You’ve seen the photos of the little boy saluting his father’s casket. That image of JFK Jr. is frozen in time, but the story didn't end with that heartbreaking salute or the tragic plane crash years later. Honestly, if you want to understand the modern Kennedy legacy, you have to look at Caroline’s kids. They are the only John F. Kennedy grandchildren, and they are nothing like the polished, stiff politicians of the 1960s.
They’re actually kinda fascinating.
One is a Harvard-educated filmmaker who looks exactly like Jackie O. Another was a brilliant environmental journalist who recently, and devastatingly, passed away. And the youngest? He’s currently running for Congress in New York.
It’s a weird mix of old-school royalty and very modern, digital-age reality.
The Three Who Carry the Name
Caroline Kennedy and her husband, Edwin Schlossberg, raised their three children largely out of the blinding glare of the paparazzi. They grew up in New York City, went to elite schools, and basically tried to be normal kids while living with one of the most famous names in human history.
The kids—Rose, Tatiana, and Jack—are the only biological grandchildren of JFK and Jackie. People often forget that. There are dozens of cousins from the RFK and Ted Kennedy branches, but these three are the direct line.
Rose Schlossberg: The Lookalike
Born in 1988, Rose is the eldest. If you see a photo of her, it’s a total double-take moment. She has that same wide-eyed, elegant look her grandmother Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was famous for. But Rose isn't a socialite. She’s an artist and filmmaker.
She went to Harvard (obviously) and later got a master's from NYU. Instead of running for office, she co-created a quirky web series called End Times Girls Club. It was a satirical take on surviving the apocalypse with "feminine flair." It’s dark, weird, and funny—definitely not the kind of thing you’d expect from a Kennedy. She’s also worked on serious stuff, like the Peabody Award-winning documentary Time: The Kalief Browder Story.
In 2022, she married Rory McAuliffe, a restaurateur. They live a pretty quiet life, occasionally popping up at Kennedy Center events, but mostly Rose seems content to let her work do the talking.
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Tatiana Schlossberg: A Heartbreaking Loss
Tatiana was the middle child, born in 1990. She was the researcher, the writer, the one who took the "service" part of the Kennedy brand and applied it to the planet. She was a reporter for The New York Times and wrote a really influential book called Inconspicuous Consumption.
Basically, it was about how our everyday habits—like streaming videos or buying fast fashion—mess up the environment. She was smart, dry, and incredibly focused.
Then things took a tragic turn.
In late 2025, Tatiana published a gut-wrenching essay in The New Yorker. She revealed she had been diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of acute myeloid leukemia right after giving birth to her second child in 2024. She wrote about the "interruption" of her life and the fear that her kids wouldn't remember her.
Tatiana passed away on December 30, 2025, at just 35 years old. It was a massive blow to the family and a reminder that the "Kennedy Curse" label, as much as people hate it, still lingers in the public consciousness whenever tragedy strikes this specific line.
Jack Schlossberg: The Political Heir
Then there’s Jack. Born in 1993, John Bouvier Kennedy Schlossberg is the youngest and the only grandson. For years, he was just "the cute kid" at awards ceremonies.
Not anymore.
Jack is currently the most public-facing member of the family. He’s got a law degree and an MBA from Harvard. He’s passed the bar. And he has a social media presence that is, well, loud.
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If you follow him on TikTok or Instagram, you know he’s not afraid to be a "silly goose" (his words). He posts videos of himself singing in his car or doing quirky comedy bits. But don't let the goofiness fool you. He’s been a political correspondent for Vogue and has been very vocal about protecting his grandfather's legacy, even when it means calling out his own relatives.
Why the John F. Kennedy Grandchildren Matter in 2026
The reason people are still obsessed with the John F. Kennedy grandchildren isn't just nostalgia. It’s because they represent a fork in the road for the Democratic party and American royalty.
As of early 2026, Jack Schlossberg has officially entered the arena. He is running for the U.S. House seat in New York’s 12th District, the seat vacated by Jerry Nadler. This is a huge deal. It’s the first time a direct descendant of JFK has sought federal office in years.
Breaking Down the 2026 Congressional Run
Jack isn't running as a "Camelot" ghost. He’s leaning into a very specific 2026 vibe:
- Digital First: He uses his 2 million+ social media followers to bypass traditional media.
- Family Feuds: He’s been incredibly blunt about his cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., calling his views an "embarrassment."
- The Issues: His platform focuses heavily on climate change (carrying on Tatiana’s legacy) and "political creativity."
He’s running in a crowded primary that includes some heavy hitters, including George Conway. It’s going to be a bloodbath of a primary in June 2026.
The Reality of the Legacy
Growing up as a Kennedy grandchild sounds glamorous, but it’s actually kinda heavy.
Tatiana once mentioned how lucky she felt to spend summers at Jackie’s house on Martha’s Vineyard. But with that privilege comes a weird kind of public ownership. Total strangers feel like they know these kids because they loved their grandfather.
Rose, Tatiana, and Jack have all dealt with this differently. Rose chose satire and art. Tatiana chose deep-dive journalism. Jack is choosing the front lines of New York politics.
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They’ve also had to deal with the physical side of the family history. Jack actually suffered from debilitating back problems in law school, requiring hip surgeries—a mirror of the back issues that plagued JFK his entire life. It’s like they can’t escape the DNA, even if they wanted to.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think the Kennedy's are all about wealth and effortless power. Honestly? This generation seems more about the work.
They didn't just walk into jobs. Tatiana was a grind-it-out reporter. Rose spent years as a production associate before making her own films. Jack spent years in school getting dual degrees before even thinking about a run for office.
The idea of "Camelot" is a myth. These are just three people trying to figure out how to be useful in a world that is very different from 1960.
What’s Next for the Schlossbergs?
If you're looking to keep tabs on the family, here is what to watch for in the coming months:
- The NY-12 Primary: Jack Schlossberg’s campaign will be the biggest political story in New York this summer. If he wins, the "Kennedy Dynasty" talk will reach a fever pitch.
- Environmental Advocacy: Expect to see Rose and Caroline take up the mantle of Tatiana’s climate work, potentially through new grants or foundations in her name.
- The Next Generation: Tatiana left behind two young children, Edwin and a daughter. Their privacy will be fiercely protected by Caroline, much like she protected her own kids.
The story of the John F. Kennedy grandchildren is still being written. It’s a story of some pretty intense highs and some devastatingly low points. Whether you’re a political junkie or just someone who remembers the 60s, it’s hard not to watch.
To stay informed on the 2026 elections, keep an eye on the New York Board of Elections site for primary updates. If you want to dive deeper into the family’s history without the fluff, checking the digital archives of the JFK Library is your best bet. It’s all there—the real stuff, not the myths.