Ask Not: Ep. 10- Pamela Kelley

[@jantoles7637]

First, the Kelly parents letting their teenage daughter make the decision about suing was ridiculous. The parents buying the house rather than investing/saving the money is further proof that these parents had no sense. That is the saddest part of this story. Adults with no sense raise children with no sense. The Kennedy's are a family out of control and damaged everyone with whom they had relationships.

[@kathryncashner3294]

The weird thing is that the lawyers didn't insist that most of the settlement be put into a trust and invested to provide for the minor for the rest of her life. Did the parents settle with the insurance company without legal advice? In any event, they used it as a windfall for themselves although the house alterations did provide what the daughter needed. And honestly, to not sue the Kennedys or at least get a written agreement of the verbal promises shows their stupidity.

[@Jess_Connell]

@@kathryncashner3294 I had some of these same thoughts. It seems like an obscene use of the money.

[@StrongopinionsRus]

Pamela was 18 years old-a legal adult. It would have been her decision whether or not to sue.

[@anncarper8163]

@kathryncashner3294 That's a good point about putting the money in a trust.

[@Cynthia-nm6tg]

Buying property can be a wise investment. My question is if the home purchase was treated as “Pamela’s investment for her future”? Did family keep up with taxes & repairs? Was Pamela able to sell it, with “all” money going to Pamela, or was it treated as the parent’s investment & divided up for Pamela & siblings as inheritance from the parents? Did Pamela’s whole family benefit from her accident & did family help her when she had needs? Lots of detailed questions in this situation.

[@phyllisprovo7916]

I know this book and this chapter are about the Kennedy's. But for me one of the travesties that you overlooked is the judge, whose job it was to uphold the law and to be completely unbiased towards those who stood before him. That man also has a lot to answer for. It is his very mindset that has enabled the Kennedy's to carry on with their terrifying, disgusting and self-indulgent ways.

[@Jess_Connell]

Good call! And he did so on behalf of his regard for the eldest Kennedy son. 😑 so technically still Kennedy related. Good observation!

[@arlettedumais5776]

Our legal system is corrupt. Judges are intimidated and bribed all the time.

[@sydneymartin7638]

Amen! The judge fell in line. Another Kennedy male with no consequences and let off the hook.

[@HarrietCraig323]

You would be astonished at how often judges do this kind of thing-criminal AND civil. The profession of law has killed my soul.

[@dsoule4902]

You don't think papa Joe couldve ruined that judge?

[@DethStroke-fo7he]

As for jantoles7637, it’s rather harsh to say Kim’s parents didn’t have any sense. You have no idea of how powerful the Kennedy’s were, with judges and cops in their area. I’m sure if the parents would have tried to sue, they woutnot have gotten far in that area’s legal system. The RFK kids were feral animals, RFK and Ethel were rotten parents, and Sen Ted and all the clan could intimidate many a person. They were just Outlaws, like the ones we hear of in the Old West. I scream inwardly when the stupid press calls the Kennedy “American Royalty.”

[@katm2419]

Kelly's should have left the settlement money for Pam's care & should have considered making a legal agreement with Joe to provide financial support. I also blame the adult Kennedys who raised these "hellions" & enabled their bad behavior.

[@EmilyDiPhillipo]

Agree

[@anne3067]

That would be Ethel, a notoriously terrible parent.

[@StrongopinionsRus]

I’ve read in multiple sources that Ethel Kennedy was an extremely permissive mother. Granted, the woman had 11 children, but even before Bobby was killed, her kids apparently ran wild. There was no structure in that household, and once their father died, it’s not surprising to me that the kids would be hellions. Money+no discipline + Kennedy entitlement + no dad in the house = a poor outcome for the children.

[@tory5534]

I remember hearing that Ethel was extremely proud of the number of children she had and would act rather jealous when she heard about mothers who had more children than she had! 🤷‍♀️ Also, I heard that as a child, she (and presumably her family) watched her mother choke to death at the dinner table. Yikes. 😳 How awful, if true.

[@StrongopinionsRus]

@@tory5534 no, Ethel’s parents died in a plane crash in the 50s

[@littleflower8915]

The Skakel family was as chaotic as the Kennedys. That is where Ethel learned her parenting style. Look for the book 'The Other Mrs. Kennedy'

[@tory5534]

@@StrongopinionsRus oh! Thanks! I wondered whether the choking story was true.

[@tory5534]

@@littleflower8915 I will. Thanks!

[@psmith2714]

I agree with you about buying the house. They could have taken out what was needed and gotten a financial advisor to help them to invest the rest.

[@OakwiseBecoming]

They probably thought the house was an investment that could be sold when it gained equity in future.

[@dsoule4902]

@@OakwiseBecomingmight guess they earned/managed money well. Maybe they sold, then bought the house to move further away from the "compound".

[@louisedouglas5407]

I was involved in an accident the night of my senior prom. My date was responsible and it involved a total of eight kids and three cars. My front teeth were chipped and I ended up with caps. I talked my parents out of suing because it would have held up everyone's insurance money. I have had extensive problems in the future with these teeth paid for by my own money. I understand Pam's thinking because I felt the same as her when I was very young.

