Transcript
Carter Roy (0:06)
Oh, okay. Looks like we're starting off with a bit of trivia today, folks. Who was named People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive back in 1988? All right, let me guess. Oh, Tom Cruise? No. Okay. Ah, Tom Selleck. No. Really? I mean, come on, with that mustache? Uh, it wasn't. It wasn't me. Carter. Roy, was it? I think I would have remembered that. Ah, yeah, no, right. People's Sexiest Man Alive that year was not an actor. He was actually a third year law student living in New York with a very famous name, John F. Kennedy Jr.John is a celebrity. From the moment he's born, he's surrounded by famous relatives. But as he grows up, what he wants more than anything is to forge his own path, to prove he's more than a name and that he is not to be defined by the tragedies he's endured. And then, in 1999, at the age of 38, John is piloting a single engine plane when it goes missing over the Atlantic Ocean. His life is cut short, just like his father and his uncle before him. The abrupt and mysterious nature of JFK Jr. S death means people don't just jump to conclusions. They fling themselves at every possible theory, some of which are admittedly hard to buy. Other theories, however, do make me wonder. Was John's name powerful enough for somebody to want to kill him? What secrets did John know about his father's assassination? And who would have the most to gain by silencing him? Welcome to Conspiracy Theories, the Spotify podcast. I'm Carter Roy. New episodes come out every Wednesday. We would love to hear from you. So if you're listening on the Spotify app, swipe up and give us your thoughts. Or check us out on Instagram heonspiracypod. Stay with us. And later, we have a special story update about Havana Syndrome. You are not gonna wanna miss it. This episode is brought to you by ZipRecruiter. Hiring can be time consuming. Almost as time consuming as trying to find out what's inside Area 51. Takes a lot of work, a lot of effort. With ZipRecruiter, you can spend less time hiring and get back to what you really love, like solving the world's biggest mysteries. And even better, you can try it free at ZipRecruiter.com theory ZipRecruiter's latest improvements can help find you quality candidates in literal minutes. And not only does it help you find talent quickly, it also helps you connect with them. You'll gain access to their contact info, so you can even encourage encourage them to apply for your role. Use ZipRecruiter and save time hiring four out of five employers who post on ZipRecruiter. Get a quality candidate within the first day. And if you go to ZipRecruiter.com theory right now, you can try it for free. Again. That's ZipRecruiter.com theory ZipRecruiter the smartest way to hire this episode is brought to you by Focus Features. Would you let AI pilot your plane? Raise your child? Decide your future? On March 27, Focus Features presents the AI Doc or How I Became an Apocalyptomist, an explosive new motion picture event critics and audiences at the Sundance and South by Southwest film festivals call the most urgent movie of our time the AI doc or how I became an apocalyptomist. Rated PG13. Only in theaters March 27. This episode is brought to you by Cologuard. Do you know what's really scary? Not screening for colon cancer when you turn 45. The cologuard test is non invasive, requires no special prep or time off work, and ships right to your door so you can do it at home. In just three simple steps, Cologuard takes the scare out of colon cancer screening. If you're 45 or older and at average risk, ask your healthcare provider about the Cologuard test. Cologuard is available by prescription only. Learn more or request a prescription today@cologuard.com screen When John F. Kennedy Jr. Is born in November of 1960, he is, as his biographer Stephen Gillen calls him, the most famous infant in America. His father is the President Elect of the United States, and if you're a fan of this show, you probably know what happens three years later after JFK is assassinated in Dallas, Texas in 1963, John Jr. Affectionately known to the world as John John, is photographed saluting JFK's casket. This moment actually happens on John's third birthday, and it becomes one of the most iconic images in US History. John, his mother Jackie, and his sister Caroline will always strive to honor the Kennedy legacy. And yet this image of John John Salute will also pigeonhole him for the rest of his life. From a very young age, he becomes a living symbol of what his father stood for and a very nostalgic time for many Americans. According to some theories, John's status as a living symbol of a better world will make him a target. But before we get into the theories about John's death, there are some details you need to know about his life. As a young child, John moves away from the prying eyes of Washington, D.C. to New York City. His mother tries her best to keep her kids out of the spotlight and to give them a regular childhood. Well, as regular as it can be when you have nannies, assistants, expansive family compounds, et cetera, et cetera. But by pretty much all accounts, Jackie's plan works. John grows into someone who's compassionate, down to earth, and despite the weight on his shoulders, shockingly carefree, which does at times translate into some risky behavior. It's always in the name of adventure, though. After graduating college, John goes on a literal treasure hunt to explore a shipwreck and is nearly buried alive under a mound of sand. He later takes a girlfriend on a dangerous kayaking trip that almost gets them maimed. But the close calls never slow him down. John seems incapable of staying in one place, including when it comes to his career. As I mentioned earlier, John goes to law school. After his treasure hunting trip, he studies for the bar exam. Doesn't exactly sound like big news, right? Except it is if your last name is Kennedy and you fail the bar twice. Tabloids track his progress, or lack thereof, the