Kennedy Family Member. The sixth of eleven children of 1968 Presidential candidate Senator Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Skakel Kennedy, he was considered one of the more politically astute Kennedys, but preferred to operate from behind the scenes in politics. Michael was head of his brother Joseph's non-profit organization, Citizens Energy Corporation, a company that provided heating fuel to the poor. He helped his uncle, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, organize his 1994 reelection campaign, and served as the chief political advisor to his brother, Representative Joe Kennedy, Jr, in his run for Massachusetts governor. He was married to Victoria Gifford, daughter of famous sportscaster Frank Gifford, and they had three children: Michael Jr, Kyle Francis, and Rory Gifford Kennedy. In early 1997, he was involved in a political scandal when it came out that he was having a long-term affair with the family's babysitter. The affair had been started three years earlier, when she was 14 years old, and for a short time, Michael was under police investigation for statutory rape. The investigation ended when the babysitter refused to testify. Shortly after the police dropped the investigation, Michael and Victoria separated, and Michael underwent rehabilitation for alcoholism. Shortly after treatment for his alcoholism, he died in a freak skiing accident while vacationing in Aspen, Colorado, when he collided with a tree while playing football on skis with other Kennedy family members.
Kennedy Family Member. The sixth of eleven children of 1968 Presidential candidate Senator Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Skakel Kennedy, he was considered one of the more politically astute Kennedys, but preferred to operate from behind the scenes in politics. Michael was head of his brother Joseph's non-profit organization, Citizens Energy Corporation, a company that provided heating fuel to the poor. He helped his uncle, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, organize his 1994 reelection campaign, and served as the chief political advisor to his brother, Representative Joe Kennedy, Jr, in his run for Massachusetts governor. He was married to Victoria Gifford, daughter of famous sportscaster Frank Gifford, and they had three children: Michael Jr, Kyle Francis, and Rory Gifford Kennedy. In early 1997, he was involved in a political scandal when it came out that he was having a long-term affair with the family's babysitter. The affair had been started three years earlier, when she was 14 years old, and for a short time, Michael was under police investigation for statutory rape. The investigation ended when the babysitter refused to testify. Shortly after the police dropped the investigation, Michael and Victoria separated, and Michael underwent rehabilitation for alcoholism. Shortly after treatment for his alcoholism, he died in a freak skiing accident while vacationing in Aspen, Colorado, when he collided with a tree while playing football on skis with other Kennedy family members.
Bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson
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