[@Jess_Connell]

Wow, thank you for sharing that. That sounds so difficult. How would you advise parents dealing a situation like this? To go ahead and blaze ahead regardless of what their kids say? To seek legal input and urge it but not force it? If you could go back and counsel your parents about how to handle it, what would you tell them?

[@psmith2714]

Jackie didn't like her 2 to hang out with Ethels kids.

[@rosiebottom3870]

Ethel's kids were feral.

[@bellaluna730]

Now we know why Jackie discouraged her kids from hanging out with Etherl’s kids‼️

[@EmilyDiPhillipo]

Ethel was nuts h we srlf

[@cheribee968]

I can see why. They were crazy FERAL. After JFK died I always wondered if Jackie had even more control over going over to Ethel’s or the Kennedy gatherings.

[@NadiaAmra-w4m]

The Kennedy kids(Bobby and Ethel’s especially)were wild as usual

[@Linda-pw8gx]

Jess I look forward to your readings and commentary, you are such a lovely and delightful person❤

[@Jess_Connell]

Well thank you; that’s very encouraging and kind.

[@chaswr]

That judge should have recused himself having known Bobby Jr's uncle. $100 fine. What a joke. 39:58

[@Jess_Connell]

Truth!!

[@dsoule4902]

That defeats the purpose of having the judge in ur pocket

[@TheAmericanGirl1967]

I cannot get over how WILD these Kennedy kids were! Astounding!

[@ralphl7643]

Ethel's family was as bad as the Kennedys (see the Moxley murder), so the kids got a double dose of bad genes, plus fame, money, massive family privilege, a detached, indulgent mother, and no father to keep them in line.

[@DCo923]

Oh you have no idea, I grew up around the same towns, it is never ending , it gets worse and it is most likely all in this book. Look up Micheal he married Frank Giffords daughter, Kathie Lee, he had an x with the babysitter and got divorced he plowed himself into a tree skiing. My father wouldnot let their name be said in the house, he said they were so awful.

[@JaneLolli]

Read about Ethel’s family background. Same if not worse!

[@TheAmericanGirl1967]

@@JaneLolli I will!! I’ll look and see what books I can find.

[@MsBackstager]

@@DCo923Wasn't Kathie Lee also Frank's wife?

[@kathyglassford]

You do a great job! thanks

[@patticakesforreal]

Hey Jess really enjoying your telling of the book. I’m from MA I’m 68 and I do remember Bobby’s kids being hellions. They ran wild. I remember hearing stories they loved to shovel ice cream cones in peoples faces. Joe the third was notorious for saying do you know who I am. Everyone from here knew about that terrible accident. When my mother was young she worked at the state house in Boston. Her and her friend saw Jack all the time. He would say to them good morning girls. They would be walking to work and he lived on Beacon Hill. Looking forward to the next chapter.

[@Jess_Connell]

“Do you know who I am?” Can you even imagine the gall!!

[@denisetrainor7705]

Supposedly Senator Kerry was also known to have uttered “Do you know you I am?!”

[@LauraFerguson-j5i]

The only one who had any control over the Jeep was Joe Kennedy. He is 100% responsible. If he had an conscious at all, he would have been a lot more generous with her.

[@temilouwho1320]

Exactly 👏👏

[@suef1379]

I see your point that at the time of the accident there were a variety of people at fault. But once Joe became an adult who was aware of her situation, his indifference was unconscionable.

[@dianemcgill9965]

Another great episode Jess. I don't remember hearing about Pam Kelley until this book came out. What a sad and tragic story. The Kennedy boys were disgraceful. When you asked what would I have done with the money. I can tell you I sure wouldn't have bought a fancy expensive house with a tennis court in a neighborhood that make me look at views of things I could never enjoy doing. I know Pam was 18 but after a life changing accident she was in no condition to make decisions. Her parents should have sued Joe Kennedy's family for all they could get and then bought a smaller handicap friendly house and put the rest of the money in a trust to pay for her medical expensenses. I would sure like you to add The Other Mrs. Kennedy by Jerry Oppenheimer to a list of books to read with us. It's about Ethel Skakel Kennedy the mother of the Joe Kennedy that caused the accident. Thanks again Jess. 😊😊

[@Jess_Connell]

I’ll look up that recommendation; thanks!!

[@dianemazon1937]

Ugh, I started to turn this off two times and not finish, it just kept getting worse! I very much admire that you could politely & elegantly finish it to the end. Great work on your part in creating this video.

[@m.pathak9943]

Thanks Jess! I love when you read to us and share your reflections. God bless you and your family

[@JackBruceEdits]

I agree with your comments at the end, but don't forget there was drugs involved and probably alcohol. I was shocked to learn Joe only got a 100.00$ fine! There's a whole lot wrong with this and the Kennedys as usual showed no responsibility for their actions. As well, the Kelly family seemed to be just as clueless. A very sad story all around. I'm glad I found your channel. I enjoyed your book review very much🇨🇦

[@Jess_Connell]

Welcome! I’m glad for your input.

