The Other Mrs. Kennedy: An intimate and revealing look at the hidden life of Ethel Skakel Kennedy

by Jerry Oppenheimer

She's the real power behind the Kennedy name. Now, for the first time, her secrets are exposed..

She ruthlessly mocked her sister-in-law Jacke's breathy voice and often referred to her as "the Debutante"
She kept a lengthy "enemies list" and blackballed those who she felt were disloyal or critical of the Kennedys
She turned Hickory Hill into an eerie shrine that included life-sized photos of Bobby in closets that startled visitors
She made one fo the most difficult decisions of her life when she agreed to "pull the plug" on Bobby as he lay dying after being shot by Sirhan Sirhan
She distanced herself from her own Skakel family, whose scandals exceeded those of even the Kennedys.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Politics, Biography Memoir, Presidents, Kennedy Family

733 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Jerry Oppenheimer is an author who has written several unauthorized biographies of public figures including Hillary and Bill Clinton, Anna Wintour, Rock Hudson, Martha Stewart, Barbara Walters, Ethel Kennedy, Jerry Seinfeld and the Hilton family.

Toy Monster: The Big Bad World of Mattel was published on Feb 3 2009 and his latest book (as of Aug 2, 2009), will be about Bernie Madoff, titled Madoff with the Money. Both published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

In addition to being a biographer he has also worked in several different capacities as a journalist, including as an investigative reporter and a producer of television news programs and documentaries.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great trashy Kennedy biography, by an author who obviously can not stand Ethel Kennedy. I don't really understand why the author hates Ethel Kennedy. He seems to look down on her for being a messy bitch(my words not his) in the aftermath of the murder of her husband Robert F. Kennedy. The woman has 11 FUCKING kids. I don't have any kids and I've never witnessed my husband's assassination(I also don't have a husband) and I'm a very messy bitch soooo...I guess I should be happy I'm not famous and no one wants to write a book about me.

This book is an enjoyable read though it is very dated it came out in 1994.Before Ethel's son Michael was discovered to be having an affair with his 14 year old babysitter and later died by skiing into a tree, it also came out before Jackie, John Jr., and Ted Kennedy died, and most glaringly it came out before Ethel's nephew Michael Skakel was tried, convicted, and had his conviction upheld for the 1975 murder of Martha Moxley. In fact at the time of this books publication the chief suspect in the Moxley case was Michael's brother Tommy.

Ethel Kennedy is the last remaining Camelot era Kennedy(Joan's still alive too but she's not really living) She has survived the deaths of her parents, all of her siblings, her beloved husband Robert, all of her brother in laws, and two of her very own children. In my own humble opinion Ethel is a fucking savage and I love her.

Only recommended to true Kennedyophiles like myself.

[A.M. Torres · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very detailed biography. It doesn't portray Ethel very well. She wanted to have all those children so she could beat Rose Kennedy's record of nine, but she traveled a lot and left those children for others to raise. This is common and typical in rich and powerful families though. It explains why these children wind up the way they do. David Kennedy was a tragic figure because his mother wouldn't talk to him about his father's assassination when he needed to and that was very sad. Ethel only lived for one thing and that was Robert if this book is to be believed even long after his death. No woman or person should make their lives only about one thing or person. At least Jackie did what she could to move on whether people agreed with her choices or not. When someone is gone tragically they're gone. If you have children, then focus on them. Ethel had eleven and this is where her attention should have been after her husband died. Then again I can understand the cruelty of it all. Ethel lived for her husband and his career and it was difficult to cope with losing all that at once. I recommend this book it was detailed and very interesting.

A.M Torres Author of Love Child.

[Martha · Rating 2 out of 5]

ethel kennedy and her mother ann shakel were mothers to almost 20 children. they then left the children for employees to raise. there was little to no loving parenting. two selfish women,hiding behind vast wealth who left their families.to struggle with life with no guidelines or parental care.the fathers were also absent and not very involved in families lives. in the end it was a sad book of lives and money wasted.

