olivia

If Kennedy was aware of these internal contradictions—the kind boy within the rude man, the pleasure-seeker within the puritan—he did not dwell on them, not at this stage of his life. He substituted action for self reflection. Indeed, one suspects he used his constant self-testing and agitation to keep at bay dimly understood (but strongly felt) urges and fears. His self-defense kept him from opening up too much with friends. “He never discussed intimate problems,” said Gerald Tremblay. “He did discuss his relationship with his father, but in a kidding sort of way— intimating that his father was a little bit of a tyrant in the household.” While all politics and policy were personal for RFK, in his own friendships, he avoided the too-personal. His empathy and his immense curiosity ended when friendly conversations became too intimate or self revelatory, especially if he detected self-pity. “He didn’t like anybody to gripe. He didn’t like any kind of a heavy situation. He hated to be bored,” said Tremblay. When conversations did veer towards the confessional, he was sometimes rescued by Ethel. “She was always clowning around, keeping things light,” said Tremblay