Podcast
United States of Kennedy
Hosted by iHeartPodcasts · EN
United States of Kennedy is a podcast about our cultural fascination with the Kennedy dynasty. Every week, hosts George Civeris and Julia Claire go into one aspect of the Kennedy story.
43episodes
Episodes
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Finale: What We’ve Learned About the Kennedys
Apr 1300:57:16Summary readyOver the last 10 months, we’ve explored family drama, political scandal, unsolved mysteries, forgotten and misunderstood historical figures, and countless conspiracy theories. In the final episode of United States of Kennedy, we take stock of everything we’ve learned and attempt to answer the questions we still have about the most infamous American dynasty.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryThe Patriarch, Joseph P. Kennedy
Apr 601:06:13Summary readyWe’re finally going back to where it all began. Joe Kennedy — father to the nine Kennedy children — was a banker, a real estate baron, a liquor magnate, a Hollywood producer, a Washington insider, the first ever chair of the SEC, and the disgraced ambassador to the UK during World War II. We dive into his not-so-humble beginnings, his monumental successes in business and finance, and his complicated legacy as a political figure and patriarch of one of the most prominent families in American history.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryThe Rise of RFK Jr.
Mar 3001:04:59Summary readyRFK Jr., currently the Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Trump, has come up repeatedly on the podcast over the last year. We finally do a deep dive into his origin story and pre-Trump past, from family tragedy to environmental law to his turbulent personal life to his habit of… collecting roadkill? Plus: We check in on Jack Schlossberg’s congressional run. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryEunice Kennedy’s Lasting Legacy
Mar 2301:06:39Summary readyEunice was the fifth of Joseph and Rose Kennedy’s nine children. While she’s perhaps best known as the founder of the Special Olympics, that was just the tip of the iceberg in terms of her lifelong commitment to public service and disability rights. To unpack Eunice’s life and legacy, we’re joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of Eunice: The Kennedy Who Changed the World, Eileen McNamara.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Summary‘Love Story: JFK Jr. & Carolyn Bessette’: Part Two
Mar 1600:49:34Summary readySince we recapped the first three episodes of Ryan Murphy’s ‘Love Story’, it has become the most streamed limited series on FX — and TikTok’s favorite show to argue about. We discuss what’s behind the overwhelming popularity of the show, Daryl Hannah’s searing New York Times op-ed about her portrayal, past guest Glynnis MacNichol’s new essay about Carolyn Bessette’s New York, and what it all means for the Kennedy brand.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryTrump’s Takeover of the Kennedy Center
Mar 900:51:43Summary readyThe John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was a bipartisan project for the advancement of the performing arts conceptualized during the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations. When JFK was assassinated in 1964, it was established as a “living memorial” in his honor. For decades, the Center was an American cultural stalwart. Then, last year, President Trump dismissed its entire board of trustees, took over as chairman, and changed its name to the Trump Kennedy Center. We’re joined by New Yorker staff writer Katy Waldman to dive into the Center’s legacy and Trumpian transformation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryFilm of the Month: Blonde (2022)
Mar 200:51:32Summary readyInspired by our recent episode about Marilyn Monroe’s relationship with the Kennedy family, we watched the most recent fictionalized account of Marilyn’s life to make a splash: Andrew Dominik’s 2022 Netflix film ‘Blonde,’ starring Ana de Armas and based on the 2001 Joyce Carol Oates novel of the same name. We’re joined by film writer Esther Zuckerman to talk about the film’s divisive legacy, recognition by both the Oscars and the Razzies — and the infamous JFK scene that gave it its NC-17 rating. A content warning for our listeners: This episode discusses sexual assault.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryRyan Murphy’s ‘Love Story: JFK Jr. & Carolyn Bessette’
Feb 2300:49:06Summary readyWe discuss the buzzy new FX series ‘Love Story: JFK Jr. & Carolyn Bessette.’See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryThe Murder of JFK’s Mistress Mary Pinchot Meyer
Feb 1600:42:46Summary readyMary Pinchot Meyer was a D.C. socialite, artist, and mistress of President John F. Kennedy. While walking near her studio on October 12, 1964, she was murdered in broad daylight. The man initially accused of shooting her was acquitted, and the case has been unsolved ever since. To this day, conspiracy theories about her death abound. We’re joined by journalist Nina Burleigh, author of A Very Private Woman: The Life and Unsolved Murder of Presidential Mistress Mary Meyer, to talk about Meyer’s life and the many unanswered questions of her death.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SummaryMarilyn Monroe and the Kennedys
Feb 900:54:19Summary readyMarilyn Monroe has been associated with the Kennedy family for decades, from her memorable rendition of “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” to enduring rumors about a full-fledged affair with his brother Bobby. Most disturbingly, Kennedy-related conspiracy theories persist surrounding Monroe’s untimely death in 1962. Today we’re taking a look at how those theories relate to everything from the FBI to Norman Mailer. Lastly, we discuss the 2022 Netflix documentary “The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes,” and whether or not it complicates or clarifies the narrative.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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