[Beesley · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author did a good job of researching the Skakel side of Ethel Kennedy's heritage. This book has lots of good information about those folks. Otherwise, though, this book was a big let down. It recycles the same old information about Mrs. Kennedy and her husband and does not really add anything new to that story. It focuses on dishing the dirt and is poorly written dirt at that. Not recommended.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolutely disgusting woman!!!!

[Susanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is certainly not a flattering look at Ethel Kennedy. The book is very detailed--to the point of repetition. It does a convincing job dismantling the Kennedy mystique. I felt very sad for the children. If this is even close to the truth, no wonder they ended up dysfunctional and on drugs.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book many years ago, wanting to learn more on Ethel Kennedy. I came away having no respect for this very selfish person, though it is a very detailed book about The Kennedy's.

[Jennifer Goldberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read,can you say Martha Moxley?

[Lori Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing I've read about the Kennedys. Such an exhausting, aggressive, bully! Money and power brought no class to Ethel, for certain.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a flattering picture of Ethel Skakel and her life with the Kennedys. Fascinating read, and I really enjoyed it. I read it out of order, starting with RFK's assassination, and then read about her childhood. What a mess of a family! A great voyeuristic look into those who surrounded "America's Royal Family"

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Skakel family was even more wild than the Kennedys. I was never impressed by them. Applauding for driving a brand new car into a pool, literally SHOOTING each other, etc. It was insanity and I pity them.

I have heard stories of Bobby and Ethel having a rambunctious household and a zoo, but I never thought of them as poor parents until I read this book. I was shocked at how entitled Ethel has been throughout her life. People constantly gave her passes because she's always been a member of a wealthy family. One of the most revolting things I read in this book was when her sister, Georgeann, gave birth to a daughter born 'blind, deaf, stunted and retarded.' "When Ethel heard the news, a friend said, she made her hand into the shape of a gun and put it to her head." Shockingly inappropriate! So much has been made of Ethel's religion, and daily mass. It doesn't seem like it actually had a great affect on her character though. She constantly flouted authority, broke rules, and expected people to give in to her. She thought being a Kennedy meant people should feel honored to help instead of expecting payment for things like clothes, groceries, etc. She sounds horrible! They both seemed like poor parents. RFK because he didn't have the time to commit to 11 kids but kept on procreating, and Ethel for a thousand reasons. She wanted the glory of being a great mom without putting in the work. It's no wonder her kids ended up with so many issues.

If this author is credible, Bobby was also a very crude person. His response to Ethel's parents dying in a plane crash was appalling.

I don't know. I need to research this author more. How is it possible every person is so awful? I feel like he went for shock value in everything. The first thing that gave me pause was he alleged Bobby was cheating on Ethel before they were married, and also propositioned a woman in front of her husband. That goes against every account I've ever heard about him. I heard that Hoover had him bugged and hoped to catch him cheating to embarrass, but Bobby was clean as a whistle unlike his brother.

It is incredible how many people in their world had plane crashes. Ethel's parents die in one, her brother later died in another, Ted Kennedy survived one, Joe Kennedy died in one, Kick Kennedy died in one, JFK jr along with his wife and sister in law died in one, Jackies stepson died in one, and later Jackies boyfriend's son in law died on 9/1-, flown into pentagon. Oh and Joe Kennedy (rfk's son, not brother, they all repeat names) is on a plane that got hijacked.

All in all, if what I read was true or not, it was very interesting and made for a good tale. 3.5 stars.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be very interesting. I never knew much about Ethel or her background just thought she was the less glamorous Kennedy wife. I had no idea she came from such a wealthy family and that the Kennedy family basically gave her nothing when Bobby died.

She raised her kids in the same style she was raised. it's all too common, the people who have easy access to money easily find their way into trouble--even people with money not on scale with Skakels and Kennedys.