[@cheribee968]

11 kids and crappy parents. There were service people and household employees who helped but it starts with the parents.

[@Meljassy]

Omg poor pam ive never heard this story!!!! 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@bellaluna730]

I never knew about this story. So very tragic. Joe was so irresponsible.

[@Meljassy]

@@bellaluna730 absolutely! Im so glad tho i learned about it to keep her legacy alive

[@VallerieMalkin]

That heart felt reading - how absolutely heart-breaking the Pam story is. I have nothing but contempt for the Kennedys as a collective right now. Not that I ever put them on a pedestal, but they have had my attention for decades, and always felt an affinity for him, his sister, and for their mother but also I had a deep abiding love of what the elder Kennedys (RFK/JFK) could do with words (I think they'd be appalled by the D party today but I shouldn't speak for them or make assumptions here that people will agree). Few speeches were better than Bobby's speech after the death of MLK, etc. This book has really turned any respect I had for them despite their flaws on its head. This poor young woman who's life was destroyed by a reckless Kennedy boy. OMG, I could cry! Look forward to your next install. Well done!

[@Jess_Connell]

@@VallerieMalkin yes. The facts are hard to read. Hard to reconcile. Hard to take.

[@psmith2714]

I was so excited when I saw a new episode. ❤

[@fuchsialady]

Ethel Kennedy was a horrible parent. I know another story about her, helping cause another Kennedy “tragedy.” I won’t say it now because it may be coming up in this book yet.

[@arcgarret3947]

Oddly the book doesn't really examine Bobby or Ethel much.

[@marys33794]

Hi Jess, This is great. I was looking forward to the next upload. I will watch/listen to it now. Thank you for doing these great videos and analyses. You are doing a great job. 👋🏻again from Cork, Ireland 🇮🇪

[@Jess_Connell]

Thanks for the feedback Mary! So fun to have you listening and letting me know you’re from Ireland. My husband I both have Irish ancestry. What a dream it would be for us to visit your country one day.

[@fallon7616]

RFK should drop out of the race 😭😭

[@Ann-Margrock]

What a good job with the retelling and the commentary! I look forward to your videos 😊

[@Jess_Connell]

Thank you; glad you’re enjoying this also! It’s fun to have an enthusiastic, invested community to read alongside.

[@deborahsobel3314]

I will say if you read about Pams life following the accident she turns things around and becomes an advocate for the disabled. Really is an inspiring story. Does Pam own some of the responsibility; perhaps, but I do feel at that at that age you don't see around corners; you are all about the moment. Could the parents have managed the money better? Probably, but like the Kopechnes I imagine there was alot of pressure to take what they were offered and move on.

[@Jess_Connell]

@@deborahsobel3314 yes. The feel of the chapter was for sure that the Kennedy “elders” were there, working on her parents to push a quiet settlement.

[@tory5534]

Agree totally. As for the settlement, personal injury cases can take many years and this one would have definitely gotten major publicity which would put even more stress on the family. The Kennedys would have top notch defense attorneys, of course. Local jury. Kennedys were loved. All the kids testifying, etc…Plus the fact that Pamela didn’t want to go thru a trial, a settlement was probably the best resolution. As you said, like the Kopechnes. I’m sure they had legal advice.

[@jackiesteinbrenner7033]

I agree that this was not completely a Kennedy man ruining a woman’s life, in the moment. The other women were chosen and the Kennedy male mind set was inflicted on them. This was two wild kids, and for that matter, a carload of kids, that made an immature decision. We all took crazy risks when we were young. The male Kennedy factor comes in after the accident and well into adulthood. This is a man that should have lived up to a conscious obligation to make sure that he provided for the ability for this woman to have the proper care and checked in on her during her lifetime. He knew in his heart what he had done.

[@ejella4604]

Jess, you're doing a great job. Many thanks.

[@suef1379]

I got the book from the library and read it this week. But, I didn’t even think about the foolishness of buying that house until you mentioned it. You're so right. I could see how a pool might be helpful but a tennis court? And why not a less expensive neighborhood? And what happened to the house? On the other hand, the Kennedy treatment was despicable.

[@Jess_Connell]

Exactly. A huge house in a vacation spot with a bunch of amenities she couldn’t enjoy. It all sounds really like a foolish, terrible, heartless decision on the part of the parents.

[@arcgarret3947]

Its almost as if the parents were trying to keep up with the Kennedy's, purchasing a home out of their range. What's not known if the new house was better retrofitted for their handicapped daughter. Joe Kennedy went to UMASS Boston, no pretense about being intelligent enough to get into Ivy League schools. He sat in the back of classroom surly but still mounted a Senate campaign...absolutely astounding ! Also Ethel was known for skipping out on enormous bills for ski vacations and restaurants while bringing up her feral bunch. There wasn't that much money around after Bobby died, and I understand the Kennedy trustees were loath to support families after the husbands assassinations, as horrible as it sounds. Love this series Jenn...have the book, but still listen to your readings and comments.

