United States of Kennedy – Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy

Podcast: United States of Kennedy
Episode: Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy
Date: November 3, 2025
Hosts: George Civeris (misannounced as “Severis” in transcript), Lyra Smith
Guest: Paula Byrne, author and literary critic

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the extraordinary yet often overlooked story of Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy, the charismatic fourth child of the Kennedy dynasty. Hosts George Civeris and guest Paula Byrne explore Kick’s vibrant social life, her defiance of family and religious expectations, and the tragic twists that defined her brief life. Byrne, author of a comprehensive biography on Kathleen Kennedy, shares her research, personal insights, and the persistent mythologizing—and marginalizing—of Kennedy women within the family's public narrative.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Kennedy Phenomenon in Irish and Global Culture

• Irish Catholic Reverence: Paula shares her family's Irish Catholic background and how JFK and the Kennedys were idolized even above political or religious figures in many Irish households.
  • "We always thought of the Kennedys as American royalty...the fact that he was the first Catholic president of the United States was just so huge." (07:25)
• Keen Global Fascination: The hosts compare the Kennedys’ immediate celebrity status in places like England and Ireland with how Jackie Kennedy became a star in Greece.
• Impact of Media: Television's arrival in homes increased accessibility and attachment to JFK as a cultural icon.

2. Kick Kennedy: From Family Footnote to Fascinating Figure

• "Golden Trio" and Family Favoritism: Kick was one of the Kennedy “golden trio” (with Joe Jr. and Jack) and is widely believed to have been her father’s favorite.
• Persistent Tragedy: Kick’s life is often cited as emblematic of the “Kennedy curse,” overshadowing her personal agency and ambitions.
• Why Write About Her?: Byrne explains her biographical approach of finding overlooked figures and how Kick’s erasure from the family’s story piqued her interest.
  • "This woman has been whitewashed out of the family history. This woman's story has not been told." (11:46)

3. Research Challenges and Revelations

• Abundance, Not Scarcity, of Sources: Kick’s story is well-documented due to the Kennedy and Devonshire family archives, but mining it for a coherent narrative was daunting.
  • "Rose Kennedy's archive alone has something like 8 million artifacts in it...if anything, there was a glut of information." (13:33)

4. Kick's London Adolescence: American Royalty in High Society

• London Society: As an ambassador’s daughter, she becomes the It Girl in London, attracting the press and aristocratic attention.
  • "Nobody gave a second look to JFK…It was Kick, Kick, Kick. Everybody was interested in Kick." (15:05)
• Country House Initiation: Despite initial pranks and tests by British peers, her humor and adaptability win them over.
  • "She just wore a left shoe and a right shoe and went down the stairs...she was instantly accepted because she just charmed everybody." (23:30)

5. Navigating Elite Society and Defying Gendered Expectations

• Social Season and Endearing Traits: Kick’s down-to-earth charisma and unique style turn her into a social magnet, even as other debutantes resent her for "stealing all the men."
• Intellectual and Political Engagement: Unlike many women of her cohort, Kick actively discusses politics and literature, notably sharing a close, almost twin-like, relationship with JFK.
  • "[She was] one of the only women...talking about politics and talking about current events." (26:15)

6. Romantic Defiance: Billy Cavendish and Family Fallout

• Billy Cavendish: Heir to the Duke of Devonshire, described as "the most eligible bachelor in all of Britain."
  • "From the minute Billy...met her, he said she is the only one for me." (29:57)
• Religious Obstacle: The Kennedy matriarch, Rose, opposes the marriage solely due to Billy’s Anglican faith, fearing for Kick’s soul and reputation.
  • "Rose...believes that if Kick marries someone who isn't a Catholic, she won't go to heaven." (33:48)
• British Family's View: The Cavendishes adore her, with no class or religious prejudice.
  • "They were absolutely enchanted by her." (36:55)

7. Professional Ambitions and Wartime Service

• Journalism and Red Cross Service: Kick is a capable journalist and Red Cross “doughnut girl,” finding creative ways to return to England during WWII despite Kennedy family objections.
  • "I think that in itself is hugely feminist—to say, I am going back to this country at war." (43:28)
• Determination and Resourcefulness: She secures a prime Red Cross posting in London, in part leveraging family connections but primarily her own will.

