My meeting with Ethel Kennedy" title="My meeting with Ethel Kennedy" />

In 1988, a friend invited me to attend a Democratic fundraising reception for a congressional candidate running in Northern Virginia. The reception was to be held at Ethel Kennedy’s home in McLean, VA. He was eager to attend, although skeptical that the reception would actually be held at Mrs. Kennedy’s home. I was sure it would be held in the backyard or in a special tent on grounds meticulously maintained for the event.

To my surprise, the event was held at his home and apparently the hundreds of people who attended were able to roam the first floor without restriction. I found this to be totally incredible. Here was a house that, by any measure, contained artifacts that future generations would clamor to see.

History and popular culture exposed

Each room contained personal photos of Bobby Kennedy, Jack Kennedy, Jackie Kennedy, Ted Kennedy and the entire clan, as well as awards, citations and personal memorabilia. Guests could have pocketed the souvenirs of their choice at any time. Apparently, no one did, at any time. More surprisingly, Mrs. Kennedy seemed totally unconcerned by the possibility.

As I walked the grounds, I made my way to the pool house. Between a couch and a chair, on a phone stand, along with the phone was a list of phone numbers written and inserted into a plastic sleeve. I looked at the list. Ted Kennedy’s congressional phone number and his private number in Hyannis were listed. Jackie Kennedy’s personal phone number in New York was listed.

Personal phone numbers of other family members, celebrities and luminaries were listed. The paparazzi or any journalist could have made money simply by copying the numbers from the list and selling them to the tabloids.

This backyard, this yard, this house, on a typical street in McLean, VA, had no fences, no guard dogs, or anything you would have expected the widow of a historical figure—a millionaire—to have.

A Public Person

Ethel Kennedy was, you see, a public figure, circa 1988. I thought about all the time and energy that I, and most people I know, devote to safeguarding our privacy, to ensure no one is looking over your shoulder when you are doing something as simple as reading a newspaper on a plane.

It seemed inconceivable that someone like Ethel Kennedy could be so open and people-oriented, and not need the barriers and protectors that most of us think we need.

When that evening’s affair was over, I was amazed when Ethel Kennedy stood at the door and dismissed all the guests. She shook my hand and thanked me for coming as if I were one of the Democratic Party’s staunchest supporters and an honored guest in her home.

In the middle

I wasn’t a Democrat and never tried, but this I do know: by today’s standards, JFK would be considered a conservative, or at the very least, someone “unworthy” of the Democratic nomination. RFK would probably be in the same category.

Sure, many of his views and policies would appear to be left of center or center, but perhaps no more so than John McCain or George W. Bush. In any case, the Kennedys would be preferable to the tyrannical left-wing monsters currently in power and now trying to destroy America.

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