As the Kennedy family grapples with internal strife, Ethel Kennedy, the 95-year-old widow of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, faces her twilight years with the weight of family turmoil and a legacy of tragedy. Sources close to the family reveal that Ethel, now requiring round-the-clock care and often reliant on an oxygen tank, is deeply affected by the ongoing conflicts within her storied clan.
Her life, marked by the assassination of her husband during his 1968 presidential campaign and the earlier loss of her brother-in-law, President John F. Kennedy, has been a testament to resilience in the face of relentless heartbreak. Yet, even for someone who has withstood so much, the current family discord is proving to be a significant burden. Ethel, a mother of 11, has also mourned the untimely deaths of two sons, David and Michael, granddaughter Saoirse Kennedy Hill, and another granddaughter, Maeve Kennedy McKean.
Insiders reveal that Ethel's health is declining, with days where she is unable to leave her bed, relying on a walker or wheelchair for mobility. Confined mostly to the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, she is described as "extremely weak" and sometimes "delusional," reflecting the toll of her family's troubled history and recent conflicts.
The source of much of the current family strife centers around Ethel's son, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a presidential candidate whose political stance has created deep divisions within the family. His campaign and controversial views, particularly his stance on vaccinations and his advocacy for the release of his father's assassin, Sirhan B. Sirhan, have drawn sharp criticism from some of his siblings. Kathleen, Kerry, Rory, and Joseph Kennedy publicly denounced his actions, stating that while he shares their father's name, he does not share his values or vision.
Amid this backdrop of familial conflict, Ethel reportedly finds herself conversing with her late husband, seeking his counsel in these trying times. Sources suggest that these conversations reflect her desire to find a way to mend the fractures within her family. The matriarch, once the unifying force of the Kennedy family, is now facing the reality that her strength to continue this role is waning.
Ethel Kennedy's current situation is a poignant reminder of the enduring impact of both public and private tragedies on one of America's most prominent political families. Her struggle symbolizes the fragility of family unity in the face of diverging paths and the burdens of a public life marked by both triumph and tragedy.
