Caroline Kennedy is publicly opposing her cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as he prepares for his confirmation hearings to become the director of the Department of Health and Human Services.
On Tuesday, January 28, the daughter of John F. Kennedy, who is 67 years old, sent a scathing letter to senators in which she labeled her cousin Bobby a “predator.” She said that he is “addicted to attention and power” and that he is ultimately “unqualified” to define the nation’s health policy.
Before the letter, Caroline was less vocal about her cousin than some of her other relatives, even though Bobby’s brothers openly condemned him for supporting conspiracy theories and backing with Donald Trump.
Caroline, who stepped down from her role as ambassador in November, said, “I did not comment, not only because I was serving in a government position as United States Ambassador to Australia, but because I have never wanted to speak publicly about my family members and their challenges.”
“However, since President Trump has nominated Bobby to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services, a position that would put him in charge of the health of the American people, I feel that I have a duty to speak up.”
Jack Schlossberg, Caroline’s son, posted a video on social media of his mother reading her letter out loud. In the video, he referred to her as “courageous” for speaking up against her own cousin.
The letter started by discussing what Caroline believes is a lack of “government, financial, management, or medical experience” on Bobby’s résumé. She said that this alone should prevent him from holding a strong administrative position.
She proceeded to speak about Bobby, who is 71 years old, saying, “But he has personal qualities related to this job, which, for me, pose even greater concern.”
Caroline, who claims to have known Bobby her whole life, described his history of drug addiction. She stated that his basement, garage, and dorm rooms were “always the center of the action where drugs were available” and that he was “able to attract others through the strength of his personality.”
Caroline said, “He took pleasure in demonstrating how he blended baby chickens and mice together to feed to his hawks.” “It was a scene of despair and violence that was often twisted.”
Caroline went on to attack her cousin’s public conspiratorial battle against vaccinations, adding that Bobby “preys on the desperation of parents of sick children” by lobbying against scientifically proven vaccines while vaccinating his own kids.
She said, “Even before he takes this position, his constant belittling of our healthcare system and the conspiratorial half-truths he has told about vaccines, including in connection with Samoa’s deadly 2019 outbreak of measles, have cost lives.”
Caroline also pointed out that his anti-vaccination efforts show that he “is willing to profit and enrich himself.” This is a clear reference to a New York Times report that found that Bobby would keep his financial stake in litigation against Merck, a manufacturer of a vaccine that protects against HPV, even as he ascends to the presidential Cabinet as health secretary.
She ended her letter by criticizing Bobby for using the Kennedy name during his presidential campaign last year. She said that he “continues to grandstand off my father’s assassination and that of his own father.”
She remarked, “I can’t understand how someone who is willing to use his own painful family tragedies to gain publicity could be put in charge of situations that involve life and loss for the people of America.”
“I do my best not to speak for my father, unlike Bobby, but I am sure that he and my uncle Bobby, who both sacrificed their lives in public service to this country, and my uncle Teddy, who dedicated his long Senate career to the cause of improving health care, would be disgusted.”