1. Ethel¹ Skakel (George², James Curtis³), daughter of George Skakel and Ann Brannack, was born in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois April 11, 1928.

She married Robert Francis Kennedy in Greenwich, Fairfield County, Connecticut, June 17, 1950.⁽¹⁾ The wedding was celebrated at 11:30 A.M. An apostolic blessing was received from Pope Pius XII. The bride wore a white satin gown with a fitted bodice embroidered with seed pearls, and having a bateau neckline and a deep lace bertha.

Robert was born in Brookline, Norfolk County, Massachusetts November 20, 1925.⁽²⁾ (Additional notes for Robert Francis Kennedy⁽³⁾) Robert died June 6, 1968 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, at 42 years of age.⁽⁴⁾ His body was interred June 8, 1968 in Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, Arlington National Cemetary.⁽⁵⁾ Robert was honored in United States of America, June 9, 1968.⁽⁶⁾ President Johnson declared this day a national day of mourning for the late Senator because of his assassination. Robert F. Kennedy was intense and introverted with a black-and-white philosophy of life. Things, ideas and people were either good or evil and his purpose was to expiate the evil. Very religious, at one point he considered entering the priesthood. After graduation from Harvard University and the University of Virginia Law School, he worked for McCarthy's subcommittee on internal security and then for the committee of inquiry into racketeering and corruption in the labor movement. Based on these hearings he wrote his book on union corruption, The Enemy Within. Bobby played an instrumental part in Jack's presidential election, and was subsequently appointed Attorney General despite adverse public reaction. He presided over the Department of Justice for 44 months, gaining respect as he dealt firmly with civil rights and labor issues. After JFK's assassination Bobby became the head of the Kennedy clan and the inheritor of the Kennedy legacy. Elected to the Senate from New York in 1964, he used that office to gear up for a 1968 presidential bid. He became the champion of the dispossessed and tried to forge a coalition of the young, the poor, blacks and intellectuals. He was well on his way to the nomination when he was assassinated by Sirhan Bishara Sirhan June 5, 1968.

Ethel Skakel and Robert Francis Kennedy had the following children:

2 i. Kathleen Hartington Kennedy was born in Greenwich, Fairfield County, Connecticut July 4, 1951. She married David Lee Townsend in Washington, District of Columbia, November 17, 1973. David was born in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland November 17, 1947. Kathleen Hartington Kennedy Townsend is the oldest child of Robert and Ethel Kennedy. Her campaign for the congressional seat in her district in Maryland stressed community service. She is an ardent feminist and social activist. She is the first Kennedy woman to continue the political legacy of her family. Kathleen is a graduate of Harvard University where she met her husband David Lee Townsend, then a doctoral student in English and American history there. After their marriage in 1973 they moved to New Mexico where David taught classics and Kathleen attended Law School. They returned to Boston and both completed law degrees at Yale University. Kathleen has taught English to Navaho children and worked with Eskimos in Alaska as well as campaigning for George McGovern's presidential bid and as campaign director for her Uncle Ted's Senate race.

3 ii. Joseph Patrick Kennedy II was born in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts September 24, 1952. He married twice. He married Sheila Brewster Rauch in Gladwyne, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, February 3, 1979. Sheila was born in Bryn Mawr, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania March 22, 1949. Sheila was divorced from Joseph Patrick Kennedy II 1991. He married Elizabeth Kelley after 1991. Elizabeth was born 1957.

Joseph was divorced from Sheila Brewster Rauch 1991.

4 iii. Robert Francis Kennedy Jr. was born in Washington, District of Columbia January 17, 1954. He married twice. He married Emily Ruth Black in Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana, April 3, 1982. Emily was born in Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana October 15, 1957. Emily was divorced from Robert Francis Kennedy Jr. in Dominican Republic, March 27, 1994. He married Mary Richardson after 1994. Mary was born 1960.

Robert was divorced from Emily Ruth Black in Dominican Republic, March 27, 1994.

5 iv. David Anthony Kennedy was born in Washington, District of Columbia June 15, 1955. David died April 25, 1984 in Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, at 28 years of age. His body was interred April, 1984 in Brookline, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. David Anthony Kennedy was 13 years old when he witnessed his father's assassination while watching television in his hotel room. He never fully recovered from the shock and went from an introverted adolescence to a troubled youth increasingly experimenting with drugs and alcohol. He was in and out of rehabilitation centers at least 5 times and was arrested for drunk driving twice. It was after being released from St. Mary's Rehabilitation Center and flying to Florida for a family gathering that he was found dead in his hotel room of an overdose of cocaine and Demerol.

6 v. Mary Courtney Kennedy was born in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts September 9, 1956. She married twice. She married Jeffrey Robert Ruhe in Washington, District of Columbia, June 14, 1980. Jeffrey was born in La Porte, La Porte County, Indiana February 21, 1952. She married Paul Michael Hill July 1, 1993. Paul was born 1955. Mary Courtney Kennedy Ruhe has been active in many youth projects. It was through her work at the Childrens Television Network that she met her husband Jeffrey Ruhe, a sports producer.

7 vi. Michael LeMoyne Kennedy was born in Washington, District of Columbia February 27, 1958. He married Victoria Denise Gifford in New York City, New York County, New York, March 14, 1981. Victoria was born in Bakersfield, Kern County, California February 20, 1957. Michael LeMoyne Kennedy is currently Vice-President of his brother Joe's Citizens Energy Corporation and is doing fund-raising for his campaign. His wife Victoria's father is the well known sportscaster and former running back for the Giants football team. They met while working as interns for Ted Kennedy.

8 vii. Mary Kerry Kennedy was born in Washington, District of Columbia September 8, 1959. She married Andrew Cuomo 1990.

9 viii. Christopher George Kennedy was born in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts July 4, 1963.

10 ix. Matthew Maxwell Taylor Kennedy was born in New York City, New York County, New York January 9, 1965. He married Victoria Anne Strauss July 13, 1991.

11 x. Douglas Harriman Kennedy was born in Washington, District of Columbia March 24, 1967.

12 xi. Rory Elizabeth Katherine Kennedy was born in Washington, District of Columbia December 12, 1968.

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