Olivia Nuzzi’s Revealing New Book

Olivia Nuzzi’s latest book, “American Canto,” dives into an intense narrative filled with themes of obsessive love, substance abuse, and questionable poetry, all originating from the tumultuous mind of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., referred to simply as “The Politician.”

The health and human services secretary, now 71, reportedly got emotional during a conversation with Nuzzi, expressing, “I wish I could be with you.” This moment reminded her of a childhood incident when she was thrown from a wild horse, evoking feelings of liberation.

Nuzzi, who is 32, also claims in her book that the Kennedy scion attempted to father a child with her.

According to Nuzzi, Kennedy once told her, “I’ll take the bullet for you.” However, that sentiment shifted when their affair became public, leading Kennedy to request that she metaphorically “take the bullet.” He suggested that if they could just engage in a physical relationship, he could manage, although Nuzzi insists their affair was never fully realized.

She recounts how their secret relationship ended rather abruptly, marked by a “sour note” from Kennedy. He even made veiled threats about contacting the FBI regarding her ex-fiancé, Ryan Lizza, who was rumored to have leaked information about their romance. Interestingly, it was Nuzzi who eventually reached out to the FBI out of concern that Lizza had been compromised.

Nuzzi first crossed paths with Kennedy during his ill-fated presidential run in 2023, when he was interviewed by New York Magazine. At the time, she was engaged to former Politico journalist Liza.

Despite past struggles with drug addiction, Kennedy has publicly discussed his sobriety. Still, he admitted to privately using DMT while his wife, actress Cheryl Hines, was away.

In “American Canto,” Nuzzi reflects on Kennedy’s experiences with DMT, which he describes as a brief journey into what he calls “ego death.” When she inquired about the experience, he referred to it as the “classic psychedelic experience.”

Additionally, Nuzzi noted that Kennedy had been rumored to use other substances that occasionally hindered his campaigning efforts, although he denied these allegations during their discussions.

Nuzzi shares that Kennedy enjoyed reminiscing about his youth and frequently showcased old photographs. He recounted living with musicians like Keith Richards and John Phillips, even recalling purchasing a pharmacy for Phillips to access amphetamines.

As their relationship deepened, Kennedy expressed a desire for intimacy and future possibilities, telling Nuzzi, “Everything is yours.” He openly talked about wanting a child, a statement she found both poignant and serious.

Their relationship was marked by moments of intimacy; often during video calls, Kennedy would be shirtless, revealing glimpses of his reality, including a toiletry bag stuffed with a multitude of prescription medications.

On their 10th wedding anniversary, an incident occurred where Nuzzi noticed a photo of Hines on his phone, prompting Kennedy to flip it out of view.

In a particularly emotional exchange, he described the feeling of freedom he experienced after being thrown from a horse, which he lamented was something he sought throughout his life. He claimed to feel that same freedom when he was with Nuzzi.

Though she was disturbed to learn about a parasite in his brain, she wrote about her reluctance to accept the premises surrounding it—Kennedy assured her it wasn’t a bug, but it seemed too late for any clarity.

Nuzzi also touched on a controversial episode where Kennedy disposed of a bear carcass in Central Park back in 2014. Interestingly, she noted that he opted to address the issue proactively after the media caught wind of it in 2024, reasoning that it would alienate his conservative supporters but potentially endear him to others.

The book contains some rather bold poetry from Kennedy, who once wrote, “I am the river. You are my gorge. I am going to flow through you.” Nuzzi recounted instances where he outlined plans regarding her “womb,” among other intense declarations.

The turning point in their tumultuous relationship seems to have come when her mentor, Kara Swisher, uncovered the affair and alerted Nuzzi’s editor at New York Magazine. Faced with questions about her relationship with Kennedy, she admitted to lying, ultimately being encouraged to write an exposé for the magazine as a way out of the situation. The editor-in-chief of New York Magazine declined to comment when approached about this.

After the fallout of their relationship was made public in September 2024, Kennedy claimed that Hines was “hysterical” abroad and remained distant from her in public until after the election, navigating a fragile alliance with Trump.

Kennedy expressed to Nuzzi, “I want you to shoot the bullet for me. I can survive on just sex,” claiming anything deeper was unfeasible for him.

Nuzzi mentioned that Kennedy read her messages intended for Lizza, accusing her of infringing upon his privacy before ultimately labeling her a stalker. She recounted dismissively, “I’m sorry, I had to excuse myself.”

Now, Nuzzi has distanced herself from the political scene she once covered, relocating to Malibu for a new role as West Coast editor at Vanity Fair, though its status remains uncertain.

Amidst personal losses, including her fiancée and job, Nuzzi still kept tabs on Kennedy’s confirmation hearings and was taken aback to receive a message relayed through his bodyguard, who simply stated, “Just, well, he’s sorry.”

In reflecting on the complexities of politics, Nuzzi concluded, “A politician’s greatest trick is to convince himself that he is not a politician. And what is a politician? A man who wants to be loved more than anyone else discovers in his pursuit why he cannot love himself.”