JFK

The young prince of Camelot John F. #Kennedy, Jr. spent the first thousand days of his life in the White House being doted on by two loving parents — then, suddenly, one was just…gone. Of course, many young children lose a parent through death or divorce, but #JFKJr.’s dilemma was unique: his dad was the slain President of the United States, whose funeral, watched on TV by millions, happened to fall on John’s third birthday. From that dark day forward, young John was in constant search of the father he knew so intimately, yet couldn’t remember. Unlike his older sister Caroline, John had no memory of his dad. His widowed mother Jacqueline Kennedy had many crosses to bear after November 22, 1963; not the least of which was making sure that John had some semblance of a father figure in his life. Friends, family, household staff, cabinet members, even Secret Service agents all stepped up and did their best to give the boy as normal of a childhood as possible. But one by one, they all faded away — either because his mother felt they were trying to replace Jack and pushed them out of the inner circle, or, in the case of Uncle Bobby, death took them out of John’s world — leaving deep scars on his psyche and creating a fear of abandonment that would haunt JFK Jr. for the rest of his life. In Episode 3 of my podcast series “JFK Jr: The Man Behind The Myth — Is Daddy There?” we explore the confusing merry-go-round of surrogate fathers who tried to fill John’s empty spaces, and how every man he bonded with in his young life would eventually leave him — wondering what happened, where they had gone, and why. Listen to all episodes of “JFK Jr: The Man Behind The Myth” in this playlist. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXBcSYiYQxlfxTmjwtxC00rw0G40QKhr8&si=Pb4J55ar8TcXbvUd

On this episode of "The Kennedy Chronicles" we explore the special relationship between the #Kennedy family and the nation of #Israel. Young #JFK visited #Palestine in 1939, later again as Senator after the creation of Israel, and as president, cemented U.S. support for Israel by creating our official special relationship in 1961. Kennedy was also the first American president to sell arms to Israel. Read more about John F. Kennedy's foreign policy towards Israel in this thread: https://twitter.com/RealLoriSpencer/status/1747893880345722925 President Kennedy's younger brother, Robert F. Kennedy, first visited British Mandate of Palestinein 1948, one month before Israel's Declaration of Independence. Twenty-two years old at the time, he was reporting on the tense situation in the region for The Boston Post. During his stay, he grew to admire the Jewish inhabitants of the area and their fight for freedom in the Israel/Arab war. #RFK became a staunch defender of Israel and as Senator voted to send the country 50 Phantom Jets for defense. This angered a 24 year-old Palestinian immigrant named Sirhan Sirhan, who cited Kennedy's #Zionism as the reason why he murdered Sen. Kennedy in 1968. Read more about RFK's relationship with Israel, and how it contributed to his assassination here: https://twitter.com/RealLoriSpencer/status/1747829384172454243 The third Kennedy brother, Sen. Edward Kennedy, #RFKJr, and all of the Kennedy grandchildren, continue the tradition of their ancestors as committed #Zionists to the present day. Read more about the successive generations of Kennedys and Israel in this thread: https://twitter.com/RealLoriSpencer/status/1903241440999727235 Join me and host S.L. Kanathan for a fascinating discussion of the Kennedys and Israel on this week's episode of "The Kennedy Chronicles." Premiers Tuesday, May 27 at 8 PM Eastern.

