The Kennedy Curse - Part 2

The Kennedy Curse - Part 2

From Queens, Kings, and Dastardly Things by Daily Mail

February 23, 2026 · 37 min · Season 3 · Episode 48

About this episode

This episode explores the rise and fall of the Kennedy family during JFK's presidency amidst global and personal turmoil.

The assassination of JFK - an unforgettable moment in a changing and volatile world: the Berlin Wall rising, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and then came the shocking events of Dallas. In this second of three special episodes, we move from ambition to power, and from power to catastrophe. With John F. Kennedy now President, the Kennedys became global royalty: glamorous state visits, televised debates, Jackie dazzling Europe, and a youthful administration promising civil rights, a man on the moon, and a new American frontier. But beneath the polish lies mounting pressures — Cold War brinkmanship, CIA miscalculations, the Bay of Pigs disaster, civil rights battles that split the South, and a president pushed to prove his strength. At home, private grief shadows public triumph, as personal loss and political peril collide. Robert Hardman and Professor Kate Williams chart the heady rise of “Camelot” — and the moment it shattered. Hosts: Robert Hardman and Professor Kate Williams Series Producer: Ben Devlin Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini Executive Producer: Bella Soames Hosts: Robert Hardman and Professor Kate Williams Series Producer: Ben Devlin Production Manager: Vittoria…

People in this episode

Hosts: Robert Hardman, Professor Kate Williams

Topics covered

  • JFK assassination
  • Cold War
  • Camelot
  • civil rights
  • political peril
  • American history

Keywords

  • Kennedy Curse
  • JFK
  • assassination
  • Cold War
  • Camelot
  • civil rights
  • political history

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: CIA, Daily Mail

Places: Dallas, Europe, South

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