Kerry Kennedy Defends Ethel Kennedy Legacy After Series Portrayal

Kerry Kennedy has defended her mother Ethel Kennedy's character and legacy after a television series portrayal drew criticism, explaining her family's history, personal losses and public service work through interviews with CBS News, The Daily Beast and Town & Country.

Kerry Kennedy described Ethel Kennedy as a mother of 11 children who built a life around family, activism and human rights. Her memoir, "Ethel Kennedy: The Extraordinary Life and Bold Legacy," is set to highlight that history.

"Extraordinarily chic, fun, funny, fully alive," Kerry Kennedy said of her mother.

CBS News reported that Ethel Kennedy's life included marriage to Robert F. Kennedy in 1950, decades of political involvement and the creation of the Robert and Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center.

"Introspection? I hate it," Ethel Kennedy said in the 2012 HBO documentary "Ethel."

Kerry Kennedy said her parents' relationship was both romantic and collaborative after their marriage. She also recalled her mother's openness toward family and visitors at Hyannis Port.

"They had a truly extraordinary love story, but a real partnership," Kerry Kennedy said.

"Yes, he unfortunately was looking in a different direction," Kerry Kennedy said while describing how Robert F. Kennedy initially dated her sister before their relationship began.

Ethel Kennedy faced major personal tragedies, including the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy, as well as the deaths of sons David in 1984 and Michael in 1997.

"It was like Daddy had lost both arms. It was six months of just blackness," Ethel Kennedy said about the period after John F. Kennedy's assassination.

"My mother was the opposite. She gave him that space to be able to grieve. But she had all those children at home, and she was going to be there with us, driving the carpools, saying prayers every night," Kerry Kennedy said.

Kerry Kennedy said her mother continued moving forward after Robert F. Kennedy was killed during his 1968 presidential campaign.

"Fear was not part of the equation for her. Would have been for me, but it wasn't for her," Kerry Kennedy said.

"She was getting up the next day and forging ahead. That's how she lived her life. She was mighty," Kerry Kennedy said.

Kerry Kennedy also discussed disagreements with her brother Robert F. Kennedy Jr., while emphasizing that family relationships remained important despite political differences.

"What was really most important to my mother, and to my father and to all of us, is our love. I love Bobby with all my heart. I just disagree with everything he says and does.

My mother was like that. She had a comfort level of being on the other side of Bobby, but still being able to love him," Kerry Kennedy said.

"Of course, I love him. But I don't think that somebody should be the Secretary of Health and Human Services who is saying we shouldn't use vaccines," Kerry Kennedy said.

The controversy around the FX series "Love Story" focused on a scene depicting Ethel Kennedy as refusing breakfast to Carolyn Bessette at the Kennedy family compound. Kerry Kennedy said that portrayal did not reflect her mother's personality.

"Oh, there’s no sign-up," Kerry Kennedy said.

"In my mother’s entire life, there is no way on earth she would ever deny somebody a meal," Kerry Kennedy said.

"I mean, it’s just so completely inconceivable," Kerry Kennedy said.

"Come in, come in. Let me get you some food. You’ve already eaten?

Let me get you some cake. You’ve already had cake? Here’s some chocolate and some nuts," Kerry Kennedy said while describing her mother's hospitality.

Kerry Kennedy told The Daily Beast that Ethel Kennedy was welcoming rather than intimidating and said she generally avoids productions about her family.

"definitely did not have a sign-up," Kerry Kennedy said.

"very easygoing," Kerry Kennedy said.

"I don’t like watching TV shows about our family because they always irritate me. They don’t get the people right, they don’t get the accents right," Kerry Kennedy said.

"My understanding of that show is that in the end, it made people like our family, so I think it’s probably a good thing in the long run," Kerry Kennedy said.

In 2014, President Barack Obama honored Ethel Kennedy with the Medal of Freedom for her human rights work.

"a force for change in her quiet, flashy, unflashy unstoppable way. As her family will tell you – and they basically occupy this half of the room – you don't mess with Ethel," Barack Obama said.

"There was so much loss, so much loss in her life. And then she came out the other side, and with this extraordinary joy. All the last years of her life she kept repeating, aren't we lucky," Kerry Kennedy said.