The political partnership between John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson was a mystery from the day it began -- on July 14, 1960, when #JFK asked #LBJ to be his running mate at the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. Both Sen. #Kennedy and Sen. Johnson's closest advisors, friends, and even family members were vehemently opposed to Johnson joining JFK on the ticket (most famously Jack's campaign manager and brother Bobby Kennedy, who tried several times to talk Jack and Lyndon out of it). But Jack's mind was pretty well made up. It had to be Johnson. As he told TIME Magazine's Hugh Sidey a few days before the convention: “There is no question in my mind,” said Kennedy. “Lyndon would be the best man I could get to run with me. He’s a Texan, a Southerner, he knows Congress, Washington, and he has the ability to be President. But I’m convinced he wouldn’t take it. He’d be more powerful staying as majority leader. What do you think?” Sidey had already gone over the question every which way with L.B.J. the night before, until Johnson got irritated and stormed that he would not do the Kennedy family’s bidding. He declared that the vice presidency was a worthless job compared with being Senate leader, related the sad tenure of “Cactus Jack” Garner, who had called the office nothing more than a “pitcher of warm spit,” and said Speaker Sam Rayburn had told him to stay far away from it. (Cactus Jack had actually used much more colorful language, saying that the vice presidency "wasn't worth a bucket of warm piss.") "If he could not be President," Sidey later recalled, "he would stay in the Senate, Johnson had told me with such rage and finality — his nose an inch from mine — that I chalked him off." Kennedy listened, grinned, nodded. Both were awed and amused by the tumultuous Johnson. “Have you decided on a vice-presidential nominee?” Sidey asked. “Yes,” answered Kennedy. “Can you tell me?” Sidey inquired. "I will if you promise not to publish it,” J.F.K. replied. “Senator, don’t do that to me,” Sidey implored. “We’ve got two days before the magazine is printed, and I’m sure the name will leak. I don’t want to be bound. So don’t tell me.” Kennedy gave a wry smile, said, “O.K., I won’t.” In the future president's mind, the only path to victory against Nixon in November was LBJ. (And he was right. Without LBJ bringing in Southern votes, JFK would have likely lost that razor-thin 1960 race.) During his presidency and long after his assassination, rumors swirled about the Johnsons and the Kennedys not getting along. #RFK and Lyndon by all accounts hated each other. However, the relationship between JFK and LBJ was far more friendly and based on mutual respect. What's the real truth about LBJ and JFK? Was Johnson ever trusted by President Kennedy? Did the Vice President have anything to do with the President's 1963 assassination, as some conspiracists allege, thus effecting an Executive Branch coup d'etat? Historian Lori Spencer breaks it down in this episode of The Kennedy Chronicles!

The political partnership between John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson was a mystery from the day it began -- on July 14, 1960, when #JFK asked #LBJ to be his running mate at the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. Both Sen. #Kennedy and Sen. Johnson's closest advisors, friends, and even family members were vehemently opposed to Johnson joining JFK on the ticket (most famously Jack's campaign manager and brother Bobby Kennedy, who tried several times to talk Jack and Lyndon out of it). But Jack's mind was pretty well made up. It had to be Johnson. As he told TIME Magazine's Hugh Sidey a few days before the convention: “There is no question in my mind,” said Kennedy. “Lyndon would be the best man I could get to run with me. He’s a Texan, a Southerner, he knows Congress, Washington, and he has the ability to be President. But I’m convinced he wouldn’t take it. He’d be more powerful staying as majority leader. What do you think?” Sidey had already gone over the question every which way with L.B.J. the night before, until Johnson got irritated and stormed that he would not do the Kennedy family’s bidding. He declared that the vice presidency was a worthless job compared with being Senate leader, related the sad tenure of “Cactus Jack” Garner, who had called the office nothing more than a “pitcher of warm spit,” and said Speaker Sam Rayburn had told him to stay far away from it. (Cactus Jack had actually used much more colorful language, saying that the vice presidency "wasn't worth a bucket of warm piss.") "If he could not be President," Sidey later recalled, "he would stay in the Senate, Johnson had told me with such rage and finality — his nose an inch from mine — that I chalked him off." Kennedy listened, grinned, nodded. Both were awed and amused by the tumultuous Johnson. “Have you decided on a vice-presidential nominee?” Sidey asked. “Yes,” answered Kennedy. “Can you tell me?” Sidey inquired. "I will if you promise not to publish it,” J.F.K. replied. “Senator, don’t do that to me,” Sidey implored. “We’ve got two days before the magazine is printed, and I’m sure the name will leak. I don’t want to be bound. So don’t tell me.” Kennedy gave a wry smile, said, “O.K., I won’t.” In the future president's mind, the only path to victory against Nixon in November was LBJ. (And he was right. Without LBJ bringing in Southern votes, JFK would have likely lost that razor-thin 1960 race.) During his presidency and long after his assassination, rumors swirled about the Johnsons and the Kennedys not getting along. #RFK and Lyndon by all accounts hated each other. However, the relationship between JFK and LBJ was far more friendly and based on mutual respect. What's the real truth about LBJ and JFK? Was Johnson ever trusted by President Kennedy? Did the Vice President have anything to do with the President's 1963 assassination, as some conspiracists allege, thus effecting an Executive Branch coup d'etat? Historian Lori Spencer breaks it down in this episode of The Kennedy Chronicles!

