Sen. Ted Kennedy
As soon as we heard the news of Senator Kennedy’s passing, we couldn’t help but start exchanging the stories that impacted our own personal histories. We wondered how the many events that fill the legacy that is the Kennedy family will shape our own memoirs.
The Kennedy Family’s legacy spans generations. From John & Bobby in the 50’s and 60’s to JFK Jr., in the 90’s, and even in recent months as Caroline considered her run for Senate.
So it made us wonder. How has History impacted Your Story?
Please take a moment and let us know by replying to this post.
I am from Massachusetts. Kennedy’s dad lived with his family in California at one time (with Gloria Swanson, his girlfriend next door). This could certainly have screwed up the progeny. Kennedy will be buried at my favorite church. (Our Lady of Perpetual Help) As a senior, I am concerned about Obama’s endoflife agenda. When Kennedy threw Obama his support, it was all over for poor Hillary. (Not that I wanted her for president either) I remember Chappaquidick when old ladies thought Kennedy was on his way to 12 o’clock mass. Now I am an old lady and I can tell you, the Kennedy empire was built of illegal profiteering of alcohol. Not poor Ted’s fault but why was he wanting illegal immigrants flooding into my country when it’s not legal?
Today’s news about the death of Teddy Kennedy made my heart sore, as I think it tossed me into a memory stream about the death of JFK, when I was only 18 years old, and later the death of Bobby Kennedy, who had been the hope of many of the youth of my generation. I have some stories that I have not yet written about these events–they are imbedded in my body on some unconscious level I think, and today they arose together as I looked at the old black and white photos of those handsome brothers. They were flawed humans, and they inspired many of us to create positive change over the years, to be passionate about what we believe in, and to keep looking for ways to care for our fellow humans.
What do you remember about the history of the Kennedys? Want to post some of your memories here?
It was winter, 1977, and I was Gerome Hotel bar in Aspen, Colorado. The guy next to me was a caterer, and we talked about how the town had grown over the years and become a crowded, expensive haven for jet-setters. Good for his business. Bad for the formerly pristine alpine ecosystem where I liked to backpack.
The guy talked about some of the parties he’d catered, and spoke with pride of the time Ted Kennedy tipped him in cocaine. At the time I was a hard-line conservative Repuplican, and the story fit the negative profile that I’d nourished through the years about the Kennedys, and Edward in particular. I’d heard another first-hand account from a VP of Sales for a computer company who’d been at a party where Ted was so plastered that the Secret Service kept stealing his drinks.
In my mind, the Kennedys had money and power and used it to live self-indulgent lives. I’d ignored all the good things they’d done and focused on the negative.
But over time, my view has changed. Ted is just as human as hte rest of us. He has flaws, but he’s paid his dues and done a hell of a job conquering his demons. And in the balance, he’s gone to work every day for most of his life, championing causes that I care deeply about.
He’s not perfect. None of us are. But he left a legacy that gives us all hope and makes his family proud.