Ethel Kennedy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ethel Kennedy
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Kennedy in 1968
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Ethel Skakel
April 11, 1928 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| Died | October 10, 2024 (aged 96) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Education | Manhattanville College (BA) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 11, including
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| Relatives | Kennedy family (through marriage) |
Ethel Kennedy (born Ethel Skakel SKAY-kel; April 11, 1928 – October 10, 2024) was an American who worked to protect human rights. She was the wife of U.S. senator Robert F. Kennedy. She was also the sister-in-law of U.S. president John F. Kennedy.
After her husband's death in 1968, she started the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights. This group works for a fair and peaceful world. In 2014, President Barack Obama gave Ethel Kennedy the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is one of the highest awards a civilian can receive in the United States.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ethel Skakel was born in Chicago, Illinois, on April 11, 1928. Her father, George Skakel, was a businessman. Her mother was Ann Brannack. Ethel was the sixth of seven children.
Her father started a company called Great Lakes Carbon Corporation. Ethel's family raised her as a Catholic. She continued to attend church regularly throughout her life.
Ethel grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut. She went to an all-girls school called Greenwich Academy. She graduated from the Convent of the Sacred Heart in 1945. In September 1945, Ethel started college at Manhattanville College. Her future sister-in-law, Jean Kennedy Smith, was also a student there. Ethel earned her bachelor's degree in 1949.
Ethel first met Robert F. Kennedy in December 1945. They were on a ski trip in Quebec. Robert first dated Ethel's older sister, Patricia. After that, he started dating Ethel. She helped Robert's older brother, John F. Kennedy, in his 1946 campaign for Congress.
Ethel's parents died in a plane crash in 1955.
Marriage and Family Life
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Robert Kennedy and Ethel Skakel got engaged in February 1950. They married on June 17, 1950, in Greenwich. Their wedding was at St. Mary Church.
After Robert finished law school, they moved near Washington, D.C.. Robert began working for the United States Department of Justice. In 1952, Ethel helped her brother-in-law John in his campaign for the Senate. She organized "tea parties" for people who might vote for him.
In 1956, the Kennedys bought a large home called Hickory Hill in McLean, Virginia. It had 13 bedrooms and was on six acres of land. Robert and Ethel often hosted many different guests at their home. Ethel sold Hickory Hill in 2009. The couple also owned a home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.
In 1960, Ethel's brother-in-law John F. Kennedy became president. He chose Robert to be the United States Attorney General. In 1962, President Kennedy asked Ethel and Robert to visit 14 countries. This was a 28-day trip to build good relationships. Even though it was called informal, other countries saw them as representatives of the President and First Lady.
On November 22, 1963, Ethel learned about her brother-in-law's death from her husband. She was very sad about it.
In 1964, Ethel supported her husband as he ran for a seat in the United States Senate. He won and represented New York. She encouraged him to run for president in 1968. Many people saw her as Robert's strongest supporter for a run for the White House.
Robert F. Kennedy's Death
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On June 5, 1968, Robert F. Kennedy was shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. He died the next day at age 42. President Lyndon B. Johnson announced a national day of mourning. Ethel thanked President Johnson and his wife for their help. After her husband's death, Ethel said she would never marry again. She remained a widow for the rest of her life.
Their Children
Robert and Ethel Kennedy had 11 children. They were Kathleen, Joseph, Robert Jr., David, Courtney, Michael, Kerry, Christopher, Maxwell, Douglas, and Rory. Rory was born after her father died.
Some of their children and grandchildren have also worked in government. Kathleen was the lieutenant governor of Maryland. Joseph was a U.S. Representative for Massachusetts. Robert Jr. ran for president in 2024. Their grandson, Joseph Kennedy III, also served in the U.S. House of Representatives. Two of their sons, David and Michael, have passed away.
Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Center
Ethel Kennedy started the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights in 1968. It is now known as Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. This group works to protect human rights around the world.
In 2001, Ethel Kennedy visited two activists who were in jail. She gave one of them an award for his environmental work. In 2016, she joined a march to support farm workers. Her daughter, Kerry Kennedy, is the president of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights.
Later Years
In the late 1970s, Ethel Kennedy worked on many social causes. She supported projects that helped communities. In 1992, she appeared on the TV show Cheers.
During the 2008 presidential election, Kennedy supported Barack Obama. She hosted a big fundraising dinner for him at Hickory Hill.
In 2012, a documentary film about Ethel's life was released. Her youngest daughter, Rory, directed it. The film, called Ethel, showed her early political work and her life with Robert F. Kennedy. It also showed how she raised her 11 children after his death. The film included interviews with Ethel and her children, along with family videos and photos.
In her later years, Kennedy lived at the Kennedy Compound in Massachusetts and in Palm Beach, Florida. She died in Boston on October 10, 2024, at age 96. She had been in the hospital after a stroke. After her death, former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton shared tributes to her.
Legacy and Awards
In 1981, President Ronald Reagan honored Ethel Kennedy with the Robert F. Kennedy medal. In 2014, a bridge in Washington, D.C., was renamed the Ethel Kennedy Bridge. This was to honor her work for the environment and social causes.
Also in 2014, President Obama gave Ethel Kennedy the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He honored her for her dedication to "advancing the cause of social justice, human rights, environmental protection, and poverty reduction." He said she created "countless ripples of hope to effect change around the world."
See also
In Spanish: Ethel Kennedy para niños
