood.
Unfortunately, the marriage between Patricia and Lawford was not, ultimately, a happy one.
Nevertheless, they were officially divorced later in 1966.
According toUPI, to Lawford’s consternation, the proceedings took twelve minutes.
That’s certainly the case in the marriage ofJohn F. Kennedy Jr.to Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.
She once faxed her husband, “yo come home now, I need you.”
It’s got to stop.
Otherwise we’re headed for divorce."
They were killed two days later.
He married Joan Bennett in 1958.
Ted and Joan Kennedy divorced in 1981, after 22 years together.
Joan went public with her alcoholism after she was found unconscious in 2005.
I think people whose lives have been touched by [alcoholism] can understand."
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available.
Visit theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration websiteor contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
They married in 1986, and for decades, they were each other’s biggest supporters.
“She’s a jewel,” Schwarzenegger toldRolling Stonein the early 90s.
Two decades later, things were quite different.
“At this time, we are living apart, while we work on the future of our relationship.
We are continuing to parent our four children together,” they said in a statement toPeople.
Everyone had to suffer.
Maria had to suffer.
The kids had to suffer.
She filed for divorce two months later.
Surprisingly,it took ten years to settle the divorce, according toUs Weekly.
Ultimately, Shriver won half of Schwarzenegger’s retirement money earned since their marriage.
In 1981, Michael married Victoria Gifford, daughter of football legend Frank Gifford.
The family didn’t heal.
Victoria and Michael divorced, and according toThe Associated Press, the divorce was granted late that year.
Massachusetts law requires a 90-day period before the divorce takes effect.
Michael died a month later, killed in a skiing accident on New Year’s Eve.
Political consultant Robert Shrum toldThe Washington Posthe worried Michael’s scandal would overshadow his legacy.
He was previously married twice, first to Emily Black and then to Mary Richardson.
Their marriage does not seem to have been a happy one.
In leaked court documents published byNewsweek, Kennedy claimed that Richardson was physically abusive.
“Mary’s violence and physical abuse toward me began before we were married.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available.
She married businessman Stephen Smith in 1956.
A year later, People profiled the Smith family amid rape accusations against one of their sons.
After Jean died in 2020, the rumors returned.
It’s tough to know what actually happened.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available.
Visit theRape, Abuse & Incest National internet websiteor contact RAINN’s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
