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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > Periscope > John F. Kennedy the lecherous lover at odds with Camelot image -- New book destroys the Camelot fantasy for me

Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

John F. Kennedy the lecherous lover at odds with Camelot image -- New book destroys the Camelot fantasy for me

Posted on Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 06:48 AM

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The latest memoir by a former lover makes me think twice about John F.Kennedy.

Mimi Alford’s account of her sexual dalliance with President Kennedy when she was a White House intern cannot be refuted by the late president but I have to say it rings true.

She was just 19-years-old when Kennedy, then 45, took her aside and to his wife’s bedroom where he ended her virginity.

There was worse to come. Perhaps the most damning part of the book is when Kennedy gets the very young woman to ‘service’ his White House aide Dave Powers while Kennedy looks on.

It is pretty disgusting stuff and while we all knew Kennedy was a roué, the direct evidence like this makes it a lot less appealing than the glamorous Marilyn Monroe alleged affair.

Kennedy it appears was a lech if Mimi Allford is to be believed and he practiced his lechery right under the nose of his beautiful wife Jackie.

That does not necessarily reflect on him as a president; as the frequency of sexual liaisons among presidents is pretty extensive to say the least, both Republican and Democrat.

But it does say a lot about him as a man, even allowing for the fact that it was a different era.

The sordid events that Allford relates certainly take the sheen off the Kennedy presidency, so magnificently polished by generations of pro-Kennedy writers.
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I am disappointed but perhaps should not be by the overwhelming evidence about Kennedy’s crass acts while in office.

Mimi Allford seems a credible witness, she never put herself forward but was tracked down and now she is giving her long ago affair with the president a public voice.

Not all our heroes have feet of clay but many do unfortunately. It is the human condition and certainly men in powerful positions have long abused that position for sex and favors.

But Kennedy somehow, in my mind seemed above that – living in a Camelot where bravery and brilliance abounded.

Instead we have a sordid scenario indeed. It will be interesting to see what impact it has on his legacy but it certainly has shaken my personal belief in the man so many of my generation worshipped.

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104 comments

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Maureen15 | Aug 28, 2012, 12:30 PM EDT

If this book destroy your dreams of Came-a-lot...you must have been living under a rock for the last 30 years. Welcome to reality!

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BARNEYKX | May 17, 2012, 05:58 AM EDT

These people in power think they are entitled to do those things

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Madeliene | Mar 31, 2012, 12:06 PM EDT

Camelot was because of Jackie she was ALWAY'S a LADY no matter what! ( a republican)

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Chuck E. Arla | Mar 03, 2012, 12:50 PM EST

Kennedys? To hell with the whole phony lot of them

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skerryc | Feb 19, 2012, 11:34 AM EST

Never creases to amaze me how those who knew him love to put a stain on his name. This woman is making money off a dead President. I remember right after Jackie died, some woman from Sweden wrote a book claiming she was secretly married to President Kennedy. That book was a flop. I've also heard that Kennedy had other children, too. Now, I'm waiting to hear other nasty stories about him. I just hope no one buys this book. Also, within the past two years, someone wrote a book claiming that A. Lincoln was a homosexual. A slanderous tale. People need to get a life.

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bfg9000 | Feb 18, 2012, 02:45 AM EST

@jetsnoone: Yeah, like the Church's view on abortion wasn't completely out of sync with the real world! The fact is that abortion is sometimes necessary, and being so single-minded about it is just unrealistic.

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jetsnoone | Feb 17, 2012, 01:52 PM EST

Buffalobrave, unfortuneately the Kennedys don't need any help to besmirch their reputations.... while I would like to admire them I can't ---- because as an Irish-Catholic myself, I see them as a bunch of abortion supporters--- The current generation of Kennedys has no respect for Catholic positions on the major issues of our day.

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rainbowbrew | Feb 16, 2012, 03:30 PM EST

Read somewhere that Jackie was really mad and she decided to have a few flings herself while inthe White House (probably in John's bedroom)

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Buffalobrave | Feb 16, 2012, 07:22 AM EST

The haters of anything Catholic or anything Kennedy are at it again. They assassinated him physically, now they want to assassinate his character. JFK is not alive to defend himself, so now they are picking at his dead bones to smear him even more. Why did this woman wait until now to write her book?

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abhainn | Feb 15, 2012, 01:18 AM EST

Niall O'Dowd, why did you find it necessary in the past to subscribe to a media-created "Camelot" fantasty? You're a journalist: you are professionally obliged to be more hard-nosed and realistic than this. By the way, sex is not sordid.

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gobdawpaddy | Feb 13, 2012, 08:38 PM EST

skydiver claims JFK and his family were a bunch of drunks. While Teddy's drinking is well documented, JFK and Bobby have never been tarred with that brush. I am fairly well read on the Kennedy presidency and my understanding is that he enjoyed an occasional bottle of Heinecken with Dave Powers and Kenny O'Donnell. Perhaps someone here can shed light on this??

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warrenpoint00 | Feb 13, 2012, 08:18 PM EST

Amasing Niall, and your other great friend Bill Clinton is also a leech, right under the nose of his wife Hilary. Difference is you invested in the Clintons, you might make a buck eventually on the Clintons I doubt infidelity will destroy your fantasy with them.

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merefalow | Feb 13, 2012, 05:48 PM EST

bogsidebunny,bad case of miximitoses you have there.

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pattbaa | Feb 13, 2012, 04:10 PM EST

It is ironic that people who now reject John Kennedy because of deplorable personal acts are Right for the Wrong reason-- the criterion for judging Kennedy should be his performance as President . It is also ironic that Kennedy be likened to "Camelot" for the wrong reason; Kennedy is an " historical legend", one similiar to "Camelot" , beacuse of his brilliant Presidency. Instead , "Camelot" is very fitting indeed because the Kennedy people revere NEVER EXISTED!! ; A Kennedy of matchless brilliance who conducted the Affairs of State with un-erring judgement and infallible wisdom. A hoax, not a "myth" , is a Kennedy who prevented a nuclear war by acting with alacrity and decisiveness during the Cuban missle crisis. The truth is that Kennedy was being severly critized for his failure to respond to the Cuban threat long before he decided to act .It has been necessary for Kennedy sycophants to ignore the true heros of the crisis, Senator Keating and CIA Director John McCone. From "Legacy os Ashes"-- "Year after the world believed that only Kennedy saved the Nation; McCone's role was obscured--.The Kennedy's turned on McCone when he let it be known in Washington that he had been the sole sentinel on the Cuban missles." " 'Wisdom contends that the crisis transformed Kennedy , making a brilliant leader out of a callow President . It is a myth , based on an inaccurate and falsified historical record---" Greenwich Connecticut , USA

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MotherIrish | Feb 13, 2012, 10:20 AM EST

All of Joe's boys were morally corrupt as was Joe. Rose tolerated the philandering for the sake of position as did the wifes of the sons. There never was a Camelot - it was the figment of a most imaginative press - which extends to the current democratic president

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