The U.S. may have severed its connections with royalty all the way back in 1776, but as author Diana Lurvey described it, the Kennedys are essentially America’s version of the royal family. And like the British royal family, America’s “royal family” has had some brushes with the law.
In 1991, as Vanity Fair reported, William Kennedy Smith, nephew of John F. Kennedy (Smith’s mother was the sister of the 35th president), was accused of sexually assaulting a woman he had met at a Palm Beach bar. It would be four more years before O.J. Simpson faced murder charges in what was called “the trial of the century,” but at the time, Kennedy Smith’s trial was likely a contender for the title as it was one of the most-watched events on television. At the end of the day, Smith, who was represented by Black, was acquitted of all charges. Vanity Fair writer Dominick Dunne called the verdict “a surprise to no one.”
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN’s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
