Author Interview: Little, Brown and Company and...

His new book chronicles the lives of the Kennedy wives.

Thank you, Mr. Taraborrelli, for joining us today in Talk City!

J. Randy Taraborrelli: It's wonderful to be here. Thank you for having me.

palm_person-guest: What made you write this book?
The Kennedy's are a family that has, for years, been shrouded in secrecy and mystery. I felt that the women, these 3 wives, were perhaps even the most private of the bunch. It was as if they had taken a vow of silence that somehow prevented them from discussing their relationships to each other, and to each other's husbands, as I eventually learned. Since no other book had been written on this subject, and there have been hundreds of Kennedy books written, I looked at this as a golden opportunity to do something no other writer had ever done.

Barbara: This is the first book to focus on the extraordinary lives of all three Kennedy wives—Jackie, Ethel and Joan. Why has it taken so long?
Most of the focus has been on the men. The women, the wives, have been overlooked by the media. Also, because of that vow of silence that I metaphorically referred to earlier, there hasn't been a whole lot of grapevine information available. So any writer who tackled this subject had to start at the beginning, and it was a daunting task. I'm actually happy that nobody tackled it before me.

Zephyr: It is well documented that JFK had a romantic relationship with Marilyn Monroe. Surprisingly, though, you say in your book that Jackie had a particularly strong reaction to this affair. Tell us about that.
A big surprise for me, in the course of researching this book, was to learn that Jackie Kennedy had a surprising amount of empathy and compassion for Marilyn Monroe. Basically, Jackie looked at Marilyn as an emotional cripple whose vulnerabilities ran deep. As Jackie learned more details of the affair with Monroe, these facts didn't so much raise the level of her anger toward Jack, as much as they raised the level of compassion she felt for Marilyn. So this was really the first time that Jackie took a proactive role in ending one of her husband's affairs. The first thing that she did was refused to attend the well-publicized JFK birthday gala in NY in 1962. That's when Marilyn sang "Happy Birthday" to the President in that now- famous see-through dress. After the concert, Jackie issued a surprising ultimatum. Basically, according to the Secret Service agent that I interviewed, Jackie told JFK that if he continued seeing Marilyn, she would leave him. She would do it at a point in his political career when it would be most damaging, right before the 1964 election. So he complied, and that is the real reason why the relationship between Kennedy and Monroe ended—because Jackie put an end to it.

Mora: Is it true that Bobby also had a romantic interest with Marilyn Monroe?
This was one of the most difficult aspects of the Kennedy history to get to the bottom of, because for years people have been whispering about a romance between Bobby and Marilyn. I found in my research that no such relationship existed. Their relationship was strictly platonic, though Marilyn was definitely scrambling to try to find a way to maintain her imagined place in the Kennedy family after JFK broke up with her.

Effie: Joan Kennedy endured years of pain and humiliation as wife of the philandering Teddy. She was also the only one of the three wives to walk away from her marriage. What was it that opened her eyes and led to her break-up with Ted? And how did Jackie help?
In 1960, a couple of years after Ted and Joan had married, Joan confided in Jackie that she suspected Ted was being unfaithful to her. Jackie felt, very strongly, that Joan's course of action should be to stay with Ted, but create a life for herself that is separate and apart from his. For Joan, this was easier said than done. There was always some unbearable agony facing her. First, there was JFK's assassination in 1963. In 1964, Ted's plane crashed, in which he broke his back. Then, there was Bobby's assassination in 1968, and Chappaquidick in 1969, at which point Joan had a miscarriage. And, of course, Ted's ongoing unfaithfulness continued. It wasn't until 1980 that Joan felt strong enough to leave Ted. When she discussed it with Jackie at that point, Jackie felt guilty for not having advised her to do that 20 years earlier. But times had changed and the women's movement had changed women. And now, they both agreed that a woman's priority should be to her own well-being.

Thunderbird3: Why have people always been fascinated with these families? Is it the celebrity, the politics, or the tragic elements that wove themselves into American history?
It's most definitely all of the above, and more. They are really as close to royalty as America has ever gotten. We've been fascinated by them for so many decades that it's impossible, it seems, to let them go. They are such an indelible part of our culture and our history that we can practically define the passing of time by the events in their lives.

Thalia: What about the family's strong reaction to Jackie's marriage to Aristotle Onassis? What was their biggest concern?
Jackie's relationship with Onassis came at a pivotal point in the Kennedys' political history. It was 1968, and Bobby was running for President. Ethel feared that Onassis, in the Kennedys' lives, would be nothing more than an annoyance and an intrusion, and also public controversy. So she and Joan went to see Jackie in New York to try to convince her to put her wedding to Onassis off until after Bobby's 1968 campaign. Jackie never liked to be told what to do, so the meeting did not go well. The problems with Onassis came between Jackie and Ethel, and they stayed there long after Onassis was gone.

