Kick Kennedy: The Charmed Life and Tragic Death of the Favorite Kennedy Daughter (37 page)

“I long to…”: Kathleen Kennedy to Nancy Astor, UR.

“definitely”: Kathleen Kennedy to Nancy Astor, n.d., UR.

to ask her brother whether he still believed: Kathleen Kennedy to John F. Kennedy, February 13, 1942, JFKL.

By Kick’s calculations: Betty Coxe Spalding to BL, author interview.

“I would advise strongly against…”: John F. Kennedy to Kathleen Kennedy, March 10, 1942, JFKL.

When Lem Billings visited: Lem Billings to John F. Kennedy, n.d., JFKL.

The agency bugged: report, Re: Mrs. Paul Fejos, with aliases, Espionage—G, February 23, 1943, FBI.

“but 18 summers…”: Inga Arvad quoted in Nigel Hamilton,
JFK: Reckless Youth
(New York: Random House, 1992), p. 478.

she told her parents: Kathleen Kennedy to Joseph P. Kennedy and Rose F. Kennedy, March 20, 1942, JFKL.

made the rounds: Kathleen Kennedy to John F. Kennedy, July 8, 1942, JFKL.

at her personal expense: FBI 6/24/42.

“too happy to do”: Kathleen Kennedy to John F. Kennedy, July 8, 1942, JFKL.

At bedtime: Betty Coxe Spalding to BL, author interview.

“You’re late!”: John White, transcript of interview by Nigel Hamilton, MHS.

she conspired with: Kathleen Kennedy to Rose F. Kennedy, November 23, 1942, JFKL.

approached the publisher: Kathleen Kennedy to Rose F. Kennedy, February 1, 1943.

Betty Coxe proposed: Betty Coxe Spalding to BL, author interview.

she expressed confidence: Betty Coxe Spalding to BL, author interview.

“desperate” to be with Billy again: Richard Holderness (formerly Richard Wood) to BL, author interview.

As he would recall: Richard Holderness to BL, author interview.

he was, by his own subsequent account: Richard Holderness to BL, author interview.

he would reflect that it was Kick: Richard Holderness to BL, author interview.

viewed the job as an expedient: Betty Coxe Spalding to BL, author interview.

she complained: Kathleen Kennedy round-robin letter to her family, June 27, 1943, JFKL.

Seven

Kick had not told: Debo Devonshire to BL, author interview.

she was unhappy: Jean Lloyd to BL, author interview.

Eager to see: Anne Tree to BL, author interview.

“As far as…”: Tony Rosslyn to John F. Kennedy, July 25, 1943, JFKL.

Kick wrote home: Kathleen Kennedy’s round-robin letter to her family, September 23, 1943, JFKL.

“a tough situation”: Kathleen Kennedy’s round-robin letter to her family, September 23, 1943, JFKL.

“quite unchanged”: Kathleen Kennedy to John F. Kennedy, July 3, 1943, JFKL.

“not obvious”: Kathleen Kennedy to John F. Kennedy, July 3, 1943, JFKL.

“film star handsome”: Debo Devonshire to BL, author interview.

“suddenly so attractive”: Jean Lloyd to BL, author interview.

more physically imposing: Jean Lloyd to BL, author interview.

“put their heads together”: Kathleen Kennedy’s round-robin letter to her family, July 14, 1943, JFKL.

“heavy betting”: Kathleen Kennedy’s round-robin letter to her family, July 14, 1943, JFKL.

At his request: Anne Tree to BL, author interview.

“For twenty four hours…”: Kathleen Kennedy to John F. Kennedy, July 29, 1943, JFKL.

“a return to innocence”: Andrew Devonshire to BL, author interview.

He welcomed the opportunity: Andrew Devonshire to BL, author interview.

She saw him: Andrew Devonshire to BL, author interview.

“There wasn’t a…”: Kathleen Kennedy’s round-robin letter to her family, August 24, 1943.

he was displeased: Jean Lloyd to BL, author interview.

“racy”: Jean Lloyd to BL, author interview.

“liked to experiment”: Jean Lloyd to BL, author interview.

preferred that the setting: Jean Lloyd to BL, author interview.

pass the night in a sleeping bag: Fiona Arran to BL, author interview.

“more like a bed”: Kathleen Kennedy quoted by Fiona Aran to BL, author interview.

“childlike”: Fiona Arran to BL, author interview.

Though when he was: Andrew Devonshire to BL, author interview.

he knew that he could never: Anne Tree to BL, author interview.

As Billy later explained: Billy Hartington to Rose F. Kennedy, April 30, 1944, JFKL.

On the present occasion: Jean Lloyd to BL, author interview.

“It should be me”: Billy Hartington quoted by Jean Lloyd to BL, author interview.

Somehow Billy seemed terrified: Jean Lloyd to BL, author interview.

had already attempted to ensure: Duke of Devonshire to the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire, November 13, 1944, Chatsworth.