same way they follow his dating life, which, by the way, includes celebrity girlfriends like Madonna, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Daryl Hannah. On his third attempt at the bar, he passes. And he goes on to have a successful, albeit short, legal career. He wins all six cases. He tries to, but once again, the press portrays him as a caricature. He's gone from little John. John, with his sad salute to JFK junior The handsome face who's too busy with women to focus on his job. It's not really an accurate portrayal, so I imagine it gets to him. And he decides that now more than ever, it's time to prove himself. Which is why he comes up with George. George magazine is years in the making. In 1988, John and his business partner, Michael Berman, start drumming up ideas. They want to launch something big. They're not sure what exactly. Fun fact. One of John's early pitches is a service where clients can rent dogs in need of a home. Honestly, the man was ahead of his time. Eventually, they land on a magazine that blends politics and lifestyle, and John is in a unique position to lead it. He's lived within the sphere of politics his whole life. Plus, his mom is now a respected book editor. George, named after President Washington, is billed as postpartisan. John wants it to be informational, not ideological. The goal is to make politics accessible, break down barriers, and make people see the humanity that can and does exist in the world of politics. George debuts in late 1995, with John as editor in chief, right out of the gate. It's a huge success. The first issue, featuring Cindy Crawford dressed as George Washington on the COVID sells nearly half a million copies. The second issue, only slightly fewer. There's advertising money out the wazoo. The magazine graces coffee tables everywhere. It feels like John has finally gotten the success he's wanted for so long, but it's fleeting. By the late 90s, George is still selling copies, but they aren't pulling in enough advertisers, which means less money, and George isn't profitable. John's not giving up. In fact, he's trying to finagle his way into the burgeoning business of digital magazines online. But if he can't make that work, George may run out of money. And that's not the only stressor in his life. Let me backtrack for a second. In the mid-90s, John is dating actress Daryl Hannah. They've had their issues, but things really come to a head when John's mother, Jackie, dies in May of 1994. And John bears the task of breaking the news to the world. She was surrounded by her friends and her family and her books and the people and the things that she loved. And she did it in her own way and on her own terms, and. And we all feel lucky for that. The loss puts things into perspective, as death always does. And John breaks up with Daryl. He begins dating in earnest another woman he'd already met, Carolyn Bessette. Charming and statuesque, Carolyn works in fashion. John reportedly loves her fierce independence. He sees someone who can hold her own, who won't be swayed by his or his family's fame. Their romance is intense, but the passion seems to go both ways. And they're always either madly in love or fighting, sometimes publicly. And their arguments are often secretly photographed and splashed across the tabloids. For John, it's an annoyance he's used to. For Carolyn, the paparazzi, the constant attention and scrutiny is a lot to get used to. After they hold a secret wedding In September of 1996, John and Carolyn hope the press will stop bothering them. But what happens is very much the opposite. Photographers follow her everywhere. She feels like she can barely leave her home. By 1999, when George magazine is faltering, reports suggest that John and Carolyn's marriage is failing, too. Now, whether or not they're heading for divorce is pure speculation. Close friends say they've been fighting, which is nothing new and that John is living in a hotel at the moment, which is also nothing new. But that brings us to the evening of July 16, 1999. John and Carolyn's last night alive. John arrives at the Essex County Airport in New Jersey around 8pm along with all his other thrill seeking hobbies. He's a licensed pilot. Having his own plane makes the frequent trips between New York and the Kennedy compounds in Massachusetts much faster and more private. Tonight, John and Carolyn are heading to Hyannis Port for a family wedding. After some heated arguments in the past few days, she has agreed to attend. She doesn't want to draw more unwanted attention to their marriage. Before they get there, they'll be making one quick stop first. Carolyn's sister Lauren Bissette is coming along for the ride and John plans to drop her off in Martha's Vineyard. It's a flight he's made many times before. Usually, though, John takes off earlier in the evening. See, he's still flying under what's called VFR or visual flight rules. It means he relies on visuals like the horizon, the coastline and the city lights below to navigate, as opposed to relying solely on his instruments. But traffic getting out of the city that night is a beast. He's running late and Carolyn is. Even later, as John makes his final preparations to his single engine Piper Saratoga. Dusk is already falling. At 8.38pm, the local air traffic control tower clears John for takeoff. He acknowledges their instructions and after that, John, Carolyn and Lauren are never heard from again. Before they reach Martha's Vineyard, their plane vanishes. A massive search gets underway. The next day, the eyes of the world watch as days pass, debris washes up on a beach on Martha's Vineyard. A suitcase, seat cushions portions of a small aircraft. Hope fades. And then on July 20, four days after their disappearance, the plane is found in pieces along the ocean floor about eight miles from its destination. Along with it, still in their seats, are the bodies of John F. Kennedy Jr. Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and Lauren Bessette.