Otter: Joan's escalating alcoholism was a major problem for her and family, as well as for Teddy's scandal-ridden career as a senator. How did she overcome her addiction, and how has that shaped who she is today?
I think that Joan's alcoholism was far more torturous than most people can even imagine. She was always in such a state of depression. Many of her family members felt that her drinking was just a form of self-medication. In fact, alcohol had a potent and toxic effect on Joan. To try to summarize her 30-year long battle here, somehow, seems unfair to her. Suffice it to say that it was a long road with many setbacks along the way.

Julia: Were the Kennedy wives 'trapped' in their marriages, just as royalty is in England? Would it have been social suicide to divorce if they wanted to? How much pressure were they put under to stay when their husband's behavior became known?
The pressure that the Kennedy wives were under had as much to do with the times, as it did with the political structure of the family. The Kennedys were Catholic, and strictly so. That made it impossible for divorce to be an issue. That, compounded by the fact that politics was so important in the family, also made divorce unthinkable. In a sense, all three women did make a decision to put up with the husbands' unfaithfulness, each for their own reason. Jackie did it because she had made a choice to be loyal to her children and her political party. For Ethel, it was because she had such a big family, and she never really wanted to acknowledge Bobby's unfaithfulness. And Joan did it because she really didn't know what else to do.

Thurston: Have you always had an interest in writing? And what lured you to biographies?
I've been writing, probably, for at least 25 years. I started my career as a reporter for entertainment publications. It wasn't until 1983 that I wrote my first book, which was about Diana Ross. I've always been fascinated by people in the public eye, and that have, by the way, managed to somehow lead their lives despite such suffocating public scrutiny.

Thunderbird3: Was the fact that tabloid journalism's rise in the '60s paralleled the prominence that the families achieved in the public eye part of why the public obsessed over their lives?
The Kennedys have always been rather sensational. Their fantastic exploits have often been fodder for tabloids. Jackie, Ethel, and Joan became accustomed to having inaccurate information about them shared with the world, which is why my guess is that Ethel and Joan today will be relatively, I hope, happy about the accuracy of this book.

Carey: Some day, will someone, perhaps even yourself, be writing a similar book about Hillary Clinton?
That's an interesting question in that I believe Hillary Clinton and Jackie Kennedy are a lot alike. Both made conscious decisions to remain in marriages that clearly had problems. And both are strong and powerful women, who one would think would NOT have made such a decision. Both have learned to live with the consequences. So yes, I believe that in 30 years, someone like me will be better able to understand someone like Hillary Clinton.

Cathy: Did you receive any reaction from Kennedy family members over the publication of this book?
The book just came out today! So they haven't really had a chance to react. :-) I would be curious to find out what the reaction is.

Winnie: Were the reasons the three women were attracted to the Kennedy brothers different? What were their motivations for marrying them?
Interestingly, all three women were captivated by their future husbands' great passion for politics, and for wanting to make a difference. It was impossible for them to resist the charismatic nature of the Kennedy men. Of course, none of the women ever expected, when she married, that her future husband would be unfaithful to her. When this became clear, they each handled it in their own way. And that is what this book is really about, the differences in their coping skills.

Samantha: Whom do you like to read?
Anything but celebrity biographies. LOL! I don't enjoy reading other people's biographies, because I'm so immersed in my own character studies that it practically bores me to have to read other people's work. I'm very critical of their work, and unfairly so. Every biographer has his own point of view, and it's his/her right, or even obligation, to express it. But I get annoyed at times by what I view as shoddy research. I think that every person who has a book written about him or her deserves a fair assessment. My favorite author is Steven Spielberg, and I also enjoy John Grisham very much.

Terry: In doing your research, did the families cooperate or hinder your efforts in any way?
They neither cooperated nor hindered. They just very graciously backed off and allowed me to do my job. And I appreciated that very much.

Naomi: Do you have a writing routine? A favorite place, time of day, etc.?
I treat my work as a writer as any person would treat his job in that I report to work in my office, which is in my home, at 6:00 in the morning with an agenda for exactly what I am going to achieve that day. I don't stop until it's over. It requires a great deal of discipline. If I didn't have it, there's no doubt that I would still be working on my first book.

Patti: How do you research? Does it still mean spending inordinate amounts of time in libraries? Does it require much travel? Does the Internet help, either for information directly, or as a guide for where to look?
My first books certainly involved a lot of library research time. The Internet, though, has revolutionized that process to the point where you don't even have to leave your home to do library research, which has been terrific. However, most of my work is based on first-hand interviews, and unfortunately, I haven't figured out how to have them come to me. So I have to go to them, which means a lot of travel. For this book, I spent a lot of time in Hyannis Port, where the Kennedys have lived for a long time. I've also been to Florida and Washington, D.C. The fun parts had to do with going to Greece and Italy. Believe me when I say that any job that involves spending three months in Ravello, Italy is a job worth having! LOL!

screaminmimi-guest: Would you consider the subjects of your books to be 'celebrities', or did they exist only as appendages to the celebrity men in their lives?
In the 1960s and 1970s, Jackie, Ethel, and Joan shared the covers of movie magazines with people like Elizabeth Taylor and Frank Sinatra. That's how popular they were. So yes, the fact that they were married to the Kennedy brothers was the driving force behind their original popularity. But then it blossomed and grew from there into a true celebrity for each of them.

