10 Questions For Caroline Kennedy

By Andrea Sachs

These are unusually public days for Caroline Kennedy, 44. Her book Profiles in Courage for Our Time, an update of her father's Pulitzer prizewinner, came out just as one of this year's Profile in Courage Awards was given to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Kennedy spoke to TIME's Andrea Sachs.

YOU'VE DONE FOUR BOOKS. IS THAT WHERE YOU SEE YOUR FUTURE?

Yes, I would love to continue to do this. I don't think all that far ahead [laughs], but I do enjoy it. I grew up in a household where reading was encouraged. My mother believed in the power of words, and my father obviously did too.

ALL THOSE BOOKS ABOUT YOUR FAMILY: DO YOU READ THEM?

I don't. There are a lot of other things that I want to learn about. I kind of know that territory. I did read some books by people who served with my father in the White House.

ARE YOU A HARRY POTTER FAN?

Yes, I love those books.

WHY DO YOU USE THE NAME KENNEDY ON YOUR BOOKS, RATHER THAN KENNEDY SCHLOSSBERG, YOUR MARRIED NAME?

I never actually changed my name. But people call me whatever they call me.

WILL YOU WRITE A MEMOIR?

You know, I can't ever imagine doing that. I feel there are a lot of ways to learn about people. The poetry book, I felt, really did reveal a lot about my mother. It was a nice thing for me to be able to share with people. It's not always necessary to have a memoir.

DO YOU FEEL AN INCREASED INTEREST THESE DAYS IN SUSTAINING YOUR FAMILY'S LEGACY?

I guess I don't really think it's increased. It's something that I feel a responsibility for. I also feel that my parents' legacy can stand on its own, without my help. But it's something I believe in and am happy to help participate in.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD BE A FITTING MEMORIAL TO YOUR BROTHER?

His spirit lives on in people he knew and even people he didn't know. And I think that's really the best kind of memorial.

WOULD YOU EVER WRITE A BOOK ABOUT YOUR BROTHER?

I don't think so. I'm not going to do that right now.

YOU HAVE ENORMOUS FAME BUT STRIVE FOR PRIVACY. IS THAT HARD TO HANDLE?

It's been part of my life, and the reasons for it are something I'm immensely proud of--my parents' work and the work of my uncles. In that way, it's a very nice tribute to them. I know that's the source of it. It's not something I think about as much as you might think I do.

WOULD YOU EVER RUN FOR OFFICE?

I don't have any plans to do that right now. As I said, I don't plan ahead. My kids are young, and I'm really happy to be able to be around. But I do care about issues, and I'm interested in them. So I don't see that now, but you know, I have a long life ahead of me.