by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright July 19, 1999
All Rights Reserved.

lunging his Piper Saratoga into the chilly Atlantic waters off Martha’s Vineyard, John F. Kennedy Jr. reopened the ocean of unresolved grief surrounding the loss of his legendary father, the 35th president of the United States. Downed, with his life and those of his wife, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, and her sister, Lauren Bessette, was any glimmer of hope about the eventual resurrection of Camelot. When an assassin’s bullet tore out America’s heart on November 22, 1963, the nation was left with the unforgettable image of that innocent toddler saluting his father’s casket. Most Americans old enough to remember marked their lives by that dark day in Dallas. But this latest wrinkle in the Kennedy nightmare might signal an end to the final chapter.

       Though the world was left a promising prince, hope remained that someday he would fulfill his bloodlines and follow his father into politics. When a bereaved Jacqueline Kennedy packed up her family and left the Washington fishbowl, she was determined to raise her children in more dignified anonymity. True or not, her maternal instincts told her that John Jr. would not follow in his father’s footsteps. Sheltered under her protective wing, John Jr. was raised as an aristocratic Bouvier, exposed to finer elements of jet setting. Deliberately missing were the brash competitiveness, obsession with politics, and call to duty, essential parts of the Kennedy tradition.

       Unlike his father, John F. Kennedy Jr.’s character wasn’t forged by an indomitable patriarch, competitive siblings and wartime heroics. His exposure was more along the lines described by F. Scott Fitzgerald, whose depictions shed some insider’s light on the frivolities of the 'idle rich.' It was no accident that JFK Jr. limped into his plane Friday evening, still recovering from a sprained ankle sustained in an hang-gliding mishap some two weeks earlier. This detail was conveniently overlooked by some in the press, hoping to spare the family any further embarrassment. Why continue the facade?

       When JFK Jr. decided to take off at night in hazy conditions without instrument certification, some were questioning his judgment, especially since most of his friends — and close family — refused to fly with him due to his well known inexperience. With less than 100 hours of solo flight time, he decided to accept responsibility for his wife and her sister. Not only is America and the Kennedy clan grieving the loss of JFK Jr., but the Bessette family also mourns the irreplaceable loss of their daughters. Like the princess Diana tragedy, don’t be surprised to eventually hear about pending litigation.

       Questioning the advisability of risk-taking isn’t un-American or even politically incorrect. While many people are talking about the Kennedy 'curse,' others are trying to ascertain whether it’s possible to bring on one’s own 'bad luck.' Chronically overestimating one’s abilities carries certain risks. Grandiosity isn’t confined to the rich and famous. But before bunge jumping, it’s not a bad idea to measure the cord. You wouldn’t select a rookie to perform your bypass surgery would you? When it comes to operating sophisticated equipment, you’d expect the operator to be totally under control.

       Bristling at the suggestion that his actions were 'reckless' doesn’t discount the sincerity — and passion — with which he pursued his new hobby. When his cousin Michael fatally injured himself tossing a football while racing down the slopes of Aspen, the press rightfully asked whether his behavior was 'reckless.' Maybe JFK Jr. stretched his prowess as a novice pilot. With his father commanding a PT boat in World War II, his uncle Joe losing his life in a bombing mission over the English channel, and his family’s endless flirtations with risqué behavior and death, taking the wheel of a mere Piper Saratoga seemed like child’s play.

       Now we’re faced with the genetic end to the JFK legacy. Robbed by an assassin’s bullet, the American public never fully grieved the loss of president John F. Kennedy. When his life ended, Jackie packed up what was left of Camelot and headed into seclusion. Only the paparazzi and the tabloids assured that we remained fixated on her every move. America’s best known dynasty lapsed into at least partial obscurity. Then came Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination and Ted Kennedy’s abysmal disgrace to the Kennedy name. With Caroline Kennedy preferring the protected harbor of conventionality, her brother carried the charismatic torch through his panoply of high-profile love interests. Like his father, he eventually gave way to conventionality, married and broke many pining hearts.

       While the Kennedy family grieves the loss of their private hope for the restoration of Camelot, an American public is again reminded about how they were usurped of their dashing king nearly 36 years ago. Even now, presidential hopefuls measure themselves not by their fathers’ accomplishments, but against the charisma and legend of JFK. As we steam rapidly toward new millennium, you can’t help but be reminded of the events that shaped our lives. None was greater than the life and death of John F. Kennedy. His son’s wasteful death records only a small footnote in the totality of greatness for which his father gave his life.

       Taking a searching inventory reminds a watching world that emotional pain doesn’t easily disappear over time. Impounded within that special emotional vault are nostalgic memories of a bygone era, heralded for its bold idealism and unending search for greatness. As we confront the mediocrity of the present and face the ever-evolving future, the same possibilities for greatness beg for expression. Despite the foibles of today, America is poised and waiting for the next great leader. Who’s ready now to step up to the plate?

About the Author

John M. Curtis is director of a West Los Angeles think tank specializing in human behavior, health care and political research and media consultation. He’s a seminar trainer, columnist and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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All Rights Reserved.