It was 20 years ago today, when John F. Kennedy Jr’s plane went down killing him, his wife Carolyn and her sister, Lauren Bessette.
It was 56 years ago this coming November, when at the tender age of 3, he poignantly saluted his father’s casket breaking hearts around the world.
His picture is everywhere, newspapers and magazines making hay out of this, hard to believe, anniversary,
JFK Jr. An American life, preens from People Magazine’s Commemorative Issue knowing, America, out of loyalty and unabashed curiosity will buy it, bestowing it with pride of place on their coffee tables.
Jackie’s son. John-John, a name he loathed and by the way, was never really called. His dad, during his work day would call out his name, so somehow saying, John, John, was transformed into a title that was a mere manufacture. 
It made such good copy.
His mother lived in my neighborhood so John sightings were frequent. He never hid nor got mad if approached, wearing his Kennedy mantle with grace, unlike his sister, Caroline, who shuns any kind of attention. He was comfortable with his lineage, though his young, beautiful wife, Carolyn, was not.
Her mother had cautioned her before marrying him, knowing her daughter well. But alas, this beautiful girl who had everything in her own right, went against her instincts because, as she told those closest to her, how could she give him up? He’s John Kennedy Jr. 
It would have saved her life, since she went against her instincts again when she tried not to go on that fatal flight.
But back to John.
He had a great sense of humor, making fun of himself, like when he launched his own magazine, George, on the steps of Federal Hall, the site where George Washington took his Oath of Office and said, “The last time I saw this much press was when I flunked the bar exam.” He had them in his pocket after that, showing signs of a possible political career that sadly would never be.
But we didn’t know that then.
He was handsome, chivalrous, generous and reckless. He had his mom’s looks and his dad’s bravado. History does repeat itself when you think, how many people told JFK not to go to Dallas.
How many people told John, not to fly that night.
DNA is strong, winning most hands, and in the case of both Kennedys, there was no exception.
One of my own indelible images of him is loping through Grand Central Station in canary yellow trousers, later reading, they were golf pants belonging to his dad.
As a New Yorker, and someone remembering a poignant salute a little boy gave his fallen father, I think of him this day. 
John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr. (1960-1999)
SB
He was indeed American royalty. His charisma was undeniable Such a shame. I, too, believe he would have become a very successful politician.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He certainly had the ingredients for one. Thanks, as always.
LikeLike
Time goes by way too fast. How can it be twenty years already? A lovely tribute you have written, Susannah.
Frank issued an “If” challenge in February last year. It’s where I met Marc, actually. His story was based on JFK Jr. I dunno if you read him back then but methinks you would enjoy his take.
https://sorryless.com/2018/02/13/if-only/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sending the link to me. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Most welcome. I’m sure you will enjoy it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wonder what he would be doing today? I think the world would be a bit better off if He was here. So much potential lost.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Should be a small h. John was pretty amazing but not God.
LikeLike
This is true. They tempt fate over and over again and never quite learn…God bats last, to quote Anne Lamott.
LikeLike
Loss loss loss. I always wonder how different the world would be if his Uncle Bobby didn’t take flight at 42. John was about to turn 40. One forgets how young Bobby was.
LikeLike
Enormous sadness all the way around. Alway, what might have been with the Kennedys. Can’t help but feel that our country would be in a much better place today. They weren’t perfect (who is), but they helped inspire the country to always try and do better, always aspire to meet any challenge with grace and courage. Never easy, of course, but they did lead us and with style. You can honestly say, that that’s what’s missing in this great country of ours today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m rereading The Last Campaign by Thurston Clarke, about Bobby’s run for president till it ends on The Ambassador Hotel’s kitchen floor. It still makes me cry despite reading it for the 5th time. They were brazen. They were reckless, and because of this, they were doomed.
LikeLike
Right on every count. I sometimes feel bold and courageous action sadly reflects a presumptuously reckless disregard for one’s own well being, and that’s when caution seems to get thrown out the window.
LikeLiked by 1 person
At times I feel that was all a dream. If only.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You made me go for the Kleenex again, Susannah.
