The toxic romance between the media, the American people, and the Kennedy family is an alchemy of misogyny, power, and allure. The appeal of a large family of achievers, athletic and attractive, excited the nation, as the patriarch, Joseph Kennedy, battled prejudices against immigrant Irish Catholics to propel his sons to the White House. What Maureen Callahan reveals in her exhaustively researched, legally vetted, bound-to-proven facts book is that, the systemic degradation of women was part of the gameplan, and part spoils of success. Callahan wove the stories of the women who got involved with Kennedy men, either through marriage, sexual liaison, or exploitation, only to have their own lives ruined, scarred and traumatized, or ended.

The women so impacted included:

Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Marilyn Monroe
Mary Jo Kopechne
Rosemary Kennedy
Martha Moxley
Mary Richardson Kennedy
Mimi Beardsley Alford
Diana de Vegh
Joan Bennett Kennedy
Pamela Kelley
Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy
Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy

For the Kennedy men, women were used as objects of sexual gratification, much as one uses a tissue to blow the nose. Sex was compulsive, a short set of actions taking only a few minutes, forceful, no kissing, no mutual human contact. Most of that sex was extramarital, couplings arranged through the appeal of power, and then through staffers or hangers-on. Marriage was for procreation, maintaining the happy home, and creating the image of happy family, classiness, and culture, in service of male power. Intelligent, attractive women were typically pulled into their orbit, since women knew they were destined for a big future through a Kennedy marriage, realizing only too late the price they would pay.

Callahan documents that the practice began with Joseph Kennedy, and continued, through teaching and example, down to the sons, and their children and cousins. If any Kennedy man was at risk of paying a legal price for their crimes against women, the family closed ranks, both legally and in the court of public opinion. Women’s reputations were destroyed, if that was necessary. The documented treatment of women as objects, only to be discarded when they became unhelpful or too much trouble, is appalling.

This book serves to shine a bright light on the truth, and correct the falsehoods that the media has sold the public for decades. It is a bizarre romance between media and Kennedys, why reporters and editors felt the need to overlook blatant behavior, and help create the All-American, enviable image of beauty and success that was the Kennedy men—and the public’s need to believe the image we were sold. This book also serves as a warning to intelligent, attractive women everywhere—for such men aren’t only called Kennedy. Anywhere there are ambitious, appealing, powerful men, there will be a possibility of such behavior. Be wary, be careful, do your due diligence. Callahan has prosecuted her case, she has brought the shocking, terrible stories to light, told with sensitivity, fairness, good writing, and brutal honesty. Book discussion groups, be sure to arrange plenty of time for this chat—participants will come loaded for bear.