Get to Know Ethel Kennedy: JFK Jr.’s Aunt and Her Efforts to Support Carolyn Bessette

In the latest episode of FX’s Love Story, Ethel Kennedy emerges as a formidable matriarch who imposes her rules and traditions on Carolyn Bessette, the romantic partner of her nephew, John F. Kennedy Jr. J. Randy Taraborrelli’s book The Kennedy Heirs characterizes Ethel as "tough" but ultimately protective of Bessette.

Ethel married Senator Robert F. Kennedy and became a devoted human rights advocate, raising 11 children. She passed away in October 2024.

FX’s Love Story, centered on JFK Jr. and Bessette’s romance, is a depiction of the Kennedy family dynamics. In Episode 5, titled “Battery Park,” Bessette meets Ethel and other relatives at the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.

From her introduction, Ethel, portrayed by Jessica Harper, commands attention. She has a reputation as a staunch family leader and a knowledgeable activist. During a dinner scene, she engages Bessette in a discussion about current events, leaving her startled. Additionally, she enforces her household rules, such as keeping her nephew and his girlfriend from sharing a room.

Despite initial tensions, Ethel and Bessette’s relationship evolved into one of mutual support. Harper highlighted their shared experience of being outsiders in a family celebrated by the public in a 2026 interview with Town & Country.

The series, comprising nine episodes, focuses heavily on JFK Jr. and Bessette’s relationship, limiting the screen time dedicated to the broader Kennedy family. It prompts curiosity about Ethel Kennedy’s life, her activism, and the candid dialogues she had with Bessette regarding the challenges of being involved with the Kennedy family.

Ethel Kennedy, born on April 11, 1928, in Chicago, Illinois, belonged to a prominent family as one of seven children of coal tycoon George Skakel. Her connection to the Kennedys began at Manhattanville College, where she befriended Jean Kennedy, introducing her to Robert F. Kennedy during a ski trip in 1945. Their relationship blossomed over time, eventually leading to their marriage on June 17, 1950.

The couple participated in JFK’s presidential campaign together. Following the assassination of JFK in 1963, Robert later sought a Senate seat in New York and campaigned for the presidency, but he too fell victim to assassination in June 1968. After Robert’s death, Ethel vowed to remain single, stating, “How could I possibly do that with Bobby looking down from heaven?”

Together, Ethel and Robert raised 11 children: Kathleen, Joseph, Robert Jr. (RFK Jr.), David, Courtney, Michael, Kerry, Christopher, Maxwell, and Douglas. Ethel was expecting their youngest, Rory, at the time of Robert’s assassination. Rory has remarked on her mother’s tendency to avoid discussing the trauma of that day, emphasizing a family ethos that prioritized looking outward to global issues rather than inward to personal struggles.

Ethel’s commitment to social justice was unwavering. In 1968, she established the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, and she participated actively in initiatives like the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Project and the Earth Conservation Corps.

In recognition of her lifelong efforts, Ethel received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former President Barack Obama in 2014.

Ethel’s relationship with Bessette took a supportive turn after the two first met in a more traditional setting, where Ethel’s probing dinner questions challenged Bessette. Following a public dispute between Bessette and JFK Jr., Ethel extended an invitation to Bessette for a private conversation. During this meeting, Ethel reassured her, sharing her own experiences of adjusting to life within the Kennedy family.

Ethel’s insights and encouragement resonated, as she asserted that Bessette possessed her own strength that was independent of her relationship with JFK Jr.

Ethel Kennedy passed away on October 10, 2024, at 96 years of age. She outlived two of her sons, David and Michael. Her family released a statement, reflecting on her legacy of social justice and honor, leaving behind nine children, 34 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren who held her in deep regard.