In the end her story is equally joyful and sad. The Kennedys are truly an example which demonstrates money cannot buy happiness or help you to avoid life's personal tragedies.

if you are interested in the Kennedys I think you will enjoy this book.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned about the "backstory" of this well known lady, something I had never paid attention to. Since we know a lot of the basic story, the foreshadowing of events as told by the author seemed rather out of place. The organization and transitions of the writing style left me wanting more. The author didn't admire and like Mrs. Kennedy, but still I have to feel for her pain throughout her enthusiams for life.

[Debra Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing insight to who Ethel Kennedy really is.

[Annie Booker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very detailed, sometimes bitchy but always fascinating biography about Ethel Kennedy. Lots of lesser know detail about her early life and the Skakels as well as the Kennedys.

[Katherine Basto · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an informative, interesting and entertaining read! I could not put the book down. The life of Ethel Skakel Kennedy was one of supreme joys and devastating tragedies. The story of the Skakels and Kennedys would involve reckless behavior, alcoholism, and many losses. Both families had a brood of children, hailed from Irish roots, had little fear of danger and enjoyed being mischievous and out of control.
Jerry Oppenheimer writes short, riveting chapters in this lengthy book. Ethel's early life in Greenwich,(her father made millions starting Great Lake Carbon co) her Catholic upbringing, her life with Bobby, the eleven children they had and the tragedies that beset both the Kennedys and Skakel's are all vividly described in the book. The section on her children kept me turning the pages. I also enjoyed reading the historical context that provided an interesting backdrop to what was happening in our country especially during the 50s, 60s and 70s.
It's ironic how Ethel idolized Rose Kennedy, her role model for life. She was determined to have more children than Rose and she did! Ethel also learned like Rose to be loyal to Kennedy family members, regardless of what they did. She desperately cared about image(like Rose) and made sure no one sullied the Kennedy name. If you did, you were banished from her life forever. Ethel suppressed her emotions regarding the assassination of Bobby, but then took it out in rages on her children and was emotionally unavailable to them. Sadly, many of them suffered through the addictions of alcohol and hard drugs. David Kennedy lost his life to both scourges. Ethel was unable to be there for her sons David and Bobby Jr. and would just kick them out of the house, send them away or put Ted in charge of them. (Like this really helped!)
Ethel turned out to be more Kennedy than even the Kennedys' themselves. Like her role model Rose, she had a brood of children. Ethel, still alive and in her 90s appears to be living out her greatest desire...to live longer than the Kennedy matriarch and she's on her way to accomplishing this. Highly recommended, especially for a summer read!

[Therese · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most interesting biographies I've read. It is the story of Robert Kennedy's wife Ethel Skakel, living in the shawdow of Jackie.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a complete Kennedy dork. I don't know as much about Ethel. It was very interesting until the end. I had so many questions that I had to go online.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit of a voyeuristic look into the wife of Senator Robert Kennedy. I was surprisingly interested in the background of this noteworthy woman.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, because I knew so little about Ethel. But I find it hard to believe she's that unlikeable.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Gave me insight into a rich world that I am not accustom to!

[Mary Mattis · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved all of this book......I adore reading about the kennedys........

[Elvis2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book deserves 5 stars. Oppenheimer did a masterful job of chipping away and removing the false front Ethel presented to the public, a facade also built by journalists who wanted invitations to her parties more than they valued the truth.

Ethel rode her horse at a gallop through a hallway of the Skakel mansion. At that moment I really could not stand her. I thought of the poor horse forced to run on slippery floors, on slippery rugs, and what might have happened to him had he fallen. Even as a child, she had a colossal ego, lack of interest in rules or sane behavior, and may have had the beginnings of mental problems. As a young person, she did things like drive her car at night with the headlights turned off. In Ethel's defense, she came from a crazy family. Even so, I just could not feel sorry for her even after the assassination when her behavior was so strange.

Ethel had eleven children to beat the birth accomplishment of Rose Kennedy then pawned them off on nurses, nannies, governesses, maids, and other assorted hired help to raise. She was a distant and detached mother. I remember Ethel's image as an ideal parent. In reality, her house was a mess and her children were undisciplined, spoiled, arrogant, and naughty. The house's atmosphere was described more than once as bedlam with dog poo on the floor, dried food left on plates around the house, and children running in and out doing whatever they wanted to do. She always had a huge staff. To live like that made no sense.

