A Common Good: The Friendship of Robert F. Kennedy and Kenneth P. O'Donnell

by Helen O'Donnell

Kenneth O'Donnell was JFK's chief-of-staff and the co-author of Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye. In this intimate, revealing memoir of his long friendship with Bobby Kennedy, his daughter, Helen, honors his wish that RFK be remembered as the man Ken O'Donnell knew him to be. Kenny and Bobby met at Harvard in 1947, where they were both members of the football and debate teams. It was the beginning of a relationship that would end only with Bobby's death. The two friends spent years at the epicenter of American politics, sharing highs and JFK's ascent to the presidency; Bobby's stormy tenure as chairman of several congressional committees exploring controversial issues and later as Attorney General, locking horns with J. Edgar Hoover and Jimmy Hoffa; and JFK's assassination. Much of the material in this poignant, illuminating memoir has never before been told. The Kennedys granted Helen O'Donnell complete access to the family archives, and encouraged many people who have never before spoken out to cooperate with her. The result is A Common Good, an intimate look at a unique relationship. Ken O'Donnell was there when Camelot began -- and when it ended in violence. In honoring her father's request, Helen O'Donnell has shared with us her profound insights into the emotional relationship of two men at the center of American history in the twentieth century.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction

352 pages, Hardcover

First published June 6, 1998

About the author

Helen O’Donnell is the daughter of John F. Kennedy’s top-gun political aide, Kenneth P. O’Donnell. Ms. O’Donnell is the author of A Common Good: The Friendship of Robert F. Kennedy and Kenneth P. O’Donnell. She also worked with Chris Matthews of MSNBC’s Hardball on his 2012 book Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero.

A writer and producer, O’Donnell has written for publications including Town & Country, Cape Cod Magazine,and the Wrap. She also narrated the BBC Radio 4 program “JFK, Bobby and Dad,” which includes interviews by famed journalist Sander Vanocur of NBC and Christopher Kennedy Lawford.

She began her career working for the late senator Edward M. Kennedy before leaving for his Labor and Human Resources Committee as an assistant to Walter Sheridan, a longtime aide to Robert F. Kennedy, close friend to Kenneth O’Donnell, and head of the “get-Hoffa squad” during the John Kennedy administration. The experience served to further pique her interest in the topic of her father, the Kennedys, Marilyn Monroe, and the Rat Pack.

Recently, O’Donnell was featured in a KTLA documentary on Thirteen Days, a film about the Cuban Missile Crisis starring Kevin Costner as Kenny O’Donnell. She is currently writing a new book entitled The Washington Rat Pack about Frank Sinatra, Jack Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, and the heyday of the Rat Pack. She is also developing a film by the same name, one of several forthcoming works to be co-produced by her production company, Helen O’Donnell Media, of which she is CEO. O’Donnell also serves as president of the Kenneth P. O’Donnell Political Leadership Foundation, based in Burbank, California.

Reviews

[Marsinay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly touching account of the close friendship between the author's father, Kenneth O'Donnell, and both RFK and JFK. Offers a rare glimpse behind the scenes as derived from insiders’ personal recollections. The author collaborated with members of the Kennedy and O'Donnell families, as well as their mutual friends in shaping a book based largely on previously unpublished oral histories. While not an unbiased portrayal (as acknowledged in the Introduction), it is a warm and intimate one.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pain of President Kennedy's assassination was keenly felt by his brother, Robert Kennedy, and closest adviser (also Robert's best friend), Kenny O'Donnell. In this loving tribute, Kenny's daughter Helen recounts the friendship between Bobby and Kenny, from it's first days while attending Harvard, through the whirlwind of President Kennedy's campaign and 'thousand days' in office, until a murderer's bullet took Bobby from Kenny - and, indeed, from the world. Beautiful book, I highly recommend it for those of us who love to learn about the days of Camelot.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from a friend, and ended up enjoying it more than I expected. A Common Good tells the remarkable friendship between Robert Kennedy and Kenny O'Donnell (who happens to be the author's father, and she makes no secret that this is a somewhat biased story), and how their friendship extended to Kenny's close relationship with John Kennedy. In addition to describing the "Kennedy machine," and the political campaigns, the book also gave a glimpse into Bobby Kennedy's soul, and his incredible compassion for people and desire to make a difference regardless of the personal cost to himself.

[Clair Keizer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helen O'Donnell's A Common Good: The Friendship of Robert F. Kennedy and Kenneth P. O'Donnell does not start out well. The early chapters devoted to the Harvard years reads more along the lines of a diary of clever quotes and man crushes among the football playing friends Kennedy and O'Donnell surrounded themselves. It's in the later chapters of political growth, campaigns for office, the challenges of balancing family responsibilities with commitment to the responsibilities of elected office that Helen O'Donnell's work gains its footing and recalls how meaningful and impactful the relationship between her father and the Kennedy brothers really was. There are times beyond those early chapters that Helen O'Donnell slips into a daughter's hero worship of her father, but why not? Kenneth O'Donnell was a key contributor to political greatness of both Kennedy brothers, cut short by the insanity of assassins' bullets. We can only imagine what might have been and the positive impact they would have had on our country these many years later.

[Robert Byington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

One of the most telling things that comes through this narrative like a shining light; is not just a retelling of all the amazing things these icons of history accomplished individually and collectively but what great friends they were. In the end notes I believe Ethel KENNEDY said it best we were all friends we had fun and we made a difference. I think no matter who you might be and regardless,of one's social or professional status there isn't a higher compliment that anyone can say about someone else.

[Jeffrey Nichols · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good info but a little long

I liked the book, but felt it was a bit long. I also thought the book would be more between Kenny and Bobby, but it had alot of individual stories for each of them where the other would be touched on. Overall, good details on a close friendship during a wonderful and tragic time of US history.

[Jane Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Kennedy Story

A good and sympathetic portrait of the Kennedy brothers. Am of an age that simply cannot get too much of this. I t is good to get news from such an insider

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story about the man who was closest to Robert Kennedy & his brother.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

#37 of 120 books pledged to read during 2022

[Heath · Rating 2 out of 5]

The friendship between Bobby Kennedy and Ken O'Donnell was deep and rich - this book does not do it justice. Much of the text is lazily comprised of direct quotes from other sources with very little coming from the author herself. When Ms. O'Donnell (Ken's daughter) does insert her voice, she meanders through the narrative, often repeating herself and scattering inaccuracies along the way.

[Bill Flavin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kenny O'Donnell sat at the right hand of both John and Robert Kennedy. In this interesting story of the man behind the man you see insight into history not seen before

[Tfeenstra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS BOOK!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a wonderful book describing the heart and soul of what is known as "the Kennedy machine".