Ask Not: The Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed

Mary Richardson Kennedy, the wife of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., was a charismatic, beautiful woman who bore a striking resemblance to Jackie Kennedy. Mary was an ideal political wife. She was friends with Robert’s sister Kerry in childhood and knew Robert, whom she called Bobby, while growing up. As they grew closer, Mary learned about his vulnerabilities, including his heroin addiction, school expulsions, and trouble with the law. She supported his environmentalist endeavors, though he had the same half-baked business sense as his cousin John, and respected environmentalists often scorned his misguided projects.

However, after their wedding, their marriage quickly soured. Almost immediately, he began having affairs. Far from admitting fault, Robert (in his personal writings) instead blamed her, calling her “filled with venom and retribution” (79). Her mental health quickly deteriorated, and when he started openly dating actress Cheryl Hines, tabloids predicted that he would marry her. Even Kerry, Mary’s close friend and sister-in-law, happily socialized with Cheryl and Robert. Mary felt invisible and insulted. She began to drink heavily and was arrested for driving under the influence. Robert, rather than trying to make amends, cut off her access to funds. Per the terms of their separation, she was to receive $20,000 a month for living expenses, but he canceled the credit card she used.