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Kennedy Family Tragedies Trivia Quiz

The Kennedys have suffered more than their share of personal tragedy over the last century. I have compiled this quiz to remember the events which have imprinted themselves upon a nation and the world.

A multiple-choice quiz by HarrietJPotter. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
HarrietJPotter

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
176,801

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
11 / 15

Plays
2112

Last 3 plays: Guest 172 (15/15), Guest 174 (15/15), Guest 47 (12/15).

This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.

1. Which son of Joseph and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy was killed while on a secret mission during World War II? Hint

Robert Kennedy

Joseph P. Kennedy Jr.

Edward Kennedy

John Kennedy

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2. Rosemary Kennedy was institutionalised for most of her adult life following a botched lobotomy.

True

False

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3. Kathleen Kennedy - Hartington had been widowed during World War II. She herself died in 1948. What was the cause of her death? Hint

She was killed in a plane crash.

Breast cancer.

Kidney failure.

Car accident.

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4. The President and Mrs. Kennedy suffered the loss of their first child, a baby daughter who was stillborn.

True

False

5. On 7th August 1963, President and Mrs. Kennedy became the parents of a baby boy, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy. The baby was premature and died quite soon after his birth. What date did he pass away? Hint

28th August 1963

9th August 1963

10th October 1963

15th January 1964

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6. President Kennedy was shot and killed in Dallas, Texas, on 22nd November 1963. From what building was it reported that the fatal shots were fired? Hint

Texas School Book Depository.

Texas School Supplies.

Dallas Furniture Company.

Dallas Insurance Company.

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7. In April 1968, Civil Rights Leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed by an assassin's bullet. Which greatly loved and respected member of the Kennedy family met the same dreadful fate in California in June of that year? Hint

Joseph Kennedy Senior

Eunice Kennedy Shriver

Robert Francis Kennedy

Edward Moore Kennedy

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8. In 1969, Senator Edward Kennedy was the driver in an accident at Chappaquiddick which resulted in the drowning death of a young woman. What was her name? Hint

Mary Jane Kopechne

Mary Louise Kopechne

Mary Frances Kopechne

Mary Jo Kopechne

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9. In 1984, Ethel Kennedy was once again visited by tragedy when one of her children died of a drug overdose over the Easter weekend. Which child was this? Hint

David Anthony Kennedy

Rory Elizabeth Kennedy

Michael LeMoyne Kennedy

Joseph Patrick Kennedy II

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10. What was the date of death of the Kennedy matriarch, Rose? Hint

25th May 1996

18th July 1998

28th January 2000

22nd January 1995

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11. On New Year's Eve 1997, Michael Lemoyne Kennedy died tragically. How did his death occur? Hint

His car hit an electrical pole.

He was hit by a car.

He hit a tree while skiing.

He was accidently shot during a hunting trip.

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12. The American people mourned the death of former First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis in 1994. What was the date of her death? Hint

28th June

12th August

31st July

19th May

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13. Whose wedding was John Kennedy Jnr. planning to attend when he died? Hint

His cousin Rory's.

His Uncle Ted's.

His sister Caroline's.

His cousin Joseph's.

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14. John Kennedy Jnr. was accompanied by his wife and her sister on the fatal aeroplane journey in 1999.

True

False

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15. What was the date in 1999 of the plane crash which took the life of President Kennedy's only surviving son? Hint

18th August

16th July

26th March

28th November

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which son of Joseph and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy was killed while on a secret mission during World War II?

Answer: Joseph P. Kennedy Jr.

Joe Jr. loved to fly and volunteered for the mission that ended his life. He was 29 years old at the time of his death.

2. Rosemary Kennedy was institutionalised for most of her adult life following a botched lobotomy.

Answer: True

Joseph Kennedy was very concerned about his daughter's behaviour and arranged for the procedure to be carried out without the knowledge of his wife and family. The operation went horribly wrong and Rosemary lived for the rest of her life in care in Wisconsin until her death on 7 January 2007 at the age of 86.

