PARODY
Parody Two days after announcing he was done with TV appearances on John F. Kennedy Jr., historian Douglas Brinkley agreed to become NBC's exclusive Kennedy expert. Disgusted George staffers have...
...He had this incredibly acute environmental awareness...
...Kennedy: It's verynice to meet you, Don...
...News item March 14, 1999: Confidential transcript of meeting between George editor John F. Kennedy Jr., executive editor Richard Blow, and Douglas Brinkley...
...Blow: John, I'd like you to meet Doug Brinkley...
...But one of the first things he did was ask me about meteorological conditions in the place I'd just been...
...We . . . excuse me, Katie, I'm misting up...
...Couric: Take your tine, Doug...
...Welcome aboard...
...You were one of John Kennedy's closest friends...
...He could get away from all those parasites on earth who were always out to exploit him...
...I remember one time I came back from a trip...
...As I'm sure you know, Robert Kennedy's oldest son has been an environmental activist for many years now, and Sen...
...That's what we called him—John-John, or sometimes Johnny, or sometimes JFK Jr.— those of us who really knew him well...
...Say, did you happen to notice if it was still raining when you came up...
...He's going to be writing some pieces for' us...
...Ted Kennedy has been one of our most ardent champions on environmental matters...
...expert Douglas Brinkley...
...Cf ten when we spoke he would display this amazing awareness of the world around him...
...Good-night, sweet prince...
...This is a trait you find in many Kennedys...
...Brinkley: It had just stopped...
...July 32, 1999: Excerpts from the Today show, with host Katie Couric and professional John F. Kennedy Jr...
...Couric: That's fascinating...
...He just felt at heme in a sailboat on the ocean...
...Brinkley: It's really a tremendous honor to meet you, Mr....ah, I guess he had to rush off...
...When John-John was out in a boat, he just felt free...
...This is a difficult time...
...Couric: W elcome back, Doug...
...I rarely had a conversation with him where he didn't throw in some nautical reference: Welcome aboard, heave-ho-something like that...
...Andof course he was awfullygladto see me...
...Do you think he would have taken unnecessary risks...
...So it's inconceivable to me that he would have gone up in that plane without thoroughly studying the weather and any other atmospheric condition...
...Brinkley: Absolutelynot, Katie...
...Look homeward angel (sobbing...
...Thanks...
...And flying over water sometimes presents special risks . . . Brinkley: Well, you know, John-John just loved the sea...
...It's just that I fear we'll never see his like again (voice trembling...
...Blow: Yeah, he's late for lunch...
...Kennedy: Great...
...Disgusted George staffers have reportedly removed Brinkley's name from the masthead of the magazine, where he was a contributing editor...
...He was always curious, always mining people for information, which he would then just file away for later use...
Vol. 4 • August 1999 • No. 43
