In the summer of 1999, the Kennedy family had yet another crushing tragedy that stunned the nation. John F. Kennedy Jr., 38, his wife Carolyn Bessette, 33, and her sister Lauren, 34, all perished when the small plane that he was piloting on a hazy July night crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. They were on their way to the wedding of Kennedy's cousin the following day in Hyannis Port; they planned to leave Lauren at Martha's Vineyard first. It is thought that Kennedy became disoriented while flying at night. The world grieved the passing of three promising young people, all in their prime.
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Kennedy and Bessette captured the imagination of the public. The striking couple's supposedly storybook romance and intimate nuptials dazzled people. A former publicist for the Calvin Klein brand, even now, Bessette is a fashion trendsetter. Her signature pared-down style is still emulated. Kennedy occupied a special place in America's heart since he was an adorable toddler.
Thinking back on the run-up to the plane crash, Martha Stewart claims that she gave Kennedy a sound suggestion that he did not heed.
Stewart Dished About JFK Jr. to Her Pal on 'The Real Housewives of NYC'
Lifestyle and culinary expert Martha Stewart, 85, reportedly told all to her friend Daisy Toye, who has joined the RHONY cast. On the season 16 premiere, Stewart said that she chatted with JFK Jr. just days before his final flight. The two notables were discussing publishing. He was the editor of George, a magazine about the intersection of politics, pop culture, and celebrity. The fledgling periodical was encountering headwinds and he allegedly needed some guidance from a pro.
Stewart shared on the show, "I was with John John — this is JFK Jr. — I was with him the Monday before the Friday when they died." She added, "He called me. I was running Martha Stewart Living Magazine, and he called me, and he said he's in trouble, and could he please talk to me about what to do with George, the magazine that he had started. And I said, of course, anything you want."
The Chilling Portion of Their Conversation
According to Martha Stewart, this is how their tete-a-tete went. "We had a very nice dinner, and then at the end of the dinner, I said to him, 'What are you doing this weekend?' And he said, 'Oh, we're going to a wedding in Martha's Vineyard, and I'm taking my wife and her sister.'"
Then came the important part. Stewart claims she said to JFK Jr., "And I said, 'Well, who's flying?' He said, 'I'm flying.' I said, 'You have a co-pilot, right?' And he said, 'No, I don't need a co-pilot'... I've thought about that so many times that I told him to get a co-pilot. Oh, I feel sorry."
Sadly, we will never know how John F. Kennedy Jr. might have fared if he had an experienced pilot with him in the cockpit.