[@suef1379]

@@arcgarret3947 But didn't Ethel come from a family with as much money as the Kennedys, if not more? Maybe she just didn't want to spend the money on "the little people." I think she was as horrible as the rest of them.

[@quik100]

If the family had sued and won a nice settlement, they probably would have bought more wasteful things. I wish Pam had written her own book.

[@anncarper8163]

Jess, I agree with you. When you asked the question "what would you do with the money," my first thought was that I would invest it for her future medical care. If they had invested it well, it could have lasted her for her whole life -- they might even have increased the amount. Thank you for another thought provoking video!

[@bethluther3950]

This is a hard chapter ….. it’s much easier to find one thing/person responsible for tragedies. But in reality this seems to be a combination of choices then, & over the years, that accumulated to on-going problems for Pam. I totally see your point.

[@Katherine-cf7rj]

Thank younfor another video!!! This made my day😊

[@Jess_Connell]

I’m glad! 🎉

[@jackienorwood9157]

GREAT JOB! THANK YOU!

[@mariafusco7899]

I think this was the most disturbing story yet. It is bad enough she didn’t have the good sense to pass on the invitation, although I understand completely. These were dangerous times with drugs everywhere and a lot of peer pressure. But what is up with her parents! Litigation was absolutely necessary. It is not about friendship and empty promises. And then, to seize the moment to raise their status in the community instead of investing those funds so that Pam could be financially stable for the rest of her life is incomprehensible. I am glad that she was able to do some very productive things with her life, but it was always going to be difficult as she aged. So unbelievable!

[@PCAGA2298]

Sounds like Ethel’s kids were not disciplined or trained to behave properly 😢

[@mariadegan1029]

That’s an understatement!

[@tonifox1247]

Ethel was a lousy mother! She did nothing to discipline their children. I hate the fact the cover up the kids bad behaviour and throw money at it. The whole family needs psychiatric help.

[@anncarper8163]

Yes, I read a book about Ethel, and after the death of her husband, I think she was totally overwhelmed trying to raise 11 kids -- even though she had staff to help.

[@suef1379]

Ethel grew up in a house where the kids behaved as badly or worse.

[@jThorSF]

DAVID KENNEDY DEAD AT 28 from a drug overdose! Oh my goodness; I just read this online. It’s no wonder a sensitive Kennedy boy went down this road with all those feelings of inadequacy. So sad 😢

[@Jess_Connell]

Terribly sad. Devastation littered around them.

[@laurenbond3907]

I appreciate your very thoughtful balanced approach to this book. I understand the authors whole point of this book to to provide a counter narrative to the one sided portrayal in the media up until this point. But I agree with you on the sense of this story like many others does involve multiple people making poor decisions. Not dismissing the horribleness of the Kennedy family and their actions. All that to say keep it up loving the commantary

[@CapuchinCares824]

Love your channel and everything you bring to it! Do we know what became of the home the Kelley parents purchased on the Cape? Its value would have appreciated into an unimaginable fortune - and selling it and investing the proceeds wisely could have provided Patricia with everything she ever needed in life (the purpose of the medical settlement), plus more! The irresponsible judgment and heartless selfishness in all these tragic stories (especially Patricia’s) leaves me stunned - and heartbroken for all the victims.

[@arlettedumais5776]

Her name is Pamela.

[@marlenewolffe4613]

OMG and these are the people you Americans revere as royalty!!! I am horrified. Wow, this is such a horrific history of an over indulgent rich family out of control.

[@stacyhamilton2619]

Is the behavior of actual royalty in other countries any better? A top 10 awful list of Royal Brits would be easy enough.

[@anne3067]

Since “you British” revere the Royal Family, which includes Prince Andrew, as well as Jimmy Savile’s BFF, I hardly think you should be judgmental.

[@JaneLolli]

I read a book about Ethel’s family background. Her parents were wealthy and they pretty much left their children to raise themselves. According to the book, they were hellions.

[@deborahsobel3314]

This is beyond sad; a family that uses its power and privilege over and over to bail out its members. Never looking back to fully appreciate the destruction left in lives of others.

[@rebeccachambers419]

It’s beyond sad that the Kennedys also had people outside the family covering up and reinforcing the bad behavior. This family to this day has to feel entitled since they were never taught how to act.

[@Jess_Connell]

@@rebeccachambers419so true! The outsiders who participate in the coverups… it wouldn’t “work” without their participation, and yet they all line up to do it.

[@rebeccachambers419]

@@Jess_Connell yes

[@Melissa-he3lo]

It’s beyond my comprehension how Pamela’s parents (1) didn’t sue the pants off the Kennedys and (2) spent the settlement money on a nice big house with a pool and a view!! I wonder what they would have done with a huge lawsuit settlement.

