A new excerpt from Kerry Kennedy’s upcoming memoir, Ethel Kennedy: The Extraordinary Life and Bold Legacy, offers a poignant glimpse into the former First Lady’s composure following the assassination of her husband, Senator Robert F. Kennedy.
Published by CBS News on October 8, 2026, the excerpt previews the book, which is scheduled for release on October 13 by HarperOne. It chronicles the life of Ethel Kennedy, who was married to Robert F. Kennedy for nearly 18 years and raised 11 children before he was killed in June 1968.
Kerry Kennedy, also a human rights advocate, writes about the days surrounding her father’s death, focusing on her mother’s ability to anchor the family through overwhelming grief. She recalls accompanying Ethel to a service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where a line of 100,000 mourners waited to pay their respects. Despite the public spectacle, Kerry notes that her mother’s faith remained a central pillar.
“Mum, Grandma Rose, and our aunts told us that Daddy was in Heaven and happy to be with Uncle Jack, his eldest brother, Joe, and his sister Kick,” Kerry Kennedy writes. “I could picture that lovely reunion. I was eight years old… Mum also believed Heaven was real, and she felt the full presence of God when she prayed. Her faith kept her going.”
The narrative then shifts to the funeral train journey from New York to Washington, D.C. Kerry describes the rail cars filled with hundreds of friends and family, with crowds lining the tracks to wave American flags or bow their heads in mourning. She recalls standing near the casket, listening to the rhythmic recitation of prayers, feeling as though she were witnessing a vision of Heaven.
At the center of this somber procession was Ethel Kennedy, whom Kerry describes as moving through the train cars to greet old friends and offer comfort. “I haven’t seen you in so long,” she told one passenger. “Thanks for coming.” To another, who was bent over in sorrow, she offered the now-iconic words: “We’ll cry later.”
Kerry Kennedy reflects that while her mother was often voted the most admired woman in America for her social grace and aplomb, the reality behind the scenes was far more complex. “My mother endured more tragedy in her lifetime than anyone should. But her spirit proved indomitable,” she writes. “All through the funeral I had been watching Mum closely and absorbing the lesson that one way to conquer despair is to focus on other people’s needs. And to keep moving, always keep moving.”
The excerpt also promotes an upcoming conversation between Rita Braver and Kerry Kennedy on CBS Sunday Morning airing October 11. The full book, available in hardcover, eBook, and audio formats, will be published by HarperCollins on October 13.
It’s amazing how her faith sustained her. That detail about the reunion with Jack and Joe brought tears to my eyes.
Does the book cover her later years too, or focus strictly on the RFK era? I’d like to know the full scope.
I had no idea she had eleven children. That kind of composure under such tragedy is almost supernatural.
That line ‘We’ll cry later’ is heartbreaking yet incredibly powerful. A true lesson in resilience.