Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Oh, okay. Looks like we're starting off with a bit of trivia today, folks. Who was named People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive back in 1988? All right. Let me guess. Oh, Tom Cruise. No. Okay. Ah. Tom Selleck. No? Really? I mean, come on. With that mustache? Uh...
wasn't it wasn't me carter roy was it i think i would have remembered that ah yeah no right people's sexiest man alive that year was not an actor he was actually a third year law student living in new york with a very famous name john f kennedy jr John is a celebrity from the moment he's born.
He's surrounded by famous relatives, but as he grows up, what he wants more than anything is to forge his own path, to prove he's more than a name and that he is not to be defined by the tragedies he's endured. And then, in 1999, at the age of 38, John is piloting a single-engine plane when it goes missing over the Atlantic Ocean.
His life is cut short, just like his father and his uncle before him. The abrupt and mysterious nature of JFK Jr. 's death means people don't just jump to conclusions, they fling themselves at every possible theory, some of which are admittedly hard to buy. Other theories, however, do make me wonder, was John's name powerful enough for somebody to want to kill him?
What secrets did John know about his father's assassination and who would have the most to gain by silencing him? Welcome to Conspiracy Theories, a Spotify podcast. I'm Carter Roy. New episodes come out every Wednesday. We would love to hear from you. So if you're listening on the Spotify app, swipe up and give us your thoughts or check us out on Instagram at The Conspiracy Pod. Stay with us.
And later, we have a special story update about Havana Syndrome. You are not going to want to miss it. This episode is brought to you by Cologuard. Do you know what's really scary? Not screening for colon cancer when you turn 45. The Cologuard test is non-invasive, requires no special prep or time off work, and ships right to your door so you can do it at home.
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is born in November of 1960, he is, as his biographer Stephen Gillen calls him, the most famous infant in America. His father is the president-elect of the United States. And if you're a fan of this show, you probably know what happens three years later.
After JFK is assassinated in Dallas, Texas in 1963, John Jr., affectionately known to the world as John John, is photographed saluting JFK's casket. This moment actually happens on John's third birthday, and it becomes one of the most iconic images in U.S. history. John, his mother Jackie, and his sister Caroline will always strive to honor the Kennedy legacy
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Chapter 2: What early life experiences shaped John F. Kennedy Jr.?
As regular as it can be when you have nannies, assistants, expansive family compounds, etc., etc. But by pretty much all accounts, Jackie's plan works. John grows into someone who's compassionate, down-to-earth, and despite the weight on his shoulders, shockingly carefree. Which does, at times, translate into some risky behavior. It's always in the name of adventure, though.
After graduating college, John goes on a literal treasure hunt to explore a shipwreck and is nearly buried alive under a mound of sand. He later takes a girlfriend on a dangerous kayaking trip that almost gets them maimed. The close calls never slow him down. John seems incapable of staying in one place, including when it comes to his career. As I mentioned earlier, John goes to law school.
After his treasure hunting trip, he studies for the bar exam. Doesn't exactly sound like big news, right? Except it is if your last name is Kennedy and you fail the bar. Twice, tabloids track his progress, or lack thereof, the same way they follow his dating life, which, by the way, includes celebrity girlfriends like Madonna, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Daryl Hannah.
On his third attempt at the bar, he passes, and he goes on to have a successful, albeit short, legal career. He wins all six cases. He tries. But once again, the press portrays him as a caricature. He's gone from little John John with his sad salute to JFK Jr., the handsome face who's too busy with women to focus on his job.
Chapter 3: What led to the mysterious disappearance of JFK Jr.'s plane?
It's not really an accurate portrayal, so I imagine it gets to him. And he decides that now, more than ever, it's time to prove himself. Which is why he comes up. with George. George Magazine is years in the making. In 1988, John and his business partner Michael Berman start drumming up ideas. They want to launch something big. They're not sure what exactly.
Fun fact, one of John's early pitches is a service where clients can rent dogs in need of a home. Honestly, the man was ahead of his time. Eventually, they land on a magazine that blends politics and lifestyle, and John is in a unique position to lead it. He's lived within the sphere of politics his whole life, plus his mom is now a respected book editor.
George, named after President Washington, is billed as post-partisan. John wants it to be, quote, informational, not ideological. The goal is to make politics accessible, break down barriers, and make people see the humanity that can and does exist in the world of politics. George debuts in late 1995 with John as editor-in-chief. Right out of the gate, it's a huge success.
The first issue, featuring Cindy Crawford dressed as George Washington on the cover, sells nearly half a million copies. The second issue, only slightly fewer. There's advertising money out the wazoo, the magazine graces, coffee tables everywhere. It feels like John has finally gotten the success he's wanted for so long. But it's fleeting.
By the late 90s, George is still selling copies, but they aren't pulling in enough advertisers, which means less money, and George isn't profitable. John's not giving up. In fact, he's trying to finagle his way into the burgeoning business of digital magazines online. But if he can't make that work, George may run out of money. And that's not the only stressor in his life.
Let me backtrack for a second. In the mid-90s, John is dating actress Daryl Hannah. They've had their issues, but things really come to a head when John's mother, Jackie, dies in May of 1994. And John bears the task of breaking the news to the world. She was surrounded by her friends and her family and her books and the people and the things that she loved.
And she did it in her own way and on her own terms. And we all feel lucky for that. The loss puts things into perspective, as death always does, and John breaks up with Daryl. He begins dating, in earnest, another woman he'd already met, Carolyn Bessette. Charming and statuesque, Carolyn works in fashion. John reportedly loves her fierce independence.
He sees someone who can hold her own, who won't be swayed by his or his family's fame. Their romance is intense, but the passion seems to go both ways. They're always either madly in love or fighting, sometimes publicly, and their arguments are often secretly photographed and splashed across the tabloids. For John, it's an annoyance he's used to.
For Carolyn, the paparazzi, the constant attention and scrutiny is a lot to get used to. After they hold a secret wedding in September of 1996, John and Carolyn hope the press will stop bothering them. But what happens is very much the opposite. Photographers follow her everywhere. She feels like she can barely leave her home.
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