In this "Kennedy Chronicles" episode, more of my conversation with journalist S.L. Kanathan in India about #Kennedy family history. Here, we discuss the rise and fall of Joseph P. Kennedy, founding father of this American dynasty. Young Joe Kennedy dreamed of being the first Catholic president one day, and after serving in President Franklin D. #Roosevelt's administration (as the first chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, then on the Maritime Commission, and finally, as Ambassador to the Court of St. James in Great Britain), it seemed Joe was well on his way to making that dream come true by 1940. Kennedy had the drive, determination, and savvy to make every endeavor he set his sights on manifest -- from banking to the stock market to the movie industry to government -- but his goal in elected politics didn't pan out. In fact, it was an embarrassing failure that left him disgraced; shut out of political power centers for the rest of his life. On this episode, I'll tell you why Joseph Kennedy never became president, and how his relationship with #FDR crumbled over rising war tensions on the eve of #WWII. This week marks the 80th anniversary of FDR's death -- an opportune moment to take a deep dive into the complex, often strained political partnership between Kennedy and Roosevelt that eventually turned into a heated enmity before their explosive final bitter argument. Franklin famously told First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt afterwards: "I never want to see that sonofabitch again!" (And indeed, he did not. The two men never mended fences before FDR's death on April 12, 1945.) Joe Kennedy was finished politically after that, but like a tree that falls in the forest, Ambassador Kennedy's fall from grace allowed the sun to shine on the saplings: his sons Joe Jr., Jack, Bobby, and Teddy -- allowing them to grow. It's a fascinating story you won't want to miss on today's Kennedy Chronicles!

In this "Kennedy Chronicles" episode, more of my conversation with journalist S.L. Kanathan in India about #Kennedy family history. Here, we discuss the rise and fall of Joseph P. Kennedy, founding father of this American dynasty. Young Joe Kennedy dreamed of being the first Catholic president one day, and after serving in President Franklin D. #Roosevelt's administration (as the first chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, then on the Maritime Commission, and finally, as Ambassador to the Court of St. James in Great Britain), it seemed Joe was well on his way to making that dream come true by 1940. Kennedy had the drive, determination, and savvy to make every endeavor he set his sights on manifest -- from banking to the stock market to the movie industry to government -- but his goal in elected politics didn't pan out. In fact, it was an embarrassing failure that left him disgraced; shut out of political power centers for the rest of his life. On this episode, I'll tell you why Joseph Kennedy never became president, and how his relationship with #FDR crumbled over rising war tensions on the eve of #WWII. This week marks the 80th anniversary of FDR's death -- an opportune moment to take a deep dive into the complex, often strained political partnership between Kennedy and Roosevelt that eventually turned into a heated enmity before their explosive final bitter argument. Franklin famously told First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt afterwards: "I never want to see that sonofabitch again!" (And indeed, he did not. The two men never mended fences before FDR's death on April 12, 1945.) Joe Kennedy was finished politically after that, but like a tree that falls in the forest, Ambassador Kennedy's fall from grace allowed the sun to shine on the saplings: his sons Joe Jr., Jack, Bobby, and Teddy -- allowing them to grow. It's a fascinating story you won't want to miss on today's Kennedy Chronicles!