[@Jess_Connell]

I agree. Honestly as I was reading the phrase where Callahan describes the home with amenities “she would never be able to enjoy”, it reminded me of a comedy movie- Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - where the guy posing as a great psychologist essentially comes up with a bunch of tortures for the patient that are designed to “make him want to get right up out of that wheelchair.” Like it’s so cruel and odd that it is more like that stupid comedy movie than what you would think a real life parent with a hurting daughter would pick.

[@fallon7616]

I can't wait for anything I see you , I love your show 💞

[@jaynaMgerlach]

Absolutely agree that, although it’s not the easy & popular take, a lot of the women actually had a large part in their own demises, sadly.

[@elizabethannegrey6285]

When children are raised without consequences to their poor behaviour they fail to develop a sense of responsibility or accountability. When parents excuse or obfuscate a child develops a sense of immunity to consequence.

[@dazzlingchick]

Thank you again! ~Love&Light♥️C.

[@judiventen772]

Thanks Jess, I agree listening to our intuition is vital to direct us and keep us safe. Difficult to do with peers being such out of control thoughtless and irresponsible bunch. Coupled with parents who indulged themselves with Pam’s money. Totally shameful. Enjoying your narration from Melb, Australia.

[@Jess_Connell]

Welcome to you from across the globe!! And yes… teaching teens to lean into their own intuition and judgment and not just run with the herd is hard work and even when you try it’s not like you can force them to do those things. It’s all hard. Thanks for your input!

[@Sylvia-of9hj]

Is Joe Kennedy the same one who had a big scandal about a divorce he wanted? The wife of this Kennedy went on programs and told how he wanted her to agree to an annulment and say that their marriage was never valid. And they had some children! And he wanted a new woman, so the jilted wife was expected to say that their marriage was never valid. Then, after that, one of the Kennedy brothers died in a skiing accident, I forget his name. But I think it was Joe who went to retrieve the body. About 1984 or 85, one of RFK's sons died of a drug overdose in a hotel room. That was probably the David you mentioned here. David had been with RFK when he was assassinated. I think that RFK, Jr, "Bobby," had also been there. I think some of the women who were destroyed by the Kennedys had a big part in making the decisions that caused events to end unwell for them. A lot of the women in question went after married Kennedy men who had children and didn't care how their decisions to pursue a married man affected that man's family and children. Mary Richardson, for example, set her cap for either RFK, Jr., or JFK, Jr, and didn't care that RFK was already married with two children. Marilyn Monroe knew that JFK was married with children, but similarly didn't care about the family, any more than she cared about RFK's family when she had an affair with him. Gloria Swanson, when she had a 3-yr long affair w Joe Kennedy, Sr, complained how he was unethical and treated her badly, but she couldn't have cared less about hurting his family when she started the affair with him.

[@cheribee968]

Michael Kennedy was rough housing on ski’s playing touch football with the other Kennedy barbarians , and went skiing into a tree. Died of a head injury. Frank gifford’s daughter was married to that drunken louse. David Kennedy was 11(?) and stayed up in the hotel watching his dad on the TV. He saw the assassination of Bobby Kennedy at the ambassador hotel. He later died of a heroin overdose. Very sad situation

[@carolynmixon709]

I heard about Pam Kelley when she died , at first i thought the reporter was confused than i realized this wS another horrendous mess of a kennedy- that family is really bad news!!

[@br4588]

I totally agree!

[@MSArtist01]

Pamela first instinct was to not go and it seemed her sister pleaded with her to go and she placated her. Such a fateful decision. Also if the Kennedy’s offered financial assistance in the early days they would be highlighting their guilt.

[@velmahinojosa5390]

I’m enjoying this so much !! I watched again and read the book again..

[@Jess_Connell]

@@velmahinojosa5390 I’m glad. I’m kind of like that too - it can be good to revisit reading material or even informative videos, as I find I take in more the second go-round. 👍🏻

[@camila-matosrosa]

Este livro, mostra os "defeitos" da família Kennedy. Sou do Brasil, e quando fiquei, sabendo deste livro, fiquei louca para ler. E seu canal apareceu e aí pude saber dos detalhes. Obrigada Jess!

[@ittonohara5327]

I don't think Pamela bears any greater responsibility for her fate than any of the other Kennedy wives and girlfriends we've heard about. Because you have to give the Kennedy men credit for one thing: they never pretended to be anything other than themselves. If Pamela should be able to make the right decisions at 17, then so should Jacky at 24 and even more so Carolyn at 31. Jess quoted, among other things, the following to emphasize Pamela's personal responsibility: "...and the next day was as Pam expected ..." We just cannot know what Pamela was thinking. There's something I don't like about this book at all, it's supposed to be a non-fiction book, but she writes the whole thing like a novel where she knows exactly what the characters were thinking in certain situations and what motivated them to act in a certain way. She makes no footnotes about when and to whom, for example, Pamela confided what she was thinking at that moment. So we can't really form an opinion as to whether there is any real evidence that the person really thought that way .

[@Jess_Connell]

That’s fair. I do feel she takes literary license when expressing thoughts and feelings. I’m glad you pointed this out because that is just her story-telling and not (as you say) with a footnote.