I find nothing funny about pushing fully-clothed guests into the pool. That's the humor of an immature adult. Her parties were not places for intellectual conversation. They were events to hear gossip, eat food and drink lots of alcohol, and play childish games like "I'll Compliment You and Then You'd Better Compliment Me or Else I'll Never Invite You Back to Hickory Hill." Ethel not only did not pay her bills but repeatedly wore expensive dresses once and then sent a maid into NYC to return them as untouched when they were obviously worn. Her nerve and arrogance were unending.

This is a long book, filled with family stories and outrageous information about Ethel Kennedy's "frightening personality." In the end, I think Truman Capote, known for telling it like it was, described her well. He said she had the mindset of a vulture.

[Marie Kruse · Rating 4 out of 5]

First thing you should know about this book is that it is well over 500 pages and a bit repetitive. Much is said about tragedies that affected the Kennedy family name over the years. Trust me when I say, you have heard all of these stories; more than once. I think the authors reasoning for bringing them up again is to show that money and power bring no class to a family. Ethel Kennedy was a mother to 11 children who were left for employees to raise. (Spoiler alert: she had 11 children not because she wanted them, she just wanted to have more than her husbands mother had. How sick is that!) There was little to no loving parenting just a selfish woman, who sure thought that the word "privilege" applied to her. Looks like she brought up her children the way she was brought up, no love, no rules; just one giant "free for all." UPDATE: since this post I have read/ viewed other aspects of Ethel Kennedy. Made me realize that their are at least "two sides to every story." I gave an honest review about this book; but this was just one man's view. It is possible he didn't like her much. JMO

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This occasionally veered into 5-star territory for me, even though it is blatantly gossipy and sensationalistic. The sheer number of people the author talked to for quotes and biographical details of Ethel, the Skakel’s, and the Kennedy’s helped to paint a vivid picture of her life and times. There so many crazy, bizarre, disturbing details about her and both families that it’s a lot to take in. Like riding horses though her house when she was a teenager, and then jumping over a kitchen table while riding a horse through Ted Kennedy’s house when she was 60 years old. What?! Her profligate spending, her bullying, her competitiveness in sports - the story about her playing “chicken” in one sailboat and Eunice Kennedy in another is a fine example - the volume of children and animals she had, etc etc. It’s totally wild.

[Donna Wolff]

An interesting read about a very complicated woman. Born into wealth and married into privilege, Ethel Skakel lived for her husband. She is ambitious and protective of the Kennedy name. She is not all goodness, but not all bad, either. She could be charming, humorous and kind in public. Nothing is easily defined with her. She is fascinating.

[S S · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a bitch she was and is! Mean, judgy, rude. I’m surprised nobody beat the bitch to a pulp. I hate her. She is the kind of person who wouldn’t like me because I’d put this ugly Whoville looking bitch in her place. And she didn’t raise her kids well. She was a terrible person and terrible mother and should kill herself. She didn’t do shit for society.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are newer to the Kennedys, there's a lot of interesting facts in here. I don't know if Oppenheimer actually liked researching Ethel and I wish he had a more balanced view of her. Overall, he doesn't paint Ethel in a flattering way. A good follow up to Ask Not. Cheere Denise has a good commentary on both these books.

[Susan Molloy · Rating 2 out of 5]

🖊 As part of a book club choice, this was a palatable one, filled with shocking scenes. I do not know how much of this is true or not. 🗑 Conversely, other readers may find this natter to their liking. I will bet, though, much of this written is believable.
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[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure what the author's purpose was for writing this book. If he was looking to totally place his subject in the worse possible light then he definitely succeeded. Every single sentence in this book detracts from Ethel Kennedy's character. Not one good thing is said about her. The trouble is...I'm inclined to believe much of what was written.