On the 25th anniversary of the tragic death of John F. Kennedy Jr., his former chief of staff released her second book about him.
Having been his assistant at George magazine, a monthly title on the theme of politics-as-lifestyle that he founded with Michael J. Berman, Rose Marie Terenzio previously penned Fairy Tale Interrupted in 2019 on his 20th anniversary.
This time, Terenzio co-wrote JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography with People magazine editor-at-large Liz McNeil. It was the result of two years’ hard work, tracking down those who knew John. They did more than 250 interviews with close friends, colleagues and a few celebrities, some of which hadn’t spoken publicly about him before.
The result? A fascinating insider’s view with a few surprises along the way.
The pair have written it in sound bites instead of quotes weaved into a narrative, so the 400-page read feels like you’re just having a chat with some people who knew him.
Talking to Straus Media, the co-authors gave some interesting insights into their journey.
Asked why the book is structured as it is, Terenzio said: “I just felt the best way to remember John, to honor him and bring him to life, was through all the voices who knew him well, who he touched and who touched him.”
And asked why they chose a ‘warts and all’ approach, his former assistant commented that “[showing] his vulnerabilities, weaknesses, honesty…all those things are what make John interesting. It makes [the book] more real.”
She adds that the beauty of the format – quotes from people from all walks of life – emphasises JFK Jr. as an equal opportunity socialiser: “We’re not just talking to historians or politicos or just the people at George.
“We wanted to show the range: from 96-year-old Martha Bartlett, the woman who introduced Jack [Kennedy] and Jackie [Bouvier], to his favorite waitress. His friend Jack Merrill is quoted in the book saying, ‘John wasn’t interested in the VIP section; he didn’t want to be behind the ropes. He wanted to be on the dance floor, in the middle of it.’ The book reflects that.
“It also quotes John as saying, ‘I’m a New Yorker and I belong here.’ He was one of us. And JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography has the stories to prove it.”