[@Altered4n892t]

My mom had 7 kids, my husband’s parents had 8 children. It’s really hard to keep 8 kids in line. I have 3 children, adults now, (53, 40, 36) 9 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. I cannot judge large families, Raising a bunch of kids is wild difficult. Especially because Ethel & her family and the Kennedy’s had been raised the same way they were raising their kids. I don’t think they know better even now. But maybe all the troubles have forced them into therapy. But all these people need therapy and emotional growth. I was an adult in 1970, things were incredibly difficult. These WEALTHY families could get professional help. But the wealthy seem to be too busy to look at their lives and mature. I read Bob jr. did finally get sober. 12 step program has been helped many get sober. But all the pain and suffering Pam had endured is typical of wealthy.

[@a.r.tavares1322]

Well then maybe they should'nt have had a bunch of kids they cannot raise. We always hear that about poor people.

[@Altered4n892t]

@@a.r.tavares1322 the pill came out around 1961 or 62. If you check that out the birthrate dropped tremendously. My mother told me many times she wished I’d never been born and thank goodness for the pill. I doubt rich people like the kennedy’s took the pill. But I know that’s why my mother had 7 kids. She had no choice being a married woman. And my husband’s mother told me she got the pill asap and put her 4 daughters on the pill as soon as the we old enough). They all had endometriosis issues. But like I said, it’s not for me to judge their 1950-60’s birth control. I read a short book about Robert & Ethel took 4 of their kids to Europe and Ethel & Bob were riding little motorcycles having fun with another couple. And they crashed them (little motorcycles)into the restaurant. They paid for damage and left. I thought about that for years! They had no guilt, or remorse. They thought it was hilarious. In my family we could not even touch the door of a restaurant and never go inside. My mother’s husband died after 12 month bout with cancer, and left her to raise 7 children, no insurance. It was not easy. There are definitely two world’s. One for rich, one for poor. But I believe good people can come from any back story. if they can get well mentally, with therapy and emotional direction. But back then it was not like it is now. I’m a few years older than Bob Jr. And things now from 1960 are light years apart.

[@arlettedumais5776]

​I'm Roman Catholic. The church prohibits artificial forms of birth control. Back in the day it was strictly followed by many couples. Today, not so much. Rose was a very strict catholic. Apparently, RFK took it to heart. 🙄

[@Aussie_Nonna]

I am my Parents 10th child born in 1961. My backside would have been tanned if I stepped out of line, normally my Mum only had to use my full name for me to take heed and rethink my choices. My Brothers were allowed much more freedoms than us girls were but still not ever seen as wild. Sadly the Kennedy’s were seemingly narcissistic and treated others however they saw fit, with no real compassion or care about any consequences good or bad - they were bred to think they were superior beings. Choices have consequences, we all have to live with our choices

[@midgebarger1363]

One split second can change your life forever.

[@Jess_Connell]

💔

[@Donna_Relaxing]

Remember all that smoking weed stunts the growth of that frontal cortex 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@genna2586]

It is disappointing and yet tragic how Pam’s life was irrevocably altered because of decision to go, a decision by Joe to speed overloaded with people and and a decision by Pam’s parents to not sue. All bad decisions with the outcome of Pam’s parents investing the money in a luxury home upgrade. Are you kidding me???

[@christineparckys3326]

Heartbreaking. I do agree with you.

[@wahlgreengirl7459]

Joe's 1st wife was from a wealthy family, they could easily swing a house in Marshfield Hills.

[@mariadegan1029]

I don’t know who was the worst mother, Rose or Ethel🤔🤔

[@wahlgreengirl7459]

A toss up for sure

[@rosiebottom3870]

Ethel!

[@maryromaniec9543]

They were very much alike. Except Ethyl is definitely a Marxist.

[@fireworks4993]

There are so many ppl that lives everywhere and the generation of Kennedy talk in this country when the older members will pass away the younger family will still have people will write a book about them.

[@janloftness]

Hello everyone! There is a good interview with Maureen Callahan on Fox News Podcasts (a KZbin channel) called Inside the Kennedy Family Drama that is worth listening to. Ironically, the interviewer’s name is Kennedy!

[@littleflower8915]

Parents share part of the blame for the accident.No adult asked what the kids planned to do that day?Where were they going?how many people?How were they getting there?I assume Pamela kelley's parents heard about the kennedy kids bad behaviour.Did they try to discourage their daughter from associating with kennedy kids.I read a biography about Ethel Skakel. The Skakel family was at one time wealthier than the kennedys.They were also as chaotic.No discipline.The family had a bad reputation in their Connecticut neighbourhood because of that.Some neighbours didn't want to associate with them. Ethel raised her own children with no discipline to be reckless and irresponsible.

[@China-Clay]

They weren’t responsible with the money, perhaps that was the attitude they had with raising their daughter, she didn’t learn to be so careful 🤷‍♀️

[@johannahopkins884]

I think your thinking is correct. The girl had to take some responsibility; she knew what the Kennedy boys liked to do and she went along with it. Very sad.

