Pulitzer Prize-nominated biographer C. David Heymann discusses his insights into the Kennedy clan after researching and writing several books on them, including "A Woman Named Jackie: An Intimate Biography of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy" and most recently "American Legacy: The Story of John and Caroline Kennedy." He also wrote "The Georgetown Ladies' Social Club; Power, Passion and Politics in the Nation's Capital," which includes stories about Katharine Graham, Lorraine Cooper and Pamela Harriman among others.
Q. Sen. Ted Kennedy's brain tumor has made recent headlines. What kind of influence has the senator had on Caroline and John Jr.?
A. Well, I mean, it was profound because he became the head of the family. I mean, after Bobby Kennedy was killed in 1968, every major decision either one of them ever had to make, they went and got Teddy's sanction. Of course, at the same time, for instance he tried to encourage John Jr. to stop flying his own plane but wasn't successful. After John Jr. died, Caroline literally cried on his shoulder and he helped her recover.
Q. I imagine then that Ted Kennedy's health is of great concern to Caroline.
A. I think it is. He has been sort of surrogate father to her. I think it probably is difficult. He's still alive and they say the brain surgery was successful, but I don't know what that exactly means. Without Ted at the helm there is really nobody who can take over that position. None of the offspring really have that much responsibility or are in a political position to do anything. Of all the people I can think of, Caroline is probably, you know, the leader of the pack, although she is not somebody you would expect to run for office.
Q. Considering how Caroline Kennedy guards her privacy and drops anyone who talks, how did you get people to talk?
A. Well, I think in John's case it was easier because he's been dead for eight years. That was one of the reasons I decided to do the book. His best friends were willing to talk. In Caroline's case, of course, it was more difficult because she is still alive and is known to be very private.
Q. Did you ever speak to any of them (Caroline, John or Jackie Kennedy) directly at any time?
A. I did know John somewhat. In fact, I solicited an interview with John for the Jacqueline Onassis book, which came out in 1989. But he didn't respond to my request until a year after the book came out. I said, "Well the book is out already." He said, "You don't really think I'm stupid enough to interview with you on a book about my mother."
Q. Without proof were you reluctant to include the speculation about John's supposed bisexuality?
A. As a matter of fact, I was a little reluctant. You know, it's obviously a sensational way of approaching sexuality. I mean I believe sexuality is an important part of a person's character and personality. Because so many people actually spoke about it or speculated about it, I decided to include the stories based on interviews with the most reliable sources. I drew the conclusion that he was not actively gay despite the fact that there were those who said that he was.
Q. It seems John would have run for office someday. Don't you think if the accusations had any truth to them it would ruin his chances?
A. I absolutely agree with that 100 percent. Yet, on the other hand both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush have admitted that they did drugs and that sort of thing and so did John Jr. (laughing). Yeah, I don't think this country is ready quite yet for a bisexual president.
Q. You do get the impression he loved how he looked.
A. Well, I would say he was narcissistic. I mean, listen, for example, the scene at his sister's wedding in 1986 where he pranced around in the nude at Hyannisport at the Kennedy compound in front of all the waiters. I think he was very conscious of his attractiveness.
Q. How do you think Jackie, Caroline and John maintained their sanity with the incredible amount of public scrutiny you describe in the book?
A. I think Jackie had a lot to do with it. She obviously was very aware of the pratfalls that could occur being a Kennedy. She made a conscious effort to bring them up pretty much apart from the rest of the Kennedys. Even when she was in the White House she was very conscious of trying to maintain a kind of normalcy. In fact, Hillary Clinton, when she was first lady, turned to Jackie because of Chelsea. Jackie gave her advice on how to raise a child in the White House without that child turning out to be some extraordinary monster.
Q. You've done several books that involve people with power, fame and money. What do you come away with from that?
A. I think most emblematic of that whole thing about the fact that money itself doesn't bring happiness was the book I did called "Poor Little Rich Girl" about Barbara Hutton, the Five and Dime heiress who was married and divorced seven times and ended up with $3,000 in the bank after a horrendous life.
Q. In your book "Georgetown Ladies Social Club," it's amazing that Washington Post owner Katharine Graham was able to have any self-esteem after her husband's emotional and apparent physical abuse, as well as her parents' indifference.
A. That's correct. I think it speaks very much to the strength of her personality and her ability to be self-reliant. This business with Phil Graham, her husband, trying to wrest away from her control of the Washington Post and then publicly running off with that young reporter. I mean, everyone in media circles knew about what was going on, his apparent insanity, etc., etc.
Q. So many of these powerful women dealt with infidelity in their marriages, but only if it was extreme did they ever leave their husbands.
A. These were extremely powerful women who could also be very loyal.
Q. Hillary Clinton did not leave Bill Clinton after all his philandering.
A. Nor did Jackie Kennedy. Here's a woman one could say put the country before her own interests. One realizes Jacqueline Kennedy was not a very happy wife in many respects. She may well have been and probably was in love with her husband despite the fact that her own father was a womanizer. This could not have been a pleasant experience for her.
Q. So what is your next project?
A. I'm now working on another Kennedy book -- "Bobby and Jackie." It's the untold story. It's about the relationship that existed between Bobby and Jackie, romantic as well. This is my farewell to the Kennedys (laughing).
First Published: June 9, 2008, 8:00 a.m.
