In 2013, following the suicide of his wife Mary Richardson Kennedy, Isabel Vincent from the Post gained exclusive access to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s private diaries. Since then, she’s delved into over 1,200 pages revealing the inner thoughts of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. In an excerpt from RFK Jr.: The Fall and Rise (Harper Collins), published April 14, she notes President Kennedy’s notable split from his family and the Democratic Party, alongside his controversial stances on various issues, including environmental and health policies, particularly vaccines.
After his father’s assassination in June 1968, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. found himself on a troubling path.
He started experimenting with drugs at just 14. His issues with marijuana eventually progressed to heroin and cocaine, leading to his expulsion from two prestigious boarding schools.
With his mother, Ethel, preoccupied and struggling with her grief, Bobby leaned heavily on three father figures who greatly shaped his perspectives on science, the environment, medicine, and public commitment.
Kirk LeMoyne “Lem” Billings, a close friend of his uncle John F. Kennedy and a familiar face at various Kennedy events, took on the role of Bobby’s primary surrogate father when Ethel found it difficult to manage her son’s wild antics.
She certainly wasn’t thrilled when Bobby played a prank by adding laxatives to drinks during a birthday celebration for his uncle.
That summer, Lem offered to take Bobby on a three-week adventure to East Africa, a trip initially planned by his late father.
They went on safaris, captured photos of wild animals, and even made a brief stop in Egypt. One daring moment included a 14-year-old Bobby tossing a soccer ball at a pride of lions.
Encouraging Bobby, Billings had him keep a travel diary, ultimately leading to a contract with Life magazine that earned Bobby $25,000—an impressive sum when adjusted for inflation.
Bobby mentioned wanting to use the money to create a monument for his father in the Serengeti, although it appears no such monument was ever built.
The photos published under “Bobby Jr. in Africa: Kennedy on a Boyish Safari” depict a young boy, sun-kissed and somewhat dusty, evoking images of classic literary characters wandering in the wild.
This initial safari was just the beginning of more travels with Lem, including a trip to the Peruvian Amazon in 1975.
Billings did his best to guide Bobby, stepping in for his parents during school events and taking him and his friends out to lunch, frequently reminding Bobby of the Kennedy legacy of public service.
A former classmate recalled, “He was like a second father to Bobby… but also quite unconventional. It was a lot to handle.”
During Bobby’s time at Harvard, the bond between him and Billings took on an even darker turn.
After being expelled from Millbrook School in 1970, Billings found him at another elite institution, but Kennedy continued to struggle with his drug issues and refusal to attend classes, resulting in his expulsion from there too.
Billings, despite Bobby’s ongoing troubles, felt a responsibility to help him fulfill his father’s legacy, believing he was destined for greatness.
In 12th grade, Bobby attended the Palfrey School outside Boston, where he met a teacher who impacted him significantly—James “Skip” Lazell, a zoologist with conservative views that sharply contrasted with the Kennedy family’s liberal stance.
Despite initially wanting to be a veterinarian, Bobby found himself drawn to Lazell’s teachings, even though the teacher was affiliated with groups that expressed skepticism towards vaccines.
This influence pushed Bobby toward becoming a noted critic of vaccines, linking them to rising autism rates and viewing fluoride as harmful.
Interestingly, Lazell introduced Bobby to discussions about climate change, a rare topic in those days.
In his diary, Bobby noted how Lazell’s unconventional beliefs shaped him, referring to them as shockingly different from his family’s perspectives.
Lazell also led wildlife camping trips, which Bobby enjoyed, explaining the unusual activities they partook in during those excursions.
This hinted at Bobby’s future pursuits, including a peculiar incident where he handled a dead bear and some memorable moments involving roadside animals.
Eventually, he attended Harvard, where he indulged in drugs like Speedball and found himself reconnecting with Billings, who had his own battles with addiction.
Despite their turmoil, Billings wrote a glowing recommendation for Bobby’s Rhodes Scholarship application, highlighting his strengths.
However, even that impressive letter wasn’t enough for acceptance.
After Harvard, Bobby spent time at the London School of Economics but ended up distracted by substance use.
When Lem passed away in May 1981, Bobby delivered a heartfelt eulogy that reflected the depth of their relationship.
“He understood our pain, the grief that nobody else had the courage to face,” Bobby expressed. “He was, in many ways, like a father to me—my dearest friend.”
