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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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gobdawpaddy | Feb 13, 2012, 09:34 AM EST

'Yea well he got his brother off a murder charge as well if you for4got about Chapaquid...' The intelligence of certain posters here never ceases to amaze me. the Chapaquidick incident occurred on July 19th, 1969, six years after JFK was assassinated on November 22, 1963.

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IrelandNorth | Feb 13, 2012, 07:54 AM EST

It's understandable that JFK attained a high degree of adultation from Roman Catholic Irish-America, and Ireland even also. But how fair is it to beatify or canonise fallible human beings to the status of sainthood, any more than to pedestalise women as paragons of sexual virtue. This is not to justify any indiscretions, merely to understand them. For to understand all IS to forgive all!

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MORIORDAN | Feb 13, 2012, 12:31 AM EST

I am always amazed at how easily some Irish people sign on to all the slander about the Kennedys. We must not forget - first of all - President Kennedy is dead and cannot say a word in his own defense - besides he was the first Irish American Catholic president of the United States and the people who feel entitled to that honor and privilege have never forgiven him for invading their space. It wasn't enough that they killed him, they have to kill what he stood for and accomplished. Can we start to ignore the rubbish and remember him as we knew him and all he did for human rights and for peace and for people who were born disabled as well as putting poserty and hunger in American on the map. He drafted the most comprehensive legislation for civil rights for African Americans and he established the Presidents Commission on Mental Retardation and he put money into education, and started the Peace Corp and many other programs that have helped people who are disadvantaged in our society. I hope this lady's book doesn't sell a copy because I do believe she really wants to make a bundle with her crappy book - I would like to ask her how come she didn't get pregnant if she lost her virginity with him and continued to see him - she must have planned on having sex with him. In Clint Hills book about his time as the secret service person assigned to Kennedy he said the only two times Kennedy was ever in the company of Marilyn Monroe was that time in New York where she sang happy birthday to him and one other time in the home of the Lawfords and she left both times way before he left and other members of the family and friends were there also. So let's stop bashing the Kennedys and put things in perspective and see this lady as an opportunist who wants to sell her book. Mary

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Madeliene | Feb 12, 2012, 06:09 PM EST

whand no-one ever knew what she was really thinking. RIP Mrs kennedy what made it Camelot was Jackie. Jackie was at ALL times- a lady-Her dignity was impressive, her style was impressive, and no one ever knew what she was really thinking.. RIP Mrs Kennedy a Republican

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melindamc56 | Feb 12, 2012, 06:07 PM EST

There was already a book out called The Dark Side of Camelot that told a different story that what that family wanted you to hear. It's a good read. Been out for a while. I'm no big fan of the Kennedys and I am tored of them being referred to as the american royalty. what a load of garbage.

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bfg9000 | Feb 12, 2012, 02:16 PM EST

Disgusting? Sordid? You don't say anything about rape, so as far as we know they only had some consensual fun. What's wrong with that? Stop being so judgemental: everyone has at least a few skeletons in their closet, especially politicians. JFK being possibly less corrupt than the others doesn't make him an absolutely virtuous saint, seeing him this way is what's wrong in the first place and you have only yourself to blame for it.

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Porickseantuny | Feb 12, 2012, 01:56 PM EST

The real embarrassment is that people think that JFK would act on their behalf. Would someone who betrays wedding vows by taking advantage of a love struck teenager have any compunction about violating his vow to uphold the constitution if the issue involved his political benefit versus your rights?

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Bernadett | Feb 12, 2012, 12:51 PM EST

It seems they were not up to much as for the catholic thing well that speaks for itself.

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Murph46 | Feb 12, 2012, 09:30 AM EST

They did enough electroshck on his sister to power a city b4 they lobotomized her!

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allan07 | Feb 12, 2012, 08:56 AM EST

The man tried to protray himself as a devout Roman Catholic whilst getting up to all that stuff. Hypocrite on a grand scale. Another example of a so called Irish-Amercian. A joker to be honest. Camelot was made up as a cover-up to hide the light being shone upon his evil empire. That so called other Irish-Amercian Bill Clinton also had many skeletons in the cupboard. Must be in their genes. Shouldn't they just keep it in their jeans?

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mfinucane | Feb 12, 2012, 08:07 AM EST

why would anyone be surprised? i'm not.the man was worse then a rutting pig from a family of rutting pigs.

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skydiver15000 | Feb 12, 2012, 06:24 AM EST

Oh and we forgot about the murder of Monroe as well!!! There was enough evidence to prosecute them but because he was President a lot of it disapeared.... It is about time the truth comes out. Now we need to bring out the truth about the Clintons and Whitewater.... There were deaths involved there, missing documents, lies and criminal activity there as well...

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skydiver15000 | Feb 12, 2012, 06:18 AM EST

Yea well he got his brother off a murder charge as well if you for4got about Chapaquid... They were a bunch of womenizing murdering drunks.... It wasn't "Camelot" it was Camel-toe" that is what they were all about.... They need to take his worthless butt off our money as well...

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stanJames | Feb 12, 2012, 04:17 AM EST

Our president was murdered, I was at Andrews Airforce base in MD when it happened and where they brought his body back. And some piece of garbage writes a book, true false, whatever. Knowing he cant refute his claim. this is alla bout sensationalism and money. Capitalism at is lowest. On this one I wish the writer of the book that she should take her bible and go try and sell it in the main square of Rihyad, Saudia land. Sometime sharia does have some good ideas. Especailly for xtian women. Come on IC, this never should have been published by you. shame shame shame. Of with the writers head.

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warlocks | Feb 12, 2012, 01:58 AM EST

Hey i saw the story on TV last week about JACK KENNEDY and MiMi Aliford but why did it take this long to Blow the Sox off the Saint Jack Kennedy Perfect Family Man .was it for the Money ? Most of us already knew Jack & his Brothers were balling Marilyn Monroe. This Story is just another notch in The Kennedy Male conquests, The apple didn't fall far from their Father Joseph Kennedy . ===Like Father Like Sons!! you cant make a silk perse from a sow's Ear .

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