“Things you can’t imagine”: Billy Hartington quoted by Jean Lloyd to BL, author interview.

their immense sadness: Kathleen Kennedy’s round-robin letter to her family, November 11, 1943, JFKL.

Kick billed the event: Kathleen Kennedy’s round-robin letter to her family, November 17, 1943, JFKL.

her old friends: Debo Devonshire to BL, author interview.

Eddy anticipated: Andrew Devonshire to BL, author interview.

his mother had arranged: Anne Tree to BL, author interview.

Kick’s presence: Anne Tree to BL, author interview.

“so holy and good”: Billy Hartington to Rose F. Kennedy, April 30, 1944, JFKL.

He asked Kick: Anne Tree to BL, author interview.

Eight

“jump out…”: Kathleen Kennedy’s round-robin letter to her family, July 14, 1943, JFKL.

“a strange episode”: Lord Harlech (formerly David Ormsby-Gore), oral history devoted to Robert F. Kennedy, JFKL.

“was putting unnecessary pressure on Kick”: Lord Harlech, oral history devoted to Robert F. Kennedy, JFKL.

“hurt”: Lord Harlech, oral history devoted to Robert F. Kennedy, JFKL.

to make Kick feel: Anne Tree to BL, author interview.

wrote of Billy’s candidature: Kathleen Kennedy’s round-robin letter to her family, January 20, 1944, JFKL.

wooden legs: Kathleen Kennedy’s round-robin letter to her family, February 22, 1944, JFKL.

Mindful as always of her feelings for Billy: Richard Holderness (formerly Richard Wood) to BL, author interview.

She talked a good deal: Richard Holderness to BL, author interview.

“a woman of influence”: Kathleen Kennedy quoted by Richard Holderness to BL, author interview.

“very ambitious”: Richard Holderness to BL, author interview.

“very clear on what she wanted”: Richard Holderness to BL, author interview.

“a great political hostess”: Richard Holderness to BL, author interview.

“power and authority”: Richard Holderness to BL, author interview.

“the goods and chattel”: Quoted in Debo Devonshire’s scrapbook.

“the worst and dirtiest”: Duchess of Devonshire to John F. Kennedy, October 19, 1944, JFKL.

“So am I…”: Quoted in Debo Devonshire’s scrapbook.

instructed Eddy Devonshire: Debo Cavendish to Diana Mosley, September 21, 1943, Charlotte Mosley, ed.,
The Mitfords: Letters Between Six Sisters
(New York: Harper, 2007), p. 190.

Churchill was heard from: Churchill’s letter to Billy Hartington quoted in John Pearson,
The Serpent and the Stag
(New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1983), p. 277.

“the straw in the wind”: Debo Devonshire to BL, author interview.

her presence had to be downplayed: Elizabeth Cavendish to BL, author interview.

“the most overwhelming impact”: Kathleen Kennedy quoted by Richard Holderness to BL, author interview.

“I don’t know…”: Duke of Devonshire quoted in Kathleen Kennedy’s round-robin letter to her family, February 22, 1944, JFKL.

“I do…”: Billy Hartington quoted in Kathleen Kennedy’s round-robin letter to her family, February 22, 1944, JFKL.

“Britain will not be content…”: Quoted in Debo Devonshire’s scrapbook.

“It has been…”: Quoted in Debo Devonshire’s scrapbook.

Debo, standing in the crowd: Deborah Devonshire,
Wait for Me!: Memoirs of the Youngest Mitford Sister,
p. 129.

there was no longer any doubt: Richard Holderness to BL, author interview.

“Frankly I do…”: Rose F. Kennedy to Kathleen Kennedy, February 24, 1944, JFKL.

Kick countered: Kathleen Kennedy to Joseph P. Kennedy and Rose F. Kennedy, March 22, 1944, JFKL.

never been more lucid: Richard Holderness to BL, author interview.

“Poor Billy…”: Kathleen Kennedy to Joseph P. Kennedy and Rose F. Kennedy, March 22, 1944, JFKL.

“What are you doing?”: Kathleen Kennedy quoted by Jean Lloyd to BL, author interview.

found herself bristling: Jean Lloyd to BL, author interview.

“We’re off!”: Billy Hartington quoted by Jean Lloyd to BL, author interview.

“fantastic”: Kathleen Kennedy’s round-robin letter to her family, April 24, 1944, JFKL.

“how easily”: Kathleen Kennedy’s round-robin letter to her family, April 24, 1944, JFKL.

At daybreak: Jean Lloyd to BL, author interview.

Kick excitedly informed: Jean Lloyd to BL, author interview.

“the protecting…”: Kathleen Kennedy Hartington to Joseph P. Kennedy and Rose F. Kennedy, June 9, 1946, JFKL.

As Jean understood: Jean Lloyd to BL, author interview.

“I have definitely…”: Kathleen Kennedy to Joseph P. Kennedy and Rose F. Kennedy, April 24, 1944, JFKL.

recorded in her diary: Amanda Smith, ed.,
Hostage to Fortune: The Letters of Joseph P. Kennedy,
p. 584.