[@Donna_Relaxing]

THIS one just killed me - I had to walk away a few times - let it rest a few days - then back to eventually complete it.

[@Jess_Connell]

@@Donna_Relaxing definitely one of the tougher episodes to read, learn about, and ponder.

[@MygirlsGJPB]

Her family mishandled the money. The Kennedys should have paid her more, but her parents should have set up a trust fund for her care, but they treated that money like it was their own, when it belonged to Pam.

[@JaneLolli]

Agree with you regarding how Pam’s parents used that money. They would have done the same thing had Pam sued and gotten even more money. Inexcusable. I feel sorry for Pam. She was sooo young and wanted to be with the crowd. You don’t think about possible accidents at that age. I’ve been there, done that. Very stupid. Another immature irresponsible mistake was trusting Joe and and an example of her naivety. Totally understandable at her age!

[@annchovey2089]

I discovered Nantucket through the delicate drawings of Joan Walsh Anglund when I was 19 because of a children’s lit class I was taking. Anglund had a place on the island and I was fortunate enough to meet her several years before she died. I told her I ended up going to Nantucket about 20 times because of her lovely drawings. I started going to Nantucket in the mid 1990’s and I noticed this quaint little island began to change over time. It was always the Republican island while Martha’s Vineyard was where all the democrats went and was known for having more crime. Now you see big name democrats staying on Nantucket. The democrats seem to have taken over both islands. Not trying to be political but the part about the Kennedys causing havoc on this once idyllic little island where I, at one time, felt safe walking back to where I was staying even at one in the morning is just so fitting. Leave it to the Kennedys to spoil everything.

[@annchovey2089]

By the way, Jackie and Ethel Kennedy were big fans of Joan as well.

[@wahlgreengirl7459]

MV is a lot more diverse. Maybe that's why I prefer it to Nantucket. Not concerned with the "crime."

[@annchovey2089]

@@wahlgreengirl7459 I preferred Nantucket because it’s smaller. I wasn’t concerned about the crime so much until I heard a man yell “I’ve got a gun!” Everyone froze and he started laughing. On the ride from the island over to Boston on the small plane, one of the residents gave me a detailed account of how much the island had changed. It was rather heartbreaking about the crime surge in sumner and the drug problems. MV reminds me of Ted Kennedy and John Jr.’s plane going down. I haven’t been to MV in 10 years but Nantucket in the 90’s was amazing. I’m sure the multigenerational Nantucketers would say things were worse by then.

[@LeslieBigos]

Thanks for sharing.

[@davidward805]

I agree with you! And all your videos are fantastic!

[@Jess_Connell]

@@davidward805 thank you!

[@debbieclark7031]

I've been cross stitching while listening to you. What they spent the settlement money on made me pause and rewind. I'm shocked and I'm sure I had the same look on my face. 🤨

[@lauramason5667]

I was not familiar with this story.Her noble stance ruined her but saved the Kennedy boys. A travesty and tragedy.

[@Donna_Relaxing]

I've told some people about your channel and am in thre process (with older ones) in showing them how easy it is to watch your videos... So a few new subscriptions... no biggie. but some.

[@Jess_Connell]

Oh yay! Thank you!! 🙏 🎉💕Welcome to all of Donna’s friends!! 👍🏻🤩

[@erindrury785]

So crazy how much was spent on a house knowing she would need care her entire life. It blows my mind how little the Kennedy's paid for their actions.

[@Jess_Connell]

Both of these things are really mind boggling.

[@kellyburgess671]

i agree... i dont think they used the money in the best way possible...

[@smd4646]

I got to thinking, if Pam was 18, she may have been the only one allowed by law to sue them. It may have eliminated her parents due to her being of age. Maybe that’s why the parents didn’t sue and Pam had the final say in it.

[@Jess_Connell]

agreed! But then, if she was 18 and on her own financially/legally, how did they use her money to buy their house?

[@mauiswift6391]

Ridiculous of Pam’s parents, that of course would not happen today. Ugh

[@susanbartone1347]

I really respect your interpretation of the complexity of this situation in the multi factors involved in the poor decisions. I also totally agree with you. Life is complicated and it’s a cop out in my opinion to just make a black and white clearcut judgment. As you were reading the story about, the kids driving in the car and passing the joints around, which was before your analysis, I heard myself saying out loud what are they doing? Get out of the vehicle.

[@parrishlake7321]

The parents had every right to override their daughter in a lawsuit. I understand the daughter did not want to proceed; however, the parents are the ones with the overall responsibility for their daughter’s disabled future. Sad! And then to purchase the house with the money they did get……wow! Where was their common sense?

[@Lisarojenko73318]

That’s excellent

[@ralphl7643]

I believe her parents could (and should) have sued without her consent since she was under 18. If they had told her to keep away from the reckless, hellion Kennedys, would she have listened? You're letting them all off a little too easily. Vehicle safety was a new concern in industry and government in the late 60s--early 70s, thanks to Ralph Nader and the plaintiffs bar that funded him, but it hadn't really percolated down to the general public, who mostly ignored seat belts, and child seats were unknown. High-powered cars became affordable to more young people in the mid 60s, and insurance rates soon reflected that. The anti-drunk driving campaign only became a big deal in the mid 70s, after this crash. Many norms that we take for granted now were off most radars back then. This doesn't excuse driving like an idiot with too many people, it just explains how it could happen.

