The presence of President and Mrs. Clinton, along with Chelsea, here today is a testament to the extraordinary kindness shown throughout this week. Their presence is deeply appreciated as we gather to remember John F. Kennedy Jr., affectionately known as John John to many.
There’s a story about John that captures his spirit perfectly. When asked what he’d do if he entered politics and became president, he quipped, “I guess the first thing is call up Uncle Teddy and gloat.” It was a remark filled with the same playful charm that defined his father, and it revealed a glimpse into the close, yet lighthearted, family dynamics. From the moment he was born, John F. Kennedy Jr. seemed destined to be more than just a member of our family; he felt like he belonged to the entire American family.
Even before he could speak his own name, the world knew “John John.” A photograph, iconic in its imagery, captured a young John John Kennedy Jr. racing across the White House lawn, eager to greet his father arriving in the presidential helicopter. Senator Edward Kennedy recounted his brother’s reaction to the photograph, “Every mother in the United States is saying, ‘Isn’t it wonderful to see that love between a son and his father, the way that John races to be with his father.’ Little do they know — that son would have raced right by his father to get to that helicopter.” This anecdote, shared at his eulogy, reveals the inherent charisma and independent spirit of John John from a very young age.
But John John was far more complex and compelling than those early, indelible images. He matured into a man characterized by an infectious zest for life and an insatiable love for adventure. He possessed a magnetic quality, drawing people in and inviting them to share in his experiences. Central to his upbringing were his parents, who instilled in him the unwavering belief that nothing surpassed the importance of family.
Following their time in the White House, Jackie Kennedy Onassis provided the steady and gentle guidance he needed. Her quiet strength and resilient spirit became his anchor, steering him confidently toward the future. He inherited a powerful legacy, which he learned to not only acknowledge but to cherish. He navigated life as part of a legendary family, learning to live with its weight and expectations. Crucially, Jackie created a space for him to simply be himself, to grow, to experience joy and sorrow, and to pursue his dreams on his own terms.
John F. Kennedy Jr. embraced this lesson wholeheartedly. He possessed an extraordinary grace, accepting his identity while remaining focused on personal growth and potential. He had a keen eye for recognizing what might be overlooked amidst the fanfare and publicity. And he maintained a wonderful sense of humor, often finding amusement in excessive formality and ceremony.
He navigated New York City with the ease and familiarity of any resident, often using the subway, bicycle, or rollerblades to get around. He lived with a sense of anonymity, even though he was recognizable to almost everyone he encountered. He made it a point to introduce himself, never taking his identity for granted. He preferred to drive his own car and pilot his own plane, valuing his independence and self-determination. In many ways, John John Kennedy Jr. was the architect of his own life.
John John believed deeply that politics should be interwoven with popular culture, and conversely, that popular culture should inform and engage with the political sphere. He translated this conviction into the creation of George magazine. As its founder and editor-in-chief, John shaped a unique and often irreverent publication that aimed to engage a new generation in political discourse, many of whom had never before been drawn to political media.
His sharp wit was also a defining characteristic of George. The magazine’s debut issue immediately sparked conversation with its cover featuring Cindy Crawford playfully posing as George Washington, complete with a bare navel.
Senator Kennedy humorously recounted a playful jab in The Washington Post’s “Reliable Source,” which mocked up a George cover featuring himself in the Cindy Crawford pose. He jokingly suggested to John that he might have been a better cover model choice. Without hesitation, John John reaffirmed his original editorial decision, showcasing his quick wit and confidence in his vision.
This playful humor extended into other areas of John’s life. During Senator Kennedy’s 1994 election campaign, John’s appearances always generated excitement. Prior to a trip to Boston to support the campaign, John informed the team he would be bringing a companion but would only require a single hotel room.
Intrigued and discreet, a senior campaign staffer met John at the airport, prepared for any media attention his “mystery companion” might attract. John arrived with his companion – an enormous German Shepherd named Sam, whom he had just rescued from a local animal shelter.
John John relished recounting the campaign worker’s surprised expression and the Charles Hotel clerk’s reaction when he and Sam checked in. These anecdotes paint a picture of a man who was not only charismatic and intelligent but also kind, compassionate, and grounded.
Beyond the adventures and anecdotes, John John Kennedy Jr. was a man of substance and quiet generosity. He dedicated considerable time and innovative ideas to the Institute of Politics at Harvard, an institution bearing his father’s name. He contributed his unique perspective, emphasizing that politics could be more broadly appealing, encompassing not just elections but the larger societal forces that shape our world.
He transitioned from being the son protected by his mother to becoming her source of pride and her protector in her final years. He was the Kennedy who held his family dear, especially cherishing his sister, Caroline Kennedy, celebrating her intellect, and finding mutual admiration and strength in their lifelong bond.
For a thousand days, he was a devoted husband, deeply in love with Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, who became his perfect partner. Just as his father inspired a generation to reach for ambitious goals, John John pursued his own aspirations and found his “shining star” in Carolyn.
Our family will forever cherish memories of John and Carolyn, sharing intimate moments on family boat trips in Nantucket Sound, surrounded by loved ones – aunts, uncles, Caroline and her children Rose, Tatiana, and Jack, and cousins from across the Kennedy, Radziwill, Shriver, Smith, and Lawford families.
Back home, before dinner, on the very lawn where his father had once played, John John would enthusiastically lead games of touch football. And Carolyn, a cherished addition to the Kennedy family, would cheer for John’s team and delight her nieces and nephews with playful somersaults.
We loved Carolyn deeply. She and her sister, Lauren Bessette, were exceptional young women, accomplished in their own right and full of limitless potential. We deeply mourn their loss and celebrate their lives. The Bessette and Freeman families are now, and forever will be, an integral part of our family.
John F. Kennedy Jr. was a thoughtful and principled man who illuminated our lives with his warm smile and inherent grace. Born into privilege, he established “Reaching Up,” a program dedicated to enhancing the training and support for caregivers of the mentally disabled.
He collaborated with Wall Street leaders through the Robin Hood Foundation, working to improve the lives of impoverished children in New York City. He undertook these endeavors with humility and discretion, never seeking personal recognition or accolades.
John John was, as his mother often said, one of her “two miracles.” He was a man in continuous evolution, always becoming, always growing, guided by his own internal compass. His life, though tragically short, was filled with immense promise and potential.
An Irish poem recited for John’s parents shortly after his birth resonates deeply now:
We wish to the new child
A heart that can be beguiled
By a flower
That the wind lifts
As it passes.
If the storms break for him
May the trees shake for him
Their blossoms down.In the night that he is troubled
May a friend wake for him
So that his time may be doubled,
And at the end of all loving and love,
May the Man above
Give him a crown.
We are grateful for the outpouring of support and remembrance for John John. He and Carolyn have joined his parents, reunited in a place where love is eternal. Though he was lost on a dark night, his memory will forever be a beacon for us, his time, though cut short, will endure in our hearts, both beguiled and broken.
We had dared to imagine, echoing another Irish sentiment, that John F. Kennedy Jr. would live a long life, growing old alongside his beloved Carolyn. But like his father, he possessed every gift imaginable, except for the gift of years.
To John John Kennedy Jr., whom we have loved since the day he was born and watched become the remarkable man he was, we bid farewell.
God bless you, John and Carolyn. We love you, now and always.