Martin: If someone wrote YOUR biography, what would be the most fascinating thing about your life? What would be the most boring thing?
That is the most interesting question I've ever been asked. In all of my years, this one gets the prize. :-) The most interesting would probably be those times when I learn something that so fascinates me that I can't wait to share it with my readers. The most boring would be the many, many months of interviews that are conducted with people who claim to know something, but actually know nothing. LOL!

Stacey: Who is your 'dream biography' subject that you have not yet done? What makes them special to you?
Another great question! I think Elizabeth Taylor is a fascinating person. And unfortunately, she has only had the most terrible books written about her. Perhaps, one day, she might be a subject I may consider.

Dean: Do authors who write biographies watch "Biography" on A&E? *grin*
I LOVE "Biography" on A&E. I think it's a fascinating show. A&E was very helpful. They helped me locate certain people, so I have a lot of affection for them.

wonderone-guest: Was it more fun to write about these three women or a celebrity like Sinatra?
When I was promoting Sinatra I felt that was my best work. Now, three years later, I'm sharing this work with my readers. I suddenly feel that this is my best book. I think that the passion that I have for my work makes any subject I'm working on feel worthwhile.

shawksie: What similarities of character did you discover in Jackie, Ethel, and Joan, or are there any?
All three women were strong and resilient in ways that I think most people would find surprising. I also believe that all three women were always good intentioned, and that they tried to be good people. No matter how many times they may have tripped up along the way, I always had a sense that they realized that they weren't making mistakes as much as they were making choices.

Kujira: Is it easier to write about subjects who are still alive?
I think it's more difficult to write about subjects who are still alive in that their story is still evolving.

Primrose: Have you ever had any praise from any of your subjects on their biographies you've done? Have you had any criticisms?
Michael Jackson, Carol Burnett, and Cher all enjoyed the books I wrote about them. Diana Ross did not. But as my mother used to say, "You can't please all of the people all of the time."

Heyday: What's next for you? Do you have any new projects?
I had hoped to take some time off and perhaps try to have a life of my own. That way, if anyone ever decides to write a book about me, it can be at least two chapters long. LOL!

jaunemoan-guest: Do the subjects that you write about inspire you?
It depends on the subject. Jackie, Ethel, and Joan were definitely inspiring! I can say the same about Frank Sinatra! Diana Ross and Michael Jackson were not particularly inspiring. And Michael's I found to be a very sad, depressing story. The many years that I devoted to it I somehow now recall as being very sad and depressing. That's how closely connected I feel to the subjects I'm working on.

Ollie: Do we, in our obsession to know about people and the press to report on them, maybe 'warp' the lives of people like this? Or do they seek the spotlight, and thus take some responsibility? Or is it a mixture of both?
In the case of Jackie, Ethel, and Joan, for the most part, with a few rare exceptions, they didn't seek the spotlight. The spotlight sought them out because of who they chose to marry. Of course, it can also be argued that in making that choice they probably knew what they were in for. So, in that respect, perhaps it could be said that they sought out the spotlight. But they really were reluctant celebrities.

Harry: What one thing that you discovered about Michael Jackson was unexpected?
I was surprised to learn of his amazing business savvy. Even though I've known Michael since he was about ten years old, I never imagined that he was so shrewd. He's such a sophisticated businessman who really knows how to make big money doing what he loves to do.

Tim: Is there someone you would like to write a biography on that you would undertake, not because you want to, or even necessarily like them, but because there is a 'need' for this person to be known?
No. If I don't have a passion for the person, I can't work in this venue. If you start from a place of good intention, that's where you end up. It's difficult to have good intentions if you, for one reason or another, find the person you are writing about to be unsavory.

Effie: One author has said that writing must be 'fun'. Do you see it as work only, or do you have 'fun'?
Well, it's a job, and it's like any other job. And I enjoy it as much as any person enjoys their job. But in my spare time, the last thing I want to do is write even a limerick! I love my work, but I mostly love it when it's done. Someone once said, and I definitely agree, that it's not the writing that is as rewarding as the having written.

Quizno: What is your philosophy for life?
Live and let live. That's my philosophy. With that in mind, I find that I can understand anybody's life and not stand in judgment of it, but rather simply explain it.

Our time is up for today. Thanks for being with us. Do you have any last thoughts for our audience?
I have enjoyed this very much! And thank you for the EXCELLENT questions. Buy my book, Jackie, Ethel, Joan: Women of Camelot. :o\-) I guarantee you a wonderful journey if you do.

Posted with permission by Talk City, Inc. Copyright 2000. All rights reserved.