[@Jess_Connell]

I appreciate the vehicle safety angle. Definitely had not thought of that as I gave commentary. That very well may not have been a thought. Thank you for adding to the discussion!

[@jThorSF]

With both sets of parents showing such poor judgement in raising their children, it’s no wonder these young people were also making their own poor judgments. I’m not surprised by this from Joe for so many reasons, including his widowed mother raising 11 kids on her own. But more importantly, Pam’s parents were derelict as well to allow their daughter to be drinking, drugging and hanging out with such bad influences. The fact they used PAM’s MONEY to buy themselves an expensive home, tells me everything I need to know about their priorities. And they certainly weren’t geared towards their daughter or her long-term care. Given all of this, I wonder if that’s why they didn’t push Pam to sue bc then legally the money would have been hers. I know this opinion is harsh. But it’s probably bc I’m the adult child of alcoholic parents, an alcoholic myself (27 years in recovery), and have been both a caregiver and disabled myself.

[@DaucusKarota]

Heartbreaking

[@butterbeanqueen8148]

I could see buying a house with a pool (for therapy) that was retrofitted for a wheelchair. But I can’t see buying THAT house. They could have easily bought a far less expensive house and invested the rest of the money so there would be money for her care in the future. But the family should have sued the Kennedy’s because it would have been covered by insurance. This story is so sad.

[@Meljassy]

In my opinion you should add a thank you tab on your channel so we can thank you ! 💰

[@Jess_Connell]

That’s very kind of you. I could look into how to do that… right now I wouldn’t even know how. 😂👍🏻

[@pamelav4628]

The boys at least were probably "high" so even further out of their minds. It's easy to make a mistake like Pam. Perhaps being by the water was the best thing for her. Bobby and his brothers had very serious alcohol and drug problems. If Pam had made it back okay that day, she most likely would not have made that mistake again.

[@Sparks_Alive]

About eight years ago, I read the history of the Kennedys going back all the generations they could go up to recent times. It was a tome. I cannot remember the title. I ploughed through it and all the different history and boy, the fraternal line is just so nasty and corrupt with the things they did to get where they were and how the children were raised in terrible fashion. I’m embarrassed the country was in thrall of anyone with the name, and the storied history. I think I read up to the lead up to the Kennedy presidency. And then I just had to put it down. I greatly disliked the people. Joe was a disgusting man! Devilish. So many of them were morally bankrupt and showed little regard to people that were in their lives. The entitlement, the one way or other attitude to get to their goal was very disturbing. Pathological almost. Joe’s attitude towards anything was horrid. Each generation looks so promising, but they were not nice people. They weren’t good people for the most part. I don’t think they are people we should admire.

[@ryvirkelley5047]

Oh girl, guess what I watched on KZbin. It was "The Lost Tapes" of Carolyn and John Jr's wedding. It was really good, but I was cringing through the whole thing. I was pleased to know that the Bessetts had another daughter so at least they didn't lose them all.

[@Jess_Connell]

Oh wow, I didn't know there was another sister. Glad to know that.

[@ryvirkelley5047]

@@Jess_Connell At least that's what they said. It's still heartbreaking but at least they have her.

[@phulanadethal]

Hi there. Greetings from Europe I’m a new subscriber, and have been binge watching your videos. About that poor girl, she did indeed made bad decisions. About the Kennedy guy, he was a selfish evil person, no matter how you look at it

[@Jess_Connell]

Welcome! Thank you for your comments; hope you’ll continue to pipe up!

[@robyn874]

At those ages individuals live for the here & now, not stopping to think of the consequences or wanting to miss out & peer pressure are factors. Pam went on to work with disabilities she would of seen what her health future was going to entail & should of lawyered up. Continuously going to magazines to enforce payment is as tacky as the Kennedy's; write a book!

[@mountaingrl]

I would like to know about the others that were injured. Were there payouts or lawsuits? I know David OD'ed in 1984.

[@user-me7by2jc3d]

It is a problem with how people who have never had huge sums of money handle a large winfall. You often hear about jackpots winners blew it all on luxury houses, yachts and car etc.. Instead of investing the principal and live off the interest earned.

[@Jess_Connell]

True!! Good point. That is common.

[@pamelav4628]

Wow.

[@patricesimmons968]

I feel that Pam’s parents should shoulder the most blame. Why in the world are they listening to a paralyzed minor daughter when she says that Joe says he will take care of them? They did not need Pam’s permission to sue the Kennedys. I’m sure that they lived to regret that bad decision. Yes, they got some money from insurance, and I think it was unconscionable for them to buy a big fancy house. That was living on the broken back of their daughter.

[@Jess_Connell]

@@patricesimmons968 exactly. All of this.