By Anne Brodie
The Kennedy family legacy captivated American culture like no politicial family before or since. The Kennedys were high achievers considered American Royalty for their accomplishments decades, through philanthropy, political leadership and a shared humane global outlook. The Kennedy politicians, influencers and powerbrokers gave the US its greatest period of world status, a period known as Camelot. But the family was touched too often by tragedy. President John Fitzgerald Kennedy – responsible for the first nuclear weapons treaty the creation of the Peace Corps, Alliance for Progress and support of the Apollo mission to send a person to the moon and his bother Attorney General Robert Kennedy were both assassinated while in office in cases that still perplex. Which leads us to Americans’ late “uncrowned prince”, JFK’s son , referred to as John John and JFK Jr. He was educated, open minded, rmodern, refined yet casual riding his bike around New York and playing sports in Central Park.
FX’s mini series Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette from Ryan Murphy portrays his headline grabbing romance between JFK Jr. (Paul Anthony Kelley) and Carolyn (Sarah Pidgeon) ; he doggedely pursued her as she played it cool n order to land him. Bessette was Calvin Klein’s right-hand woman – trusted, strong, self reliant, and resourceful who loved the New York nightlife. There she met Kennedy who was smitten but in a relationship with Daryl Hannah (Dree Hemingway) who learned about them in the tabloids and wouldn’t let go. His growing romance with Carolyn offered its own challenges, while he dealt with the death of his beloved mother Jackie Kennedy Onassis (Naomi Watts). Murphy’s bold series is expansive, clear eyed and honest, reminding us of their public shouting matches, their response to the constant papparazzi crush through to the unimaginable closer. Its engaging and emotional, filled with hope while we are aware of the shadow that was to come. Co-stars Grace Gummer (Caroline Kennedy), Alessandro Nivola (Calvin Klein), Leila George (Kelly Klein), and Sydney Lemmon (Lauren Bessette). Plus memorable tunes of the day like Kate Bush’ Running Up That Hill. Nostalgia, love, tragedy, pain remembered and an emotional tribute. FX/Disney+ three-episode simulcast at 9 p.m. ET on Hulu on Disney+ today. Inspired by Elizabeth Beller’s book Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.