“the dearest…”: Kathleen Kennedy to Rose F. Kennedy, July 6, 1944, JFKL.

Kick scoffed: Anne Tree to BL, author interview.

by this point Kick: Anne Tree to BL, author interview.

To his vast disappointment: Jean Lloyd to BL, author interview.

“very shaken…”: Lord Harlech, oral history devoted to Robert F. Kennedy, JFKL.

“The best is…”: Joseph P. Kennedy to Kathleen Kennedy, September 8, 1943, JFKL.

Kick and Billy took turns: Jean Lloyd to BL, author interview.

entered the bedroom: The account of the wedding night is based on the author’s interviews with Fiona Arran and Jean Lloyd, to both of whom Kick related the identical story.

she responded to say: Kathleen Kennedy Hartington to Joseph P. Kennedy, May 8, 1944, JFKL.

Kick wrote to her mother: Kathleen Kennedy Hartington to Rose F. Kennedy, May 9 and May 10, 1944, JFKL.

“figured out how to do it”: Kathleen Kennedy Hartington quoted by Fiona Arran and Jean Lloyd to BL, author interviews.

“the eye”: Kathleen Kennedy Hartington’s round-robin letter to her family, May 18, 1944, JFKL.

“This way…”: Quoted in Kathleen Kennedy Hartington’s round-robin letter to her family, May 23, 1944, JFKL.

“I am…”: Kathleen Kennedy Hartington’s round-robin letter to her family, May 23, 1944, JFKL.

“This love seems…”: Billy Hartington quoted in Doris Kearns Goodwin,
The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys,
p. 789.

Nine

5th Coldstream Battalion: For the activities of the 5th Coldstream Battalion in this period, see Julian Paget,
Second to None: The History of the Coldstream Guards
(Yorkshire: Pen and Sword, 2000).

“the summer of death”: Debo Devonshire to BL, author interview.

Word that Mark Howard had fallen: Debo Devonshire to BL, author interview.

Many years afterward: Anne Tree to BL, author interview.

heightened anxieties at Compton Place: Anne Tree to BL, author interview.

helped persuade her: Anne Tree to BL, author interview.

found the V-1s terrifying: Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. to Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., August 4, 1944, JFKL.

“I have been…”: Billy Hartington to Kathleen Kennedy Hartington, July 26, 1944, JFKL.

Billy knew by this time: Andrew Devonshire to BL, author interview.

Not that Debo minded: Debo Devonshire to BL, author interview.

professed to loathe: Debo Cavendish to Nancy Mitford, June 22, 1944, Charlotte Mosley, ed.,
The Mitfords: Letters Between Six Sisters,
p. 201.

liked Kick personally very much: Debo Devonshire to BL, author interview.

At this point: Debo Devonshire to BL, author interview.

What had mattered: Debo Devonshire to BL, author interview.

exacerbated her fears: Debo Devonshire to BL, author interview.

“a sort of evil influence”: Kathleen Kennedy Hartington’s round-robin letter to her family, May 18, 1944, JFKL.

“ferociously anti-Catholic”: James Lees-Milne,
Prophesying Peace
(London: Faber and Faber, 1984), p. 93.

“I am…”: James Lees-Milne,
Prophesying Peace,
p. 93.

“looked askance”: James Lees-Milne,
Prophesying Peace,
p. 93.

“over a period…”: Kathleen Kennedy Hartington’s round-robin letter to her family, May 18, 1944, JFKL.

Bakewell Fair: Debo Devonshire’s scrapbook.

“Billy was magnificent…”: Kathleen Kennedy Hartington’s round-robin letter to her family, September 23, 1944, JFKL.

At the dowager’s behest: Anne Tree to BL, author interview.

It was in the midst: Anne Tree to BL, author interview.

might yet match: Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. to John F. Kennedy, August 10, 1944, JFKL.

“I am afraid…”: Duke of Devonshire to Joseph P. Kennedy, August 14, 1944, JFKL.

he assumed that Kick: Anne Tree to BL, author interview.

stunned the duke and duchess: Debo Devonshire to BL, author interview.

There was some feeling: Debo Devonshire to BL, author interview. Also, Jean Lloyd to BL, author interview. Also, Anne Tree to BL, author interview.

“even shone through her sadness”: John F. Kennedy to the Duchess of Devonshire, September 21, 1944, Chatsworth.

“was so manifest and so infectious…”: John F. Kennedy to the Duchess of Devonshire, September 21, 1944, Chatsworth.

it was Billy: Kathleen Kennedy Hartington to Rose F. Kennedy and Joseph P. Kennedy, September 20, 1944, JFKL.

“he was always…”: Duchess of Devonshire to Kathleen Kennedy Hartington, September 13, 1944, Amanda Smith, ed.,
Hostage to Fortune: The Letters of Joseph P. Kennedy,
p. 600.

word of the August 20 death: Debo Devonshire to BL, author interview.