Table of Contents
Synopsis
Virginia Joan Bennett, the former spouse of Senator Edward Kennedy, was born on September 9, 1936, in Manhattan, New York. She married Ted Kennedy on November 29, 1958. Joan’s personal struggles with miscarriages and alcoholism became widely known following her arrest for drunk driving in 1974. For many years, she battled with sobriety and is currently undergoing treatment under the care of her children.
Early Life
Joan Bennett, a former pianist and wife of Senator Edward Kennedy, was born Virginia Joan Bennett on September 9, 1936, in New York City. She was raised in a wealthy Irish family that grappled with alcoholism, which marked her early life. Seeking distance from her family’s challenges, Bennett attended Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York, where she remained close enough to her family for regular check-ins. During her time at Manhattanville, she developed a friendship with Jean Kennedy, a fellow student and member of the prominent Kennedy family.
The Kennedy family visited the college to dedicate a sports complex built in memory of Kathleen Kennedy, which provided Joan with her first introduction to them. Despite being unfamiliar with the family’s background, she felt no intimidation during her initial encounter. Joan was immediately captivated by Ted Kennedy, noting, “He was tall and he was gorgeous.”
Joan, a striking beauty and part-time model, earned the affectionate nickname “the Dish” from Ted’s brother, John. Following their introduction, Joan and Ted embarked on a whirlwind, long-distance courtship. While Ted was in his second year at Virginia Law School, he would call Joan nightly and frequently fly in to see her. Their relationship included heavily chaperoned outings, family holidays, ski trips, and weekends spent at each other’s schools. An accomplished pianist, Joan also entertained the Kennedy family with her musical talents. Ted proposed to her in 1957 at his family’s Hyannis Port home, and Joan eagerly accepted.
Troubled Marriage to Ted Kennedy
Joan Bennett married Ted Kennedy on November 29, 1958, during a time when the Kennedy family was establishing itself as a formidable political dynasty. By this point, Ted’s older brother, John F. Kennedy, was already a prominent U.S. senator, and the family’s political aspirations were gaining significant momentum. Following Ted’s graduation from law school in 1959, the couple embarked on a belated honeymoon to South America before settling in Boston, where Ted prepared for the bar exam. After successfully passing, he quickly became involved in his brother’s presidential campaign.
During this period, Joan became pregnant with their first child, Kara, who was born in 1960. Shortly after, she joined her husband on the campaign trail. Their son, Edward, Jr., followed in 1961. As Ted campaigned for his brother John’s vacant Senate seat, Joan endeavored to acclimate to her role as a politician’s wife. Ted won the election and began his tenure in the U.S. Senate in 1962, marking a significant moment in their lives as three Kennedys were now prominent figures in Washington, D.C.
However, the family’s ascent was shadowed by tragedy. Joan endured the assassination of her brother-in-law John in 1963 and suffered the loss of a stillborn child in 1964. Shortly after, Ted was severely injured in a plane crash while campaigning, sustaining multiple fractures. During his recovery, Joan took on the responsibility of campaigning for his re-election to the Massachusetts Senate, successfully securing his position despite his absence.
As Ted’s career progressed, Joan found herself increasingly isolated. Despite the couple’s initial camaraderie on the campaign trail, Joan later described a growing emotional distance, exacerbated by Ted’s public infidelities. The birth of their son Patrick in 1967 provided some relief from the tensions, but further familial losses, including the assassination of her brother-in-law Robert Kennedy in 1968, plunged the family into grief.
Breakup of the Marriage
The marriage faced a critical turning point on July 18, 1969, when Ted was involved in a fatal accident on Chappaquiddick Island with campaign worker Mary Jo Kopechne. The circumstances surrounding the incident led to extensive media speculation and public scrutiny, ultimately culminating in Ted pleading guilty to leaving the scene of an accident. While Joan publicly supported her husband, she was privately grappling with the emotional fallout of his infidelity and the stress of three miscarriages. As she struggled to cope, her reliance on alcohol intensified.
By 1974, Joan’s battles with alcoholism became public when she was arrested for drunk driving. In 1977, the couple’s separation became apparent as Joan moved into an apartment in Boston while Ted resided in Virginia. Despite remaining supportive during Ted’s bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1980, their marriage was crumbling, leading to their official divorce in 1982. In recognition of her resilience, Bennett received an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Manhattanville College in 1984 for her “quiet courage.”
Struggles for Sobriety
Following the divorce, Joan faced an uphill battle with sobriety. In 1988, she was involved in a drinking-related car accident, prompting court-mandated alcohol education. However, her drinking continued unabated, resulting in another arrest in 1991. Joan sought help through rehabilitation facilities, and although she achieved periods of sobriety, her struggles persisted.
In the 1990s, she leveraged her master’s degree in education to teach children about classical music and authored a book, The Joy of Classical Music (1992). As a talented pianist, she performed with various orchestras, actively participating in the arts community.
In July 2000, a Boston Globe article depicted Joan as a thriving socialite and grandmother, reporting her nine years of sobriety and her amicable relationship with the Kennedy family. However, she faced another setback in the fall of that year with another DUI arrest, revealing the challenges of maintaining sobriety.
By 2004, her children petitioned to take control of her affairs, citing her ongoing struggles with substance abuse. Subsequently, her legal guardianship was established to manage her substantial estate and ensure she received the necessary treatment. Despite the turmoil, efforts are underway to provide her with the support she needs as she continues her journey toward recovery.