In this "Kennedy Chronicles" episode, more of my conversation with journalist S.L. Kanathan in India about #Kennedy family history. Here, we discuss Jackie Kennedy's legacy as First Mother, and explored the question so often asked over the years: "how did she manage to raise two very normal, seemingly well-adjusted kids amidst chaos and tragedy?" We also contrast Jackie's parenting approach to that of her sister-in-law Ethel Kennedy, and Ethel's distant, often estranged relationships with her children (especially #RFKJr) that resulted in public disgrace for some and death for others. I also shared my own recollections of #JFKJr., who was a friend of mine for eight years prior to his death in a 1999 plane crash. It's a fascinating story you won't want to miss on today's Kennedy Chronicles! Jackie's private pain is explained in even greater depth on this week's episode of my book club series, "The Kennedys: After Camelot," which you can listen to here. https://youtu.be/iZuADoTA_a4?si=DdNtJQhUihekAYGG Join me for weekly episodes of this history book club series "The Kennedys: After Camelot" by subscribing on YouTube, Rumble, Spotify, Substack, or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this "Kennedy Chronicles" episode, more of my conversation with journalist S.L. Kanathan in India about #Kennedy family history. Here, we discuss Jackie Kennedy's legacy as First Mother, and explored the question so often asked over the years: "how did she manage to raise two very normal, seemingly well-adjusted kids amidst chaos and tragedy?" We also contrast Jackie's parenting approach to that of her sister-in-law Ethel Kennedy, and Ethel's distant, often estranged relationships with her children (especially #RFKJr) that resulted in public disgrace for some and death for others. I also shared my own recollections of #JFKJr., who was a friend of mine for eight years prior to his death in a 1999 plane crash. It's a fascinating story you won't want to miss on today's Kennedy Chronicles! Jackie's private pain is explained in even greater depth on this week's episode of my book club series, "The Kennedys: After Camelot," which you can listen to here. https://youtu.be/iZuADoTA_a4?si=DdNtJQhUihekAYGG Join me for weekly episodes of this history book club series "The Kennedys: After Camelot" by subscribing on YouTube, Rumble, Spotify, Substack, or wherever you get your podcasts.

(UPDATE: On January 23, 2025 President Donald #Trump ordered the federal government to release ALL documents related to the assassination of #JFK, #RFK, and #MLK. I'll have the details in this episode.) 56 years ago this month, jury selection began in the murder trial of Sirhan Sirhan for the murder of Senator Robert F. #Kennedy. The 24 year-old Palestinian immigrant allegedly shot RFK in a fury over the 1968 presidential candidate’s support for arming #Israel with 50 Phantom jets. It was the first act of Palestinian terrorism on American soil — sparking five and a half decades more of terrorism and war that continues today in the Middle East. I devoted much of 2024 to a re-examination of Sirhan’s case — reviewing original evidence and testimony presented by both the prosecution and the defense — in the production of this true crime podcast series, Who Killed Bobby Kennedy? Below is a guide to every episode. Of course, I highly recommend watching the entire series to fully absorb all of this information, but this guide might help you zero in on specific topics or guests of interest. WHO KILLED BOBBY KENNEDY? (TRUE CRIME PODCAST SERIES) EPISODE GUIDE Ep. 1 Sirhan Sirhan: Innocent or Guilty? — Introduction and case overview Ep. 2 Why RFK Killer Sirhan Is Still A Hero in Palestine — A discussion of Sirhan’s influence on the Palestinian Liberation Movement and his embrace of communism with communist historian and author/journalist Caleb Maupin. Ep. 3 Sirhan’s Defense: Lisa Pease Interview — Our full 2.5 hour interview with Lisa Pease, author of the book “A Lie To Big To Fail” and leader of the “Free Sirhan” movement. Ep. 4 RFK Murder Conspiracies Debunked — Maverick News journalist