Transition of power
The story of Kennedy’s life has been shaped by addiction and trauma, leading to a turbulent journey. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., chosen by Donald Trump as the health secretary, has risen to a position of great influence despite a past marked by fame, struggles with addiction, and a career connected to conspiracy theories.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., chosen by Donald Trump to be health secretary, has achieved a high level of authority following a life marked by celebrity, struggles with addiction, and a professional history connected to various conspiracy theories.
Those who know Robert F. Kennedy Jr. well believe that his decisions can be seen as an attempt to honor the memory of his father, who was tragically killed during his presidential campaign in 1968.
Backed by
Written by Sheryl Gay Stolberg, Susanne Craig, and Rebecca Davis O’Brien.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became sick during a flight to Rapid City, S.D. in September 1983. The pilot called for medical help in advance. Due to his well-known name, Mr. Kennedy, who was 29 years old and had just graduated from law school, was escorted to a special room at the airport. It was there that authorities discovered heroin in his belongings.
According to Mr. Kennedy, he became addicted to heroin during his teenage years while trying to deal with the trauma of his father’s assassination. After an incident on an airplane, he voluntarily entered a drug treatment center in New Jersey two days later. He claims to have remained drug-free since then.
Mr. Kennedy was chosen by President-elect Donald J. Trump to be the health secretary, a decision made after a non-traditional presidential campaign where he portrayed his life as a journey of redemption. In an interview with a conservative Christian radio host, he shared that he had struggled with addiction and personal issues in his youth, but had a spiritual awakening that led him to make significant changes in his life.
However, Mr. Kennedy’s initial struggle with overcoming his addiction was not the only challenge he faced in dealing with his inner demons and destructive tendencies. By gathering information from interviews, court documents, and his own words, it becomes clear that he has a tendency to move between different extremes. This includes battling drug addiction, engaging in compulsive sexual behavior, and becoming immersed in conspiracy theories, all while constantly in the public eye.
During his middle years, Mr. Kennedy gained recognition for his work as an environmental lawyer fighting against companies that polluted the environment, working to clean up rivers, and advocating for the protection of New York’s drinking water. However, he was also known for having multiple affairs and keeping a journal where he documented his encounters with women and rated them numerically. Despite this behavior, he struggled with his lack of self-control and often criticized himself for his actions.
According to interviews with people familiar with the couple, his extramarital affairs played a role in the end of his second marriage. A former nanny who worked for his family during that time has also alleged that Mr. Kennedy made unwanted sexual advances towards her and touched her without her consent.
We are experiencing difficulties in accessing the content of the article.
Please make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser settings.
We appreciate your understanding as we confirm your access. If you are currently in Reader mode, please log out and sign in to your Times account, or consider subscribing to access all content from The Times.
We appreciate your understanding as we confirm access.
Do you already have a subscription? Sign in.
Interested in accessing all content from The Times? Simply subscribe to gain
Prom
Index of Pages
Navigation for Site Information