8. Love, Loss, and Resilience

• Rapid Tragedy: Within months of marrying Billy, she loses both him and her brother Joe Jr. in the war, with their deaths forming the first dominoes of the Kennedy tragedies.
  • "She says, I feel like a cork bobbing...in an ocean or adrift without Billy." (48:57)
• Return to England and Political Awakening: Instead of retreating, she returns to England, becomes more politically engaged, and supports JFK’s own political awakening.
• Ongoing Social Dynamism: Even as a widow, she remains a social magnet and begins a controversial relationship with Peter Fitzwilliam.

9. The Scandal of Peter Fitzwilliam and the Final Tragedy

• Controversial Affair: Peter Fitzwilliam was married and not Catholic, compounding family outrage but also marking Kick’s independence.
  • "She wrote to JFK: 'I think I found my Rhett Butler.' ...He was married...and he fell in love with her at a dance, at a ball and was just totally smitten." (60:16)
• Plane Crash & Erasure: Kick and Peter die in a harrowing plane crash en route to seek Joe Kennedy Sr.’s blessing. Only Joe Sr. attends Kick’s funeral, as the family, led by Rose, seeks to minimize scandal and, in effect, erase her.
  • "Rose, when she finally discovers...she was so devastated...that's when the whitewash began." (62:04)
  • "JFK...stopped at Chatsworth and laid flowers and prayed at her grave, knelt down and prayed. You know, it was absolutely devastating." (63:53)

10. Writing the Biography: Praise, Criticism, and Humanization

• Critical Reception: Byrne shares that her nuanced approach—the refusal to demonize or canonize the Kennedys—received appreciation from the family itself as well as some criticism from readers who wanted a more scathing approach.
  • "The Kennedy family said to me, 'Thank you for seeing our grandparents as people.'" (66:51)
• Biographical Balance: Byrne emphasizes her goal of restoring humanity and complexity to Kick—highlighting her feminism, courage, and resistance to easy myth or scandal.
  • “I just wanted to shine a light on that. And then you just have to then leave it up to the reader to make up their mind as to whether they agree or not.” (69:26)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Kennedy Idolatry in Ireland:
  • “I always grew up feeling that he was somebody that was revered in a family that didn't really revere anybody apart from the Pope.” — Paula Byrne (05:30)
• On Feeling Like a Footnote Queen & Discovering Kick:
  • “This woman has been whitewashed out of the family history. This woman's story has not been told.” — Paula Byrne (11:46)
• On Social Integration in England:
  • “She just wore a left shoe and a right shoe and went down the stairs and they all said, why are you hobbling? And she said, oh, Robert broke my leg before supper. And she was instantly accepted because she just charmed everybody.” — Paula Byrne (23:30)
• On Kick and JFK's Relationship:
  • “They were really... described as a sort of Desi and Lucy, you know, that kind of screwball comedy because they were very witty... She was bright and sassy and they had quite a teasing relationship, but they were extremely close.” — Paula Byrne (27:28)
• On Kick’s Defiance:
  • “Defying your country, defying your faith, defying your mother, who's so strong and your family was deeply courageous. And so I just wanted to shine a light on that.” — Paula Byrne (69:26)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | 05:30 | Paula Byrne on Kennedy family idolization in Irish homes | | 11:46 | Byrne on discovering Kick’s erasure from Kennedy histories | | 13:33 | On the sheer volume of archive material for Kick | | 15:05 | Kick's London stardom eclipsing JFK | | 23:30 | Kick’s country house initiation story | | 29:57 | Explanation of Billy Cavendish’s social standing and allure | | 33:48 | Rose’s religious reasons for opposing Kick’s marriage | | 43:28 | Kick’s feminist determination to return to England in WWII | | 48:57 | Describing the aftermath of Billy and Joe Jr.’s deaths | | 60:16 | Byrne on Kick’s whirlwind romance with Peter Fitzwilliam | | 62:04 | Family’s reaction and Rose’s erasure of Kick after affair | | 63:53 | JFK visits and prays at Kick’s grave at Chatsworth | | 66:51 | Byrne on being thanked by Kennedy descendants for her approach|

Conclusion and Context

This episode re-centers Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy as a dynamic, independent, and courageous woman whose influence extended far beyond being a side character in the Kennedy tragedy narrative. Paula Byrne’s research and storytelling assert Kick’s foundational role in family history and Anglo-American society. The discussion also highlights the broader issue of how the Kennedy women, particularly those who defy social and religious conventions, are frequently obscured in history—and the importance of reclaiming their stories.