Katie Couric Remembers Her Last Interview with JFK Jr. & Reflects on ‘Camelot’

The FX series Love Story has sparked renewed interest in the brief but intensely public life of John F. Kennedy Jr., and for Katie Couric, it’s a moment for reflection. In a recent post on her website, Couric revisited her final television interview with JFK Jr., conducted just months before his tragic death in July 1999.

Couric’s account, published on February 24, 2026, details the anticipation surrounding the interview, admitting to a “crush” on Kennedy, like many others. She recalled being thrilled to have been featured on the cover of George, the political magazine Kennedy founded, in May 1997, even keeping a poster of the cover in her basement as a memento. The interview itself took place at Michael’s restaurant in Midtown Manhattan, a popular lunch spot for media figures, but the meeting was scheduled for breakfast. Couric remembers Kennedy’s unusual breakfast order – cornflakes topped with sliced honeydew – as a lighthearted moment amidst the seriousness of the conversation.

Beyond the logistical details, Couric’s piece delves into the cultural weight Kennedy carried. She describes the enduring fascination with the “Camelot” image, particularly the iconic photograph of a three-year-old John John saluting his father’s casket following President Kennedy’s assassination. The public, she writes, seemed to constantly search for someone to embody the spirit of the Kennedy family, and Kennedy Jr. Often filled that role, especially as he matured into a public figure.

Couric expresses empathy for the pressures Kennedy faced, referencing the public scrutiny he endured after failing the bar exam twice. She acknowledges the immense expectations placed upon him simply by virtue of his lineage, and praises his ability to navigate those expectations with grace. The interview itself, she notes, revealed a kind, self-effacing, and surprisingly open side of Kennedy, contrasting with the more guarded demeanor of his sister, Caroline.

The personal impact of Kennedy’s death is also palpable in Couric’s writing. She recounts receiving the news of the plane crash from her sister Emily, comparing the shock and grief to the loss of Princess Diana two years prior. The image of flying over the waters near Nantucket, where the plane went down, continues to resonate with her, a stark reminder of the lives lost – Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, and her sister Lauren Bessette.

Couric’s reflection isn’t simply a nostalgic look back; it’s a recognition of a lost potential. She concludes by lamenting the extinguishing of the “hope and promise of Camelot” with the tragedy, and shares a link to the full 1999 interview, allowing audiences to revisit the conversation firsthand. The interview, originally aired on the TODAY show, offers a glimpse into Kennedy’s thoughts on his family, his career, and his place in the public eye.

The renewed attention surrounding Kennedy Jr. And Bessette-Kennedy, fueled by the FX series Love Story, underscores the enduring fascination with their lives and untimely deaths. Couric’s personal account provides a poignant reminder of the man behind the public image, and the profound sense of loss felt by many when he was gone.