It’s so weird, to miss someone so much even though you never knew them. But John was Jackie’s son through and through- grace and class and great looks and a wonderful reminder of that place called Camelot.
I remember it was a Friday night. The kids were with their grandparents for the weekend so me and my then wife had gone out to dinner. It was Saturday morning when I turned on the TV and learned about John’s plane going down. And the search ensued over that weekend. It was excruciating because you just knew.
The idea of him running for office . . . he would have been called into it after 9/11. He was as close to a Prince as the city had. God, what a loss. I still feel it that very same way as I write this.
This, was beautiful. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading it with such verve and grace. It wasn’t read much since alas, many don’t remember and those who do, don’t really care. He was such a part of my youth as well as my New York underpinnings. I still see his sister who lacks his light in more ways than one. Of course, she’s the last one standing, so she’s done something right. Her normalcy an anomaly. It’s what her mom had in mind for both of them, but alas, only one of her children would survive and flourush. Thanks Marc.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jackie did one hell of a job with those kids, reminds me of how Diana raised hers.
I wrote a “What if” once, about what might have been if John hadn’t taken flight that night. I think I reposted it on my blog. I’ll check, just in case you’re interested in reading it.
John and Diana, two years separated their tragic ends. And I always had this incredibly foolish idea about those two, in the White House. God, maybe if there is a heaven and you get to work it the way you want it to look? They’ll be the tenants in that place until the sun goes out.
Thank you again for this SB.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Of course I am.
LikeLike
Have you ever read Dallas 1963? It came out I’ll say, 2 years ago written by two guys that just nailed so much. You’ll read how many people warned John Kennedy not to come there. How they called Bobby in the State Department who tried reasoning with his brother to no avail. It’s compelling reading. Right up Mr. Imma’s literary alley.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No. Last book I read on Dallas was King’s 11/22, because I dig stories about time travel, and truth be told, I would have gone back to try and stop it too. Anyone with a pulse, I would think, might feel the same way.
I’ll have to check it out. No, wait. Imma check it out, how’s that?
I wish it would have rained that day.
LikeLike
If only.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was the title of my post. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It doesn’t seem like 20 years.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No it doesn’t. Walked by his mother’s old place and looked up. So many things came to mind. That family. They really do have a curse on them, I’m convinced. It’s not just all hype and rumor. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
They were larger than life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes they were. Perhaps too large for their own well being.
LikeLiked by 1 person
GOD … he was sssooooo handsome. Gone too soon. The curse of the Kennedy’s. I saw a recent documentary about his life and could feel the fear his wife Carolyn had. It couldn’t have been an easy life. We love them so much that we lost site of the fact that they are people just like you and me. BRAVO write !!!
Isadora 😎
LikeLiked by 1 person
One thing he could have done was live in a more secure place. His loft in Tribeca he had before they ere married was not suitable for a woman who was not brought up in that kind of limelight/fishbowl as he was. She couldn’t go get a quart of milk without being followed and photographed.
His sister, on the other hand, always lived in a very secure, safe building same as their mother, who knew, as unfortunate as it was, they couldn’t be as free as other people, the downside of being rich and famous.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t imagine being that transparent to the world. I mean … what about a bad hair day? YIKES !!! YUP … being rich isn’t all that, I suppose, if you can’t breath without a camera in your face. Sad … very sad. ~~~ : – (
LikeLiked by 1 person
It used to drive her crazy, and he just did nothing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
: (
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just read an article that stated he didn’t have a flying license and always took his teacher with him. That night, in order to get somewhere he needed to be (or wanted to be) he told the teacher to go home and spend the holidays with his family. His teacher hesitated, knowing storm was coming, but finally told Bobby he could fly well in this and it should be okay. Sad, avoidable, but only in hindsight.
LikeLike
He did have a license, and the seasoned pilot meant to go with him, wouldn’t due to weather. He then decided to fly a new plane he didn’t have much experience with.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, I was, somewhat, misinformed. Either way, it’s sad.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks.
LikeLike