When you hear the name Robert F. Kennedy Jr. these days, your mind probably jumps to the Department of Health and Human Services or maybe those viral clips of him and Cheryl Hines. But behind the current political headlines is a history that’s honestly pretty heavy. People often search for "rfk jr ex wife" wanting a simple answer, but there isn’t just one. There are two very different women who shared his life before Hines, and their stories are as far from the "Camelot" fairy tale as you can get.
One was a law school sweetheart who mostly stayed out of the glare. The other was a brilliant architect whose life ended in a way that still haunts the Kennedy compound.
The First Marriage: Emily Ruth Black
Let’s go back to 1982. Bobby Kennedy Jr. was a young law student at the University of Virginia when he married Emily Ruth Black. If you’re looking for the rfk jr ex wife who represents his pre-fame, pre-controversy years, it’s her. They met in law school—classic, right? They had two kids together: Robert F. "Bobby" Kennedy III and Kathleen Alexandra Kennedy.
Honestly, Emily is the one the public knows the least about. She wasn’t looking for the spotlight. While Bobby was starting his career as an environmental lawyer and dealing with some very public personal demons—including a 1983 arrest for heroin possession—Emily was the steady presence in the background.
But the marriage didn’t last. They separated in 1992, and the divorce was finalized in 1994. Just two days after the papers were signed, Bobby married again. That quick turnaround tells you a lot about the chaos of that era in his life. Emily mostly vanished from the tabloid radar after that, which, considering what came next for the family, was probably a smart move.
Mary Richardson Kennedy: The Story Everyone Remembers
If people are talking about the rfk jr ex wife today, they are almost certainly talking about Mary Richardson. This is where the story gets incredibly dark and complicated. Mary wasn't just some socialite; she was a force. She was a gifted architectural designer and a pioneer in "green" building. She even renovated the family’s Bedford, New York, home to be an environmental showpiece.
Mary and Bobby married in 1994, aboard a research vessel on the Hudson River. They had four children: Conor, Kyra, William, and Aidan. For a long time, they were the "it" couple of the environmental movement.
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But behind the scenes? It was a mess.
The Breakdown of the Marriage
By the late 2000s, things were falling apart. Bobby filed for divorce in May 2010. What followed was a brutal, two-year legal war that played out in the press. Mary struggled deeply with depression and alcohol issues. There were DUIs. There were headlines about "internal demons."
Then came the discovery of the "diary."
In 2013, reports surfaced about a 2001 diary Bobby allegedly kept, which detailed dozens of extramarital affairs. Mary reportedly found it, and friends said it absolutely crushed her. She was a woman who had spent years trying to maintain the "Kennedy" image of perfection while her private world was crumbling.
The Tragic End
On May 16, 2012, Mary Richardson Kennedy was found dead in a barn on their property in Bedford. She had taken her own life. She was only 52.
The aftermath was gut-wrenching. There was a literal tug-of-war over her body. Her family, the Richardsons, wanted her buried near them. The Kennedys wanted her in the family plot in Hyannis Port. In the end, she was buried in Hyannis Port, but even her funeral was marked by the tension between the two families.
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The Olivia Nuzzi Scandal and the Cheryl Hines Factor
You can't really talk about the rfk jr ex wife topic without mentioning how history seems to repeat itself. Currently, RFK Jr. is married to actress Cheryl Hines. They tied the knot in 2014. For a long time, they seemed like the stable version of a Kennedy marriage.
Then came 2024 and 2025.
Reports broke about an "emotional and digital" affair between RFK Jr. and political journalist Olivia Nuzzi. For many observers, it felt like a ghost from the past. The same allegations of infidelity that haunted his marriage to Mary Richardson were back in the news.
Cheryl Hines has stayed with him, even moving to D.C. after he was appointed to the Cabinet in early 2025. In her 2025 memoir Unscripted, she basically says they’ve worked through it. But for those who remember Mary, the headlines felt eerily familiar.
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of folks think the Kennedy "curse" is just about accidents and assassinations. When you look at the life of an rfk jr ex wife, you see a different kind of tragedy. It’s the pressure of the name.
Mary Richardson was once told by other mothers, "You have to pull yourself together. You're a Kennedy." That kind of pressure is heavy. It's not just about who you are; it's about who you’re supposed to be for the public.
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Key Facts to Keep Straight
To keep the history clear, here is the breakdown of the marriages:
- Emily Ruth Black (1982–1994): The law school years. Two children. Very private post-divorce.
- Mary Richardson Kennedy (1994–2012): The environmental years. Four children. A tragic end during a pending divorce.
- Cheryl Hines (2014–Present): The Hollywood-to-Washington years. One blended family.
Actionable Insights for the Curious
If you're researching this because you're interested in the intersection of celebrity, politics, and mental health, there are a few things to keep in mind.
First, the "Kennedy" brand often masks real human suffering. Mary Richardson's story is a reminder that professional success and a famous last name don't cure clinical depression.
Second, if you're looking into the legal side of things, the 2012 custody battle and the subsequent release of the "diary" entries are landmark cases in how "scorched earth" divorce tactics can have devastating real-world consequences.
Finally, for those following the current administration, understanding the rfk jr ex wife history provides context for the public’s fascination with Cheryl Hines. People aren't just watching a political spouse; they’re watching to see if the patterns of the past will finally be broken.
The story of the women who married Bobby Kennedy Jr. isn't just gossip. It’s a decades-long look at how fame, power, and personal struggles collide. Whether it's Emily's quiet exit or Mary's loud, painful tragedy, these stories are baked into the man who now helps run the country's health department.
To understand the current headlines, you have to understand the people who were there before the cameras were this bright.
Next Steps for Deeper Context:
- Check out the 2015 biography Robert Kennedy Jr.: And the Dark Side of the Dream by Jerry Oppenheimer for a detailed look at the transition between his first and second marriages.
- Read Mary Richardson’s work on green building and the Food Allergy Initiative to see the professional legacy she left behind, separate from the Kennedy name.