It was her tragic case that inspired her sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver to start the Special Olympics.

3. Kathleen Kennedy - Hartington had been widowed during World War II. She herself died in 1948. What was the cause of her death?

Answer: She was killed in a plane crash.

Rose Kennedy was furious that Kathleen had married the Protestant William 'Billy' Hartington. It is reported that when she heard of Hartington's death, Rose stated that 'God had taken care of things in his own way.' Kathleen had recently found love again when she died.

4. The President and Mrs. Kennedy suffered the loss of their first child, a baby daughter who was stillborn.

Answer: True

A baby girl was stillborn before Caroline's birth. She is buried at Arlington Cemetery alongside her parents and baby brother, Patrick, who was born in the year of the President's assassination and died two days later. The baby girl's gravestone reads 'A Daughter'.'

Answer: 9th August 1963

The President and his wife were both devastated by the loss of their son. Family members and historians agree that this tragedy brought the President and First Lady closer than they had been for some time.

6. President Kennedy was shot and killed in Dallas, Texas, on 22nd November 1963. From what building was it reported that the fatal shots were fired?

Answer: Texas School Book Depository.

Lee Harvey Oswald himself became the victim of an assassin when he was shot by Jack Ruby two days after the death of President Kennedy.

Answer: Robert Francis Kennedy

Bobby Kennedy left a widow and 10 children, an 11th would be born six months after his death. These children have picked up the fallen standard and carried on their father's humanitarian and public service roles with great success.

8. In 1969, Senator Edward Kennedy was the driver in an accident at Chappaquiddick which resulted in the drowning death of a young woman. What was her name?

Answer: Mary Jo Kopechne

The events surrounding Senator Kennedy's behaviour at the time of Miss Kopechne's death have caused much legal and public debate. Most Kennedy supporters acknowledge that the press revisiting of the tragedy was a major reason for the Senator not being successful in his bid for the Presidency a decade later.

9. In 1984, Ethel Kennedy was once again visited by tragedy when one of her children died of a drug overdose over the Easter weekend. Which child was this?

Answer: David Anthony Kennedy

At the time of David's death, Rose Kennedy was extremely fragile and had not appeared in public for quite some time. On Easter Sunday she had suffered a serious stroke and was not expected to live. This situation greatly affected young David, who left, after visiting his Grandmother, with tears streaming down his face.

Not long before his death, David had completed a drug treatment program at St. Mary's Rehabilitation Center, St. Paul, Minnesota.

10. What was the date of death of the Kennedy matriarch, Rose?

Answer: 22nd January 1995

Rose was exactly six months away from her 105th birthday when she passed away.

11. On New Year's Eve 1997, Michael Lemoyne Kennedy died tragically. How did his death occur?

Answer: He hit a tree while skiing.

Michael was yet another Kennedy to hit the news for alleged bad behaviour. It was widely reported that he had conducted an affair with a 14 year old babysitter. At the time of his death, he was separated from his wife, Victoria Gifford Kennedy and was survived by three children.

12. The American people mourned the death of former First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis in 1994. What was the date of her death?

Answer: 19th May

Mrs. Onassis had fought a courageous battle against non-Hodgkins lymphoma, keeping up her appearance of elegance and dignity until the end. Her children, Caroline and John were with her when she died, as was her long-time companion, Maurice Tempelsman.

13. Whose wedding was John Kennedy Jnr. planning to attend when he died?

Answer: His cousin Rory's.

Rory was scheduled to marry Mark Bailey at the time of the tragedy.

14. John Kennedy Jnr. was accompanied by his wife and her sister on the fatal aeroplane journey in 1999.

Answer: True

Carolyn and John Kennedy as well as Carolyn's sister were killed.

15. What was the date in 1999 of the plane crash which took the life of President Kennedy's only surviving son?

Answer: 16th July

The death of her brother, John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jnr. meant that Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg was the only survivor of the First Family from the 1960 Presidential Election.

Source: Author HarrietJPotter

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor fringe before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

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