Rick Walker and I discuss, debate, and debunk some of the most widely-circulated RFK conspiracy theories. Ep. 5 Sirhan’s Trial: Jim DiEugenio Interview, Part 1 — We take a deep 3 hour dive into evidence presented by Sirhan’s defense team at trial with James DiEugenio, Kennedy assassination historian, author and journalist best known for his work with Oliver Stone on the 2021 documentary “JFK Revisited.” Ep. 6: A Second Gun? Jim DiEugenio Interview, Part 2 — Jim and I discuss possible other suspects, and the ballistics investigations which DiEugenio says is proof that Sirhan could not have killed Senator Kennedy. Ep. 7 An Open and Shut Case: Jim DiEugenio Interview Part 3 — We rip the Los Angeles police and D.A.’s bungling of the original investigation, and talk about later efforts made by RFK’s friend (and shooting victim) Paul Schrade, Allard Lowenstein, #RFKJr., and others over the past five decades to release secret files and re-open the case. Ep. 8 The Motive: Mel Ayton Interview — British historian Mel Ayton is the author of “Sirhan Sirhan: The Forgotten Terrorist,” and knows the mind of Sirhan better than most. What factors drove Sirhan to murder RFK? What political statement did Sirhan make by doing so? Mel lays out the case here. Ep. 9 Premeditated Murder: My guest is journalist Craig Colgan, who has written about the RFK assassination since 1998 and interviewed many of the principals involved. Once a believer that Sen. Kennedy’s murder was the result of a conspiracy, Craig later changed his mind and now argues that what Sirhan did was a clear case of premeditated murder. Ep. 10 An Innocent Man: Thane Eugene Cesar: In Part 2 of my interview with journalist Craig Colgan he deconstructs the fiction which conspiracists allege that a security guard named Thane Eugene Cesar fired the fatal bullets. Ep. 11 Who Is Sirhan Sirhan? British historian Mel Ayton returns for another in-depth 2-part interview. In this episode, Mel tells us Sirhan’s tragic life story; from his 1944 birth in Jerusalem to his childhood trauma of witnessing a bloody war in Palestine, to his family’s emigration to America, and the events that led to his political radicalization and the murder his mother Mary once called “a patriotic act.” Ep. 12 Free Sirhan? In the series conclusion, I give Sirhan’s biographer Mel Ayton the closing argument. Mel makes a convincing case that despite errors in the L.A. authorities mishandling of the RFK investigation and trial, Sirhan is right where he belongs: behind prison bars. But should he remain there for the rest of his life? At age 80, is Sirhan still a danger to society? We discuss efforts by RFK Jr. to obtain Sirhan’s parole and the growing “Free Sirhan” movement. Watch all episodes for free in this YouTube playlist, or listen to the audio version wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this true crime series, please help support my independent journalism with a one-time donation or monthly patronage below. Support my independent journalism with a one-time donation here: http://LoriSpencer.WordPress.com/donate Join as a monthly member at: http://Patreon.com/LoriSpencer http://BuyMeACoffee.com/LoriSpencer Buy me a Gift from my Wishlist! http://GiftApp.com/RealLoriSpencer

(UPDATE: On January 23, 2025 President Donald #Trump ordered the federal government to release ALL documents related to the assassination of #JFK, #RFK, and #MLK. I'll have the details in this episode.) 56 years ago this month, jury selection began in the murder trial of Sirhan Sirhan for the murder of Senator Robert F. #Kennedy. The 24 year-old Palestinian immigrant allegedly shot RFK in a fury over the 1968 presidential candidate’s support for arming #Israel with 50 Phantom jets. It was the first act of Palestinian terrorism on American soil — sparking five and a half decades more of terrorism and war that continues today in the Middle East. I devoted much of 2024 to a re-examination of Sirhan’s case — reviewing original evidence and testimony presented by both the prosecution and the defense — in the production of this true crime podcast series, Who Killed Bobby Kennedy? Below is a guide to every episode. Of course, I highly recommend watching the entire series to fully absorb all of this information, but this guide might help you zero in on specific topics or guests of interest. WHO KILLED BOBBY KENNEDY? (TRUE CRIME PODCAST SERIES) EPISODE GUIDE Ep. 1 Sirhan Sirhan: Innocent or Guilty? — Introduction and case overview Ep. 2 Why RFK Killer Sirhan Is Still A Hero in Palestine — A discussion of Sirhan’s influence on the Palestinian Liberation Movement and his embrace of communism with communist historian and author/journalist Caleb Maupin. Ep. 3 Sirhan’s Defense: Lisa Pease Interview — Our full 2.5 hour interview with Lisa Pease, author of the book “A Lie To Big To Fail” and leader of the “Free Sirhan” movement. Ep. 4 RFK Murder Conspiracies Debunked — Maverick News journalist Rick Walker and I discuss, debate, and debunk some of the most widely-circulated RFK conspiracy theories. Ep. 5 Sirhan’s Trial: Jim DiEugenio Interview, Part 1 — We take a deep 3 hour dive into evidence presented by Sirhan’s defense team at trial with James DiEugenio, Kennedy assassination historian, author and journalist best known for his work with Oliver Stone on the 2021 documentary “JFK Revisited.” Ep. 6: A Second Gun? Jim DiEugenio Interview, Part 2 — Jim and I discuss possible other suspects, and the ballistics investigations which DiEugenio says is proof that Sirhan could not have killed Senator Kennedy. Ep. 7 An Open and Shut Case: Jim DiEugenio Interview Part 3 — We rip the Los Angeles police and D.A.’s bungling of the original investigation, and talk about later efforts made by RFK’s friend (and shooting victim) Paul Schrade, Allard Lowenstein, #RFKJr., and others over the past five decades to release secret files and re-open the case. Ep. 8 The Motive: Mel Ayton Interview — British historian Mel Ayton is the author of “Sirhan Sirhan: The Forgotten Terrorist,” and knows the mind of Sirhan better than most. What factors drove Sirhan to murder RFK? What political statement did Sirhan make by doing so? Mel lays out the case here. Ep. 9 Premeditated Murder: My guest is journalist Craig Colgan, who has written about the RFK assassination since 1998 and interviewed many of the principals involved. Once a believer that Sen. Kennedy’s murder was the result of a conspiracy, Craig later changed his mind and now argues that what Sirhan did was a clear case of premeditated murder. Ep. 10 An Innocent Man: Thane Eugene Cesar: In Part 2 of my interview with journalist Craig Colgan he deconstructs the fiction which conspiracists allege that a security guard named Thane Eugene Cesar fired the fatal bullets. Ep. 11 Who Is Sirhan Sirhan? British historian Mel Ayton returns for another in-depth 2-part interview. In this episode, Mel tells us Sirhan’s tragic life story; from his 1944 birth in Jerusalem to his childhood trauma of witnessing a bloody war in Palestine, to his family’s emigration to America, and the events that led to his political radicalization and the murder his mother Mary once called “a patriotic act.” Ep. 12 Free Sirhan? In the series conclusion, I give Sirhan’s biographer Mel Ayton the closing argument. Mel makes a convincing case that despite errors in the L.A. authorities mishandling of the RFK investigation and trial, Sirhan is right where he belongs: behind prison bars. But should he remain there for the rest of his life? At age 80, is Sirhan still a danger to society? We discuss efforts by RFK Jr. to obtain Sirhan’s parole and the growing “Free Sirhan” movement. Watch all episodes for free in this YouTube playlist, or listen to the audio version wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this true crime series, please help support my independent journalism with a one-time donation or monthly patronage below. Support my independent journalism with a one-time donation here: http://LoriSpencer.WordPress.com/donate Join as a monthly member at: http://Patreon.com/LoriSpencer http://BuyMeACoffee.com/LoriSpencer Buy me a Gift from my Wishlist! http://GiftApp